Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Sawyer flexed. “Still rock solid, baby. If we need any flying pucks caught, we’ll give you a call.”
He was being obnoxious, but this was the most energy I’d seen out of Sawyer since before Annie died. I covertly took Kon’s hand in mine and gave it a squeeze, silently asking him to give in on this one.
“I will set up the tables and chairs,” Kon said.
“Hey, Ross brought his grandparents if you need some help,” Sawyer quipped.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Kon gave me a look of annoyance. “I like him better drunk.”
“No, you don’t. He’s just being an ass about us going out on a date.”
His grin was wicked. “I could sleep over tonight. Stay in your room with you.”
“One of you would end up with a broken nose.”
“Him, obviously. He has a beer belly. Sawyer could not outrun a sloth right now.”
I gave him a pleading look. “Don’t kick him when he’s down, okay?”
He immediately looked remorseful. “You are right. If it makes you happy, I will be his punching bag. For now.”
“Thank you.”
He kissed me and gave me a reassuring squeeze.
“You are good?” he asked.
“I’m good. Go watch football. But set up the tables and chairs first, please.”
With a grin, he nodded. I went back to the meal prep, Hadley passing me a glass as I walked over.
“Looks like you’re one of us now,” she said, holding her own glass up for a cheers.
I clinked my glass against hers and took a sip. “Oh wow, that’s amazing. What is this?”
“Turkey punch,” she said, giving me a conspiratorial smile. “I switch up the recipe every year, but it’s always got a high enough alcohol content to make the stress of hosting feel fun.” She looked down at her stomach. “There’s also an unleaded version for those who can’t partake.”
My eyes widened as I gave her a questioning look. “Wait, are you…?”
“Yup. We’re adding another inmate to our asylum.”
Sheridan and Sariah approached, both with glasses in hand, and we all clinked glasses again.
“I’m going to start putting food in Crock-Pots to keep it warm,” Hadley said after we’d all taken a sip of our drinks. “And the caterers gave me a bunch of warmers, too.”
We all got to work, and Sariah bumped her hip against mine as we chopped veggies together.
“So, you and Konstantin, huh?” she said, grinning.
“Kind of?” I said, looking behind me to make sure no one was listening. “It’s still early, but…it’s good. I like him.”
“He’s nuts about you,” Sheridan said.
“You think?”
She laughed. “Girl, I know. I’ve never seen him all snuggly with a woman like he is with you, asking them if they’re good and offering to help…in the kitchen.”
“He’s very sweet,” I said, warming inside.
“He’s sweet to you, but not anyone else,” Hadley said in a low voice. “Did you guys see what he did to Keegan Miller in that game the other night? He broke his nose.”
“He deserved it,” Sheridan said, giving me a questioning look. “Do you know about what happened between the two of them?”
“Yes. I can’t imagine what that was like for Kon.”
Sariah shrugged. “The trash took itself out. He deserves better.”
As if on cue, he came into the kitchen, walking over to me and putting a hand on my hip.
“Tables and chairs are done. What else do you need?”
“Not a thing,” I said, looking at him over my shoulder.
He smiled and gave me a quick kiss. “Tell me if you need anything, okay?”
“I will.”
As soon as he was out of the room, the other women laughed lightly.
“Yeah, he’s an absolute goner,” Hadley said.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Kon
I’d spent Thanksgivings with teammates every year since I’d come to America. I’d been twenty that first year, Svetlana twenty-one, and neither of us had spoken enough English to be social. My last team hadn’t tried that hard to get to know us, but the moment I’d gotten to St. Louis, it had been like finding long-lost brothers. I hadn’t shown much emotion back then, and still didn’t show much now, but I felt it. Even Svetlana had noticed the change in me, when I’d begun talking about my teammates and their significant others, suggesting we start attending team barbeques and other events. She’d always said no, and deep down, that had been the beginning of the end for us.
Looking back, I was sure she’d been jealous. I wanted to make a new life here and put the pain of the past and Russia behind me. But I had a job, success, and friends. She was alone most of the time, self-conscious about not speaking English and unwilling to go to school to learn. I’d bought her a subscription to an online learning program for Christmas one year, but she’d never bothered to try it out. At some point, I’d started leaving her at home and started spending more time with my teammates. I had no doubt that was how she’d ended up with Keegan.