Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
I think that over. “Austen is powerful in her own right, and I’m not worried about him.”
“You should be,” she stresses, eyeing me. “He didn’t have Austen with him for a long time, only got her back a couple years ago,” she says, turning to look at me. “He lost his daughter, and Austen is a dead ringer for her, from what I’ve been told. I don’t know if it’s a good idea to even toy with the idea of what you and she were doing on that dance floor.”
I eye her, and I remind myself to be respectful. I care deeply for her. “I am wanting to play for you, Elli, not him.”
“I am well aware of where you want to be and what you want, Dimitri,” she says, turning her body to face me fully. “But I can only protect you so much.”
Dad lets out a disgruntled scoff as Mom shakes her head. “He is a smart boy. He knows what’s important,” my mom says, and she is a damn saint. “His career is in no jeopardy whatsoever. Right, Dimitri?”
“Yeah, absolutely,” I agree, clearing my throat free of emotion. I don’t like the way they are making me feel. “I don’t know why everyone is coming at me funky right now, but I’m good. I have been working my ass off, and I’ve done everything everyone has asked of me at the rink. What I do off the ice is of no concern to anyone.”
“It’s not your play, son,” Dad says roughly. “It’s the fact that you aren’t known for relationships or even entertaining anyone for more than a night. You hurt her, you can kiss your career goodbye.”
I shake my head at that. This is dumb and I don’t have to explain myself, but I can’t stop myself. “You do realize I haven’t been with anyone since I met her, and she just kissed me for the first time tonight. So yeah, you guys don’t know shit about me. When I say I’m going to do something, I’m going do it. I fight and work for what I want. So have a good night.” I start to walk away, but then I stop. “I do love you, Mom, and I’m sorry for that comment. It was disrespectful to you.”
“Thank you, my love.” My mom gives me a real smile, her eyes bright. “I love you.”
And with that, I walk away, madder than hell but even more determined to prove everyone wrong. To make anyone who doubts me eat their words. I know they are worried and are only looking out for me, but I’m not a kid anymore. I have grown up and become a pretty decent dude. Or at least I think so. Every choice I have made has been one I chose because I knew it was what I wanted. The consequences, the mishaps…whatever will happen, will happen. But at the end of the day, I do what I want with my best interests in mind.
And I do what makes me happy.
Austen makes me fucking happy.
The whole drive home, I replay the conversation with them, and I get madder with each passing mile.
Austen isn’t home when I get there, and I’m thankful for the moment I have to sit and think. I take a seat at the island, unbuttoning my jacket before resting my chin in my hand. I don’t know what the issue is now.
I am ready to swan-dive into whatever makes me happy with Austen. The touch of her lips, the feel of her body against mine. I mean, there is no way in hell I can think clearly. As I told my dad, though, I haven’t been with or even talked to any women since Austen came into my life. I haven’t wanted to, and that has to mean something.
I live for her little quips, the anger playing in her eyes, and those damn fuzzy socks. How she acted like she was reading, but really, I knew she wasn’t. She was watching me play Xbox, laughing when I’d die in the game. She made me not want to go out; I only wanted to stay home with her.
I still only want to stay home.
With her.
Fuck, that’s scary.
But I can’t forget my hockey hasn’t suffered like they suggested it would. Why hasn’t anyone noticed that? I am getting stronger, faster, and my hockey IQ is off the charts right now because of her. Because of Austen. I’ve taught her everything I know, and then we go over whatever the coaches give us to improve when we get home. That has to say something, that has to tell me I am able to do both. My career and her. But I can’t ignore the real problem or the problem everyone keeps bringing up.
Dan Davenport, the apparently very powerful man who could end me. God, this is stupid. If Davenport isn’t the one to get rid of me, I know for a fact it’ll be Shelli. I may have fixed things, but I don’t know that she’ll ever let it go. If Davenport asked her to remove me, she would. And then what?