Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Carina
“How did I let you talk me into this?” I mutter as we walk away from the ticket booth.
Juliette throws an arm over my shoulders and tugs me close. “Because I promised to buy you a box of popcorn. And you’re a whore for arena popcorn.”
“You know me well,” I reluctantly admit.
She flashes me a grin as her eyes dance with humor. My bestie is positively glowing and that has everything to do with Ryder McAdams. Her feet no longer touch the ground when she walks, and her head is always somewhere in the clouds. The girl is over the moon happy.
And who can blame her?
Ryder McAdams has always been a hot commodity on this campus, and she managed to lock him down tight.
Although, I’m pretty sure that it was the other way around. Ryder finally decided he’d wasted enough time and went after what he truly wanted.
Juliette.
His childhood neighbor.
My guess is that the blond defenseman had a secret crush on her for a while. Being teammates and best friends with her brother only complicated matters. But somehow, they worked through the obstacles in their way to find their happily ever after.
Am I jealous of what they have?
Nope. Not one damn bit.
All right, fine. That’s a lie. I’m totally jelly. I’ve dated my fair share of guys during college, and none have lasted more than a couple of weeks. A month at the longest.
I’ve also had good sex.
But good sex and delicious orgasms can only take you so far. I’ve tried to make relationships purely based on phenomenal sex work. I’ve also learned the hard way that if you don’t have much to say outside of the bedroom, it’s basically like dragging a dead horse uphill.
Plus, I have the annoying habit of comparing the guys I date or sleep with to Ford.
They inevitably come up lacking.
As much as I’ve tried not to dwell on him, the guy is never very far from my thoughts.
If you’re looking for dick, it’ll be mine.
A tiny shiver dances down my spine as those words play through my brain on a constant loop.
That’s probably the hottest thing anyone has ever said to me.
And it came from Ford.
My once upon-a-time stepbrother.
Am I tempted to take him up on the offer?
Of course I am.
Whenever we’re together, the air around us becomes combustible and it’s difficult to breathe. My core throbs a painful beat and my panties dampen. The urge to run my hands over him will pound through me.
His body is a work of art.
Chiseled and hard.
I might not have a problem lying to him, but the one thing I refuse to do is lie to myself. I’ve wanted Ford since the very beginning, and I’ve spent years tamping down those unwelcome feelings.
It’s only when my bestie jostles me once we reach the rink that I relegate those thoughts to the back of my head. She waves to her family and her mom smiles, immediately rising to her feet and returning the gesture.
Juliette has the best parents. It’s obvious that after all these years, they’re still head over heels in love with one another. It’s also equally obvious that their lives revolve around their children.
It’s never been that way for me.
After how stressful my childhood was, I can’t really blame Mom for wanting to focus on herself for a change. I just wish it didn’t have to come at my expense. Those thoughts only make me realize how lucky I am to have Crawford. He came into my life when I needed him most and has been a solid presence ever since. He’s the closest thing I have to a parent.
How could I even consider a choice that has the potential to damage that relationship?
That realization sinks inside me like a bolder.
“Hello, Carina! It’s so good to see you again.” Mrs. McKinnon pulls me in for a warm embrace. She’s seriously the sweetest lady ever.
Her husband also gives me a quick hug. My guess is that Brody McKinnon is somewhere in his mid-forties. The man is seriously hot. There’s just a bit of silver shot through at his temples.
Someone needs to explain why that’s so sexy.
Because it totally is.
Once we settle in our seats, I lean closer to Juliette and whisper, “Have I mentioned lately just how foxy your father is?”
Her face contorts. Kind of like I just suggested we drown a sack full of kittens. It’s the exact response I was aiming for.
“Please don’t say anything like that ever again.”
A smile blooms across my face. “What? I’m just saying that your mom’s an extremely lucky lady.”
“Ewww. I just threw up in my mouth. So, thanks for that.” Before I can tease her any more, she threatens, “If you say another word about my father, I’m moving to another seat.” When I open my mouth, she says, “I’m dead serious, Carina.”