Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 86444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“Wanted to show Caroline Texas,” he says to me and then looks down. “Sorry, man.” Everyone says the same thing to me once they mention their own spouse, then remember I don’t have mine anymore.
I laugh. “No worries.” I shrug, knowing he didn’t mean any disrespect by it. “Is Dylan with you also?” I ask of his stepson.
“Nah, not today. He’s having a rest day with his cousins. It’s just me and Evan.” He motions his head. “What are you doing here?”
“Training,” I say. “Got to get ready for the season. I was chasing your record last year.” I push his shoulder, and he shakes his head.
“You want to get on the ice with us?” he asks, rubbing the back of his neck. “Like old times’ sake.”
“Yeah,” I say. “Nothing better than getting my ass kicked by the Stone family.” I laugh and then hear a woman calling his name. I look over to see his wife, Caroline, approaching, and her face spreads into a huge smile when she sees me.
“Oh my God, Ralph.” She walks up to us, dropping her blue bag by Justin, and gives me a short hug. “Where is she?” She looks around. “Is she here?”
“No,” I say. “She’s at home with the sitter.” I look down. “It’s killing me.”
“I keep checking your Instagram for pictures, but you are the worst.” She pushes me now.
“You sound like Becca.” I shake my head. “I really need to start the social media thing.”
“You should hire Candace. She’s great,” Caroline says. “But more importantly, when can I finally meet her?”
“Um, how long are you guys in town for?” I ask, and she looks over at Justin.
“I think for the week, but we are having a huge barbecue at Candace’s house tonight. Do you want to come?” she asks, and then Justin answers for me.
“Count him in,” he says, and I just look at him. “Do you know what my sister would do to me if I didn’t force you to come with a new baby? It’s like coming home with a puppy.”
Caroline smacks his arm. “Did you just compare Ariella to a puppy?”
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “But at the same time, you can meet Candace and beg her to take you on as a client. She said no to the last ten people I sent to her, but if you can bribe her with Ari, she might just say yes.”
I shake my head and laugh, and it’s at that moment I realize that this is the first time I’ve had an adult conversation in the past five months. I’ve spoken to Becca and my coach and shit, but to be joking and free? It’s been a long time.
“Why not?” I say, my heartbeat starting to pick up a bit. “But are you sure it’s going to be okay?”
“Evan!” Justin yells down the hall, and he pokes his head out and smiles when he sees me walking over.
“Hey.” He puts out his hand, and I shake it. We’ve been cordial to each other on the ice, and he was very nice to me last year when we met officially.
“Is it okay if Ralph comes to the barbecue today?” Justin asks, and Evan doesn’t even wait for him to finish.
“The more, the merrier,” Evan says, and I don’t have a choice. By the time I walk out of the arena three hours later, I’m rushing home to get my girl ready for a barbecue.
Chapter 3
Candace
“Do you have any red Solo cups?” someone asks me. Looking up from the sink, I see Caroline standing there in shorts and a white halter top that Justin, her husband, grumbled about. “There are maybe ten more left outside.”
“There should be another bag over there by the table.” I point at the four white bags right next to the door. “I told my brother to take those outside.” I walk over to them and then hear Caroline laugh.
“Was that before or after he saw your shirt?” she asks, and I look down and smirk to myself. I knew it was going to be a hot day, so I put on jean shorts and a Dallas hockey shirt, tying it in a knot at my side. “You have a backyard with New York Stingers players, and you’re going to come out here and wear a Dallas shirt.” She shakes her head, then looks around. “Do you have an extra one?”
“What?” I laugh, bending down and picking up the cups. I look over when the back door opens, and Justin walks in wearing shorts and a tank top with a baseball hat on his head with the New York logo. He’s carrying a bottle of water.
“What’s going on?” he asks me and then looks at Caroline. He tries to assess the situation as he walks over to her and kisses her lips.