Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“What a bitch,” Tempe murmurs as she accepts the money, tucking it into her own back pocket. “Will you get in trouble?”
I shrug. “No clue, but I can’t risk it. Coming to this team is what’s going to set up my career for the rest of my playing time. I can’t afford to lose this.”
“I’m sorry,” she says, her hand on my arm. “That’s a shitty thing for her to do. I wish there was some way I could help.”
“Actually,” I say, relief slamming through me that she offered. Sort of. “Would you continue to be my fake girlfriend? North seems to think if Tansy sees you and me together, it will dissuade her from going to Brienne. That it will cause enough doubt to keep her buttoned up.”
Tempe’s brows knit together, a worried look on her face. “I don’t know, Rafferty. What are we talking about?”
“Come to any team appearances with me so Tansy can see us together. I’m guessing for a few weeks and that’s all. It won’t be too much of your time.”
“And how do you explain me to the team? Are they all going to get on board with this?”
“My closest friends will.”
“They’ll all lie for you?” she asks dubiously.
“Yeah, they will.”
Tempe looks off into the distance, then back to me. “My life is a bit hectic right now. I’m trying to pick up extra shifts at the store, so I’d probably have to give those up.” Her eyes narrow their focus. “I’ll do it for five thousand dollars to compensate me for what I’ll be missing.”
I can’t quite figure out why her request for money bothers me, but maybe I hoped she was as moved by that kiss as I was and would simply want to do this.
To spend time with me.
I can tell you, I would absolutely treat this genuinely because what I’ve come to learn about Tempe in this short time is that she’s the type of woman, in circumstances outside of this debacle I’m caught up in, I’d like to continue to see.
“I can tell by the look on your face that you find it distasteful I’m asking for money,” she says quietly.
“No,” I exclaim. “No, not at all. I realize I’m asking you to spend your own time to do this and that’s worth something. The five thousand is no problem.”
“It’s for my family,” she says. “To pay bills.”
I’m stunned silent for a moment, not by the words, but by the heaviness in her tone. “What’s going on?” I ask.
“My mom was in a horrible accident, severe injuries. She’s out of a rehab hospital and at home recuperating. It’s why I dropped out this semester, to take care of her and Cooper. But she’s not working and what they pay at the grocery store is barely enough to cover the mortgage and utilities and then the medical expenses are still pouring in. The money will get put to good use and give us some breathing room.”
“Do you need more than five grand? I can do more.” I give her a cheeky smile. “I am a multimillionaire, after all.”
Tempe grins but shakes her head. “No, I’m not sure my time is worth more than five thousand, especially if you think it’s only a few weeks. I don’t take advantage of people. But I might have some limitations because of my mom. I’ll have to make sure I have coverage, and I can’t afford to miss work.”
“Understood,” I say solemnly. “The next event is in three days. My teammate Stone is getting married. I’d need you to be my date that night.”
Tempe tilts her head. “He’s getting married on a Thursday night?”
“Odd, I know, but when you’re a professional hockey player, you have to take what few days are available. They wanted a Christmas-themed wedding and it falls right before a road trip down to Florida, so they’re going to sneak in a short honeymoon in the Keys as well.”
“Makes sense,” she says. “But yes… I’ll be your date for that evening. Your job is to get your teammates on board.”
“It’s a plan.”
CHAPTER 6
Rafferty
Watching video in the team meeting room isn’t my favorite thing to do, but it is an absolute necessity. Maybe not as important as our training, but we can’t beat teams without it. Tomorrow we play the New York Phantoms and although we beat the Boston Eagles yesterday, it was too close for comfort. It was only a goal from Penn Navarro in the last twenty seconds of the game that gave us the lead and prevented overtime that could have gone either way.
While my mind is fully on the video, taking notes and asking questions, the minute Coach shuts it off and packs away his tablet—our work done for the day and the rest of our time free—I focus on something else that’s pretty important.