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)
I sit at a large table surrounded by the people who make up our inner circle. Most important is Tempe, joining the gang for the first time to enjoy our post-win celebration. Also at our table is King, Willa, Foster, Mazzy, Atlas, North and my sister Farren. Nearby, Boone and Bain are engaged in a fierce battle of darts while Kiera and Lilly cheer them on. Camden and Danica are partnered against Hendrix and Stevie in a game of nine ball, but there’s nothing competitive about that scenario. Stevie is so good at the game, she could probably travel the professional circuit.
The game against the Wizards was a clincher, putting us solidly at the top of our division. But the highlight, at least for me, wasn’t just the win—it was scoring a short-handed goal that had the crowd roaring. Yet, as sweet as the praise feels, having Tempe here, wearing my jersey and cheering me on, adds a layer of happiness that victory alone can’t touch.
King lifts his glass, his booming voice cutting through the noise, “To Rafferty, for that sick goal and keeping us on top!”
“Didn’t know you could skate that fast,” Atlas teases.
“Bite me,” I snap back with a grin.
Glasses clink and I smile, taking a sip of my beer, looking at Tempe over the rim. She’s laughing at something North says and I don’t know what, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is that she fits in so seamlessly. Things have changed so fast, but after spending yesterday with her and her family to celebrate Christmas—with my own sister in tow—I realized that my feelings are very deep. I’ve never had a relationship that felt so right before, and it makes me think of the future in a different way.
Before, all I could see was my hockey career, how it could be developed and maximized. Now when I look forward, all I see is Tempe. Sure, I see hockey, but I can’t see it without her in my jersey, screaming for me as I race down the ice to score. Those are the moments I want every day and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep them.
As the revelry continues, my mind wanders back to a quieter moment yesterday at Tempe’s house. While she and Farren were in the kitchen making hot chocolate, I sat with her mom in the living room. Natalie is an easygoing woman and rather than be suspicious of my motives, given the way I met her daughter, she’s charmed by the entire story.
“I haven’t seen Tempe happy like this in a long time,” she mused as she set one of the cookbooks I bought for her aside. I took the love seat adjacent to her.
“She’s been worried about you.”
“I hate being a burden to her,” she said sadly, waving her hand. “And now she won’t go back next semester. Thinks I can’t take care of myself.”
I glanced toward the kitchen, heard Tempe and Farren chatting, and leaned closer to Natalie. “Can you take care of yourself? You’re in a wheelchair.”
She nodded. “My doctor says I can progress to crutches in a few weeks.”
“But I imagine you’ll still need help.”
Natalie sighed in frustration. “I’m sure Cooper can manage—”
“What exactly would you need?” I asked, cutting her off.
Her cheeks reddened and she looked away.
“I’ll help you with whatever you need, Natalie. If it means getting Tempe back to school.” I understood at that moment I was helping to send my girlfriend far away from me, turning this into a long-distance relationship. But Tempe deserved to finish school and her mom deserved to be taken care of.
Her eyes came to me. “I’ll need help with certain things like bathing, getting dressed, moving around. Things Cooper really shouldn’t be helping me with. But that’s not your problem.”
“Natalie. I know I’ve only been around for a few weeks, but I care about Tempe—a lot. And what affects her, affects me. Now, I made a deal with her that if she would be my fake girlfriend, I’d pay her six thousand dollars, but she won’t take the additional five I owe her now that things have changed between us. I don’t agree with that but I respect it, so I’m not pushing her. But I can push you to take it.”
Natalie shook her head. “That’s too much.”
“I’m rich, Natalie,” I chided. “And besides, this money… it’s more than I’ll ever spend and ridiculous that she has to work herself to exhaustion when I’m offering help. If you accept it, Tempe can go back to school and you will be taken care of. You can hire someone to handle those needs for you, and if it costs more than that, I’ll pay for it.”
“Tempe won’t like it.”
“Tempe won’t know,” I countered, realizing I’d be lying to my girlfriend, but it’s something I can accept on my conscience. “You just tell her that insurance is covering it.”