Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 88895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“I look classy.”
“You look like what you think classy should be.”
“I look like I’m about to meet my future in-laws for the first time,” she declares while adjusting her rose pink off the shoulder sweater dress. “And I want their impression of me to be high society welcomed in their social circles not ice slut who wishes they were.”
“Except you are an ice slut who wishes she were,” I sassily snip when we arrive at the door.
“Yes, but they’re going to love me instead of whoever Frosky’s supposed shadow whore is.”
“Slayer.”
“Ew,” she sneers yet again. “I would never be called that.”
“You’re right.” Opening the door with a sharp tug is accompanied by my own snarky smile. “You never will.”
The eye roll I’m given barely beats her stomping her white ankle boots covered feet into the building.
LMC sponsoring hot chocolate or coffee or tea for the players and their families was actually my idea.
Joey came up with the theme; however, I suggested that it could be a good press event if we paired it with our biggest donor, to which she squealed with excitement over the possibility.
Or maybe that was because I was taking “Slayer initiative”, a thing that apparently, I should be doing given that Tanner wears an A.
Bringing it up to Mom had her giddily agreeing without even bothering to ask Dad who instantly saw what a great opportunity it could be for the brand, the team, and of course them meeting my boyfriend’s parents who would be in town for it which has been arranged to happen post-game, post-family skate at a private lounge to aid in keeping our relationship hidden.
Yeah.
Having my parents on the assist does feel pretty fucking good.
Gotta give them glory for that.
“Those balloons look hideous,” chirps the pucking nightmare while strutting through the area currently being set up.
And having her on the opposing bench feels like a migraine that can only be healed by a skate executed lobotomy.
“Ohmygod, these signs?!” Her hands are thrown up in exasperation. “They look like they were made by kids.”
“That’s because they were,” hisses Marigold Blanc, Coach’s wife.
“Oh.” Audrey does her best to save the situation. “Then they look great!” Her forced smile hurts my face as much as it hurts hers. “Where is LMC setting up?”
“That’s a question for Hoss,” she gestures. “She’s in charge.”
Groans of irritation precede her pouting at me. “But whyyyyyy…”
“Could be because I’m in charge of getting and posting this footage or it could be because it was my idea to have LMC come in to begin with or it could just be that Joey, the team’s very pregnant, very close to popping HSIN, cannot handle stressing over another thing.” Sassily smirking happens once more. “Pick one.”
A deeper glare is the most she can conjure up.
“I know this is just a photo op for you, so until that moment arrives could you please park your Sherrif of Rottingham ass on the nearest bench, so that the ice girls can finish putting up decorations.”
Giggles from the dancers along with some of the other Slayers sparks a second round of stomping along with fresh squeals to escape during her disappearance.
“She sounds like a squeak toy,” Khurana teases from over my shoulder, pulling my attention to him. “And you smell like a bakery.” He makes an innocent point to my forehead. “Is that flour?”
Most likely.
Baking cookies from scratch is a bitch.
Next time?
I’m going Tollhouse.
“Probably just dog treat dust or whatever,” I casually lie and adjust my bag.
“Burt, right?”
“Bear.”
He slightly cringes prior to apologizing, “Sorry.” I prepare to walk away to find Tanner’s table to slide my bag under when he gently grabs my arm. “Hey, would you or you and Bear be interested in grabbing a drink tonight? Technically, the Slayers will be posting family skate footage, so we’re off the hook early.”
Add that to the list of things I hate about being a secret girlfriend.
Having to get creative in order to stick around all the fucking time.
“Right…but I’m not.”
His eyebrow lifts in confusion.
“I gotta capture some raw footage for his docu thing.”
Khurana nods his understanding yet doesn’t hide his irritation. “Can’t wait for you to be done with that. Done with having to be around him all the fucking time. Done with Boss rearranging our schedule together for you to be with him.”
“Sameskies,” flees my lips in a mumble before I find an excuse to dart away after an ice girl, “Hey, Hu, can you actually move Peck’s table to be beside Frosky’s and then Cap’s table to be on the end so Joey can pee whenever?”
Saydee Hu adjusts the collection of name banners she’s holding and happily nods. “Yeah. Easy fix, Hoss!”
“Thank you.”
For the next forty-five minutes, I’m moving around nonstop with Khurana not far behind. Grabbing fun footage of the dancers laughing together as well as the Slayers bonding is PR gold that Hot Rocket – er – the owner has been thrilled to see mixed into the feeds, claiming we currently not only have one of the highest followings in the league but have some of the highest video viewings by fans along with the most positive player reportings.