Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Shivering, I slip into the hotel lobby and head straight for the elevator. I’ve got a hot date tonight with a turkey sub and later a FaceTime call with Lilly.
We flew into Buffalo this afternoon, attended a light skate at the arena and now we can spend the evening however we wish. We won game two in Pittsburgh and tomorrow is game three. We’ve been on fire this first round and I hope we sweep the Wolves. Not only would it be that nice knife in their back for betraying Drake, but we’ll have a full week off before the next round. That means plenty of rest outside of some light practices, and well… it means more time with Aiden and Lilly.
Okay, as much as I adore Aiden, I’m really looking forward to more time with Lilly. Although much of that will be us hanging out in Aiden’s room during the day. Oh, and his birthday party. Very much looking forward to that as I’ve got a lot of the guys planning to come celebrate.
My phone rings just as I’m getting on the elevator and I recognize my sister’s chime. “Queen Bee,” I exclaim. “Are you all packed?”
“We’re all ready. We can’t wait to see you,” Claire says.
“Same.” I exit the elevator and head to my room. My family is flying into Buffalo tomorrow to watch me play. It’s going to be a family reunion of sorts as my parents live in California now, my sister is still in Duluth where we were raised, and my brother is coming in from New York City. My parents have been visiting Claire, her husband Ben and my niece and nephew, Cora and Nick. They’re all flying in together tomorrow morning, and Damien will come direct from the Big Apple.
“What have you been doing today?” she asks.
“We had a light skate this afternoon and the evening to ourselves. I just went out and got a sub to eat in my room. Most of the guys are chilling tonight.”
“And are your evening plans going to include Lilly?” she teases.
Claire has been relentless in poking at me where Lilly’s concerned, and yes, my entire family knows about her. They knew about her before I ever had any feelings that led me to kiss her because I’d been in contact with them about Steven. And when I say I’d been in contact with them, I’m talking about separate conversations.
With my mom, Patricia, I asked for advice I could pass on to Lilly as the main caretaker of an alcoholic, including the correct words to say to encourage while holding the line in the sand.
With my dad, Thomas, I asked him what he appreciated most out of all the things that were done to get him sober. His answer was simple—he appreciated the understanding and lack of judgment, which helped to alleviate his shame. He told me that’s what motivated him more than anything. “I’m not sure that’s the right way for everyone,” he told me. “But it’s the thing I loved y’all the most for during that time.”
My brother, Damien, is the oldest at thirty-three and while I’m not as close to him as I am to Claire, he’s still a great sounding board. His perspective of being an older sibling to a younger one in need was invaluable in understanding some of the pressures that role entailed. I imagine the conversations Damien had with me when Dad was drinking were nearly identical to the ones Lilly has had with Aiden.
And lastly, Claire, who is four years older than me at thirty, is the one I can talk to about anything. She’s who I turned to after I kissed Lilly in the hospital. Called her right from the car and luckily caught her at a good time. She’s a clinical social worker and pushed her paperwork aside to lend an ear.
Ever since I told her that I couldn’t help myself—kissing Lilly to get her to stop the word vomit of worries—Claire’s been giving me hell about liking this girl. Some might be annoyed, but I think her teasing is funny. Just like I think it’s adorable the way my relationship is developing with Lilly. My sister called it an epic “meet-cute” and then explained to me that’s how a hero and heroine meet in romance books. I’m not sure meeting in a hospital over a very sick little boy is cute, but there’s something pure and wholesome about the way my feelings have developed for Lilly that prove we have something unique. I’m willing to take Claire’s ribbing just to have her objective insight.
“Yes,” I drawl in a mock irritated voice. “I’ll be FaceTiming her later once she gets home from the hospital.”
It’s a stark reminder to my sister that there are still heavy issues over us. “How’s Aiden?” she asks. She’s never met him or Lilly, but she’s become invested because I’m invested. My whole family is, as I’ve laid out the entire scenario over the last few weeks.