Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Drake grimaces. “It will be a media frenzy. It’s going to stir up all the old shit with Crystal’s allegations and me leaving the league.”
“So we keep it secret,” I say, leaning in to kiss him. “Just me and you until we see where it goes.”
“Well, and Jenna and Gage,” he points out.
“And Kiera and the boys,” I add.
“Oh, and Daniel… your house man knows.”
Laughing, I let him roll me to my back, and he kisses me deeper. My arms wind around his neck, and I give in to the way he consumes me.
Drake lifts his head, his expression thoughtful as he stares down at me. “I like seeing you like this. Relaxed. And underneath me. That’s also a good look.”
Grinning, I tug on his hair. “Thank you for insisting I do this. I have a hard time slowing down. I’m really grateful.”
Drake rubs his nose along mine before kissing me again. His lips stay on mine, brushing across them, his beard tickling my skin. “How about you tell me how grateful you are the next time I’m inside you? You’re coming to the game in Columbus tomorrow, aren’t you?”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” I say before drawing him back down to me and feeling like today marks the first day of what might be a very new and different life.
CHAPTER 28
Drake
“Of course you’d be dressed up as Thor.”
I turn to see Baden walking across the players’ parking lot toward me and give a twirl of my hammer before resting it on my shoulder. He’s dressed as Batman, and I eye him head to toe. “Batman. I don’t get the connection.”
Baden jerks his head over his shoulder toward the line of cars parked closest to the arena, all with their trunks open. “Sophie dressed as Wonder Woman, and she picked this out for me.”
“Wow,” Colby says as he looks up at Baden. “Batman’s my favorite.”
I’m holding Colby’s hand and on the other side, Tanner’s. He doesn’t look so impressed.
Baden squats in front of Colby. “I like your cowboy outfit.”
“I’m going to be one when I grow up,” he announces proudly.
“I think your dad should buy you a horse,” Baden proclaims, and I glare at him even as Colby turns hopeful eyes up at me.
“I’m going to be a fireman,” Tanner says, and Baden’s eyes sweep over to him.
“You’ll be a mighty hero, for sure.” Baden then turns to Jake and grins. “And you’ll be the best goalie in the league.”
My heart thumps proudly. Jake wants to be just like his dad and always has. I really need to get him into a league, I think once again. He’s wearing a full Titans’ getup, including a replica of my hockey mask.
Baden rises and hugs Kiera. “Hi, Harley.”
She laughs and pulls back. Admittedly, she looks just like Harley Quinn, although the shorts she’s wearing could be a little longer, in my opinion. If I see one of my teammates even spare more than a second glance at her, I’ll kindly rearrange his face.
“Come on,” Baden says as he turns toward the cars. “Let’s trunk-or-treat.”
It’s Halloween, and the Titans’ organization does something every year for the kids. Usually it’s a big party, but this year, the players got together and decided they wanted to do a trunk-or-treat in the arena parking lot. All the players without kids decorated their vehicles and loaded the trunks with candy and toys.
Those of us with kids only had to show up in costume and enjoy.
Costumes weren’t required of the adults, but I couldn’t resist the Thor outfit. Too many people compare me to him in size, and plus… the hair.
The car on the end isn’t actually one of the players’ but rather a vintage black hearse. It’s creepy as hell, and I don’t recognize the couple standing there—a very tall, bulky Frankenstein with perfectly applied makeup, neck bolts, and scarring. The woman is dressed as his bride with the black-and-white beehive hairdo, pale skin, dramatic eyes, and black lips.
“Whoa,” Kiera says in awe.
Frankenstein lumbers to the back of the hearse, pulls out a basket of candy, and turns toward my kids. Colby edges in closer to me.
“If it isn’t the McGinn clan.” And then I recognize Coen’s voice.
“Dude,” I exclaim as I take him in. “That is a stellar costume. I couldn’t even tell it was you.”
“Tillie created it,” he says proudly, and I turn to give her a hug. “She’s the artist in the family.”
Tillie might look scary, but when she pulls candy out of the basket and fills my kids’ buckets, that makes her okay with them.
“Thank you,” they say softly, still a little scared, and Kiera moves them down to the next car.
“You’ve successfully guaranteed my kids will have nightmares,” I say as I watch them. The next car over is Hendrix and Boone, both of whom are dressed up as Power Rangers.