Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“One of the coaches went through a divorce last year. He struggled, started drinking, started gambling, started doing other bad shit. Coach Hines is the one who drove him to rehab, and he’s the one who picked him up, bringing him right back because they needed to get to work. That’s the definition of a hockey family. You’re one of us. It’s time to accept a new family.”
My hands shook. Was I actually going to do this?
Gingerly, I slid from the booth. I couldn’t meet his gaze. My eyes watered, and I couldn’t get them to stop.
“Rain,” he murmured. “I didn’t hire you because of my cousin or because you’re my sister, but I’m also not going to let you go. Let me help you, in any way you need it, because I didn’t help her. And I am going to be damned if I lose another sister.”
I struggled to breathe but managed to jerk my head in a nod. He looked wrecked, but I was sure I was a mess as well.
“We’ve still got third period,” he said.
I barked out a laugh. My voice sounded strangled.
We left the hotel. A man opened the back door to an SUV as we approached. Mal slid inside first, and I followed. As the doors closed and the vehicle pulled away from the curb, I told him, “I would’ve liked to meet Miriam.”
“I’m going to her grave soon. You can come along.”
“I’d like that.”
We fell quiet after that, because we were only a few blocks from the arena, and I needed to regroup. I was raw on the inside, but whether he knew it or not, he’d cleared the table so I could start putting myself back together. The right way this time.
When we pulled into the players’ entrance, Mal hesitated. “When was the last time you checked your phone?”
“I haven’t. I couldn’t bring myself to turn it on. I was…” Embarrassed, I realized he knew exactly what I’d been doing. Isolating. Pulling away. It’s what his cousin did.
An odd look crossed his face. “Tyler doesn’t know about our connection. No one does except the board, my PI, and our father. The board won’t release that information. They’re all locked in with iron-clad non-disclosure agreements. And my father won’t say a word. He’s just hoping to meet you sometime. But regarding everything else, Tyler went public. He had Martine publish the article.”
“He did what?”
61
TYLER
The crowd booed us. I sighed, skating up for the face-off. I couldn’t blame them.
We were a mess. We’d been a mess the whole game. And I couldn’t find it in me to care. Mal said he knew where Rain was, that’d he go check on her during the game. That was the only thing that kept me sane today.
Martine’s article had dropped yesterday, and I hadn’t heard one word from Rain. I’d gone to the hotel, but she wasn’t there anymore. I kept calling and calling and nothing.
“You okay, buddy?” Nolan asked, stepping up across from me.
I hadn’t even had time to consider that we were playing my old team. But it was comforting to see the guys again. Especially Nolan.
The ref skated up, but he waited for my response.
“Yeah. Life’s just a fucking shitshow sometimes.”
“Life lesson learned. Now, you boys ready—” His words faded as a sudden roar came up from the crowd. It also drowned out the music.
“Griff!” Sunny hissed beside me.
“Dude. Look!” That was Karasvota, one of our defensemen. He pointed up.
I looked, and then immediately skated backward because the camera had found Rain. She sat beside Mal, giant sized on the Jumbotron.
Nolan also turned.
Jesse smacked me on the shoulder. “Your girl’s back.”
Relief poured over me. I’d been so worried I might never see her again. But Mal had delivered what he promised. He’d brought her back. She was here in the arena.
I bent over, hands on my knees, letting that knowledge sink in.
“Are we ready to get back to hockey, boys?” the referee asked.
“Ready.” I got into position.
Nolan followed suit. “Ready.”
The ref dropped the puck.
62
RAIN
After we got to the owner’s suite, I turned my phone on, and my notifications went crazy. There were a hundred, at least. Most were from Eric—my new friend from Hank’s Tulip.
Eric: GIRL! GIRRRRLLLL!
Eric: Okay. Honey darling. Where are you? We need to do our friend date. Remember?
Eric: OH MY GAWD! YOU’RE SISTER CONNORS? WHAT?
Eric: Call me. Jesus. I never have to work this hard to get a girl to call me.
Eric: Okay. Officially mad. And hurt. And mad again. I don’t mean to toot my own horn but in the friends department, I’m kind of a big deal. You are going to miss out on all this. (Pretend I’m gesturing to my well-kept body because I work out. I take care of myself. I’m my own temple.)
Eric: Um. Okay. I just got a call from Skylar, and she told me a bit more about what might be going on. I’m so sorry if you’re going through it. I’m here for you whenever.