Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
But then she got engaged to the team’s coach, and suddenly the man who was row one, column A of my spreadsheet is standing in my living room. He doesn’t flirt or chase, but he shows up every time I need him and sometimes for no reason at all. He lets my five-year-old drag him to the floor to play cars and helps me study for nursing school exams. There’s just one thing he won’t do, and that’s get attached to anyone or anything he can’t pack into a suitcase.
He’s made an art form out of keeping people at arm’s length. I’m freakishly good at keeping men out of my life entirely, because men who can find a reason to leave always do.
Nothing that feels this good lasts. Both of us know that. But no matter what chaos is surrounding me and my boys, Magnus keeps showing up. And I’m starting to see that the most dangerous thing he’s done isn’t making me worry he’ll leave, but making me believe he might be the one who stays
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
1
Blair
* * *
My sister steps out of the fitting room looking like she’s modeling the wedding dress she’s wearing for a magazine shoot. Again.
“Another ten, right?” Suki says, looking at me.
“Like it was designed just for her.”
“Your boobs are ... magical.” Mara stares at Jules’s chest like a man with unlimited audacity.
Jules smiles at her. “Thank you. But you guys, I need critical opinions, too.”
The three of us study the sleeveless ivory gown, which has pink flowers embroidered on the bottom. Suki and Mara are newish friends Jules met through her job with the Cleveland Crush, which is also how she met her fiancé Noel, who coaches the pro hockey team. They quickly brought me into their group and it feels like we’ve all been friends forever.
“Well, it does draw attention to your shoulders.”
I flick my gaze to Lorraine, our fiftysomething stylist at the upscale wedding boutique. She’s looking at Jules over the rim of her glasses on a chain, and she seriously just said that.
“Her shoulders are beautiful,” I snap. “And she wasn’t asking you.”
My sister’s smile fades as she looks at her reflection in the floor-length mirrors surrounding the pedestal she’s standing on. Lorraine walks over to the pedestal, her attention focused on Jules.
“An empire cut would help disguise your tummy,” she says, her tone gentle.
My brows hit my hairline. “She’s a style influencer and you look like you’ve been haunting a creepy mansion for the last two hundred years.”
Jules turns to look at me. “Blair.”
“No, she’s right,” Mara says. “Nothing on your body needs to be disguised.”
“I apologize,” Lorraine says.
“Well, Lorraine,” Suki says. “This is the first store we’ve been to, but we have others in mind, too.”
Lorraine winces. Inwardly, I’m celebrating harder than a shirtless guy chugging beers at a snowy football game. Suki and Mara are protective of Jules, just like I am. Just because she radiates joy and confidence, that doesn’t mean shitty comments don’t hurt her.
“Is Jana here today?” Suki asks Lorraine.
“No, but I assure you, I c—”
What little color our sales associate had in her face is gone now. Suki looks at Jules, who looks down before raising her chin and squaring her shoulders.
“I think we’re done here, Lorraine,” she says. “If I decide to come back, I’ll work directly with Jana.”
Lorraine pastes on a smile. “As the owner, Jana doesn’t usually handle fittings.”
“That’s too bad.” Jules gathers the dress’s skirt so she can step down from the pedestal. “The boutique is a major sponsor of the Crush. I wanted to support her with my business.”
“The ... Crush?” Lorraine looks like she may be sick.
“The Cleveland Crush? Pro hockey team? I’m the social media manager. That’s how I met Jana.”
“Really?” Suki furrows her brow. “I figured you knew her through Noel.”
“Noel Turner.” Mara gives Lorraine a fake smile. “He’s the head coach of the Crush.”
I stand from my seat. “That man is crazy in love with my sister. The last thing he would want is for any part of her to be disguised on her wedding day.”
Lorraine gives Jules a pleading look. “I’m so sorry.”
Suki and Mara both stand, too. Mara gives me a genuine smile. “I, for one, am relieved I won’t have to try on bridesmaid dresses after all that queso with a side of tacos.”
“Same,” I say. “And now we have enough time to try the cupcakes at that new bakery.”
“I’ll get dressed,” Jules says.
Lorraine leaves the room. I glare at her back, and then at the door she left out of.
“Aw.” Suki smiles softly at her phone screen, then turns it so we can see. “Look at these two.”
Lainey, who is married to Bash, one of the Crush players, sent a selfie she took of her and Talia, one of the team’s trainers. They’re both reclined in chairs, dressed in fluffy white robes. Both women have a pale-green clay mask on their face.
“Lucky bitches,” Mara says.
The team had four off days in a row, and Lainey and Talia are spending three days at a spa in Sedona, Arizona. Mara, who is seven months pregnant, is saving all her days off for maternity leave.
“Oh my gosh,” Suki says, looking at her phone again.
She turns the screen again, showing us a video of people skating at an ice rink. After a few seconds, I realize it’s her husband, Carter, Mara’s husband Leo, and Magnus and Isaac, who are all teammates. They offered to let my two sons hang out with them today while we shop. Carter’s girls are there, too, his youngest daughter in his arms.
Noel is there, too, and he’s showing my seven-year-old, Eli, something to do with skating. My heart swells at the same time my stomach churns.
My boys don’t remember much about their dad, who left a long time ago. I don’t allow men around them because I don’t want them getting attached. But Noel is marrying Jules, so he’s family. My sons adore him, but seeing Eli with Noel reminds me of kids with great dads, which my boys deserve but will never have.