Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 132951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
He follows it with a photo of a list in her handwriting. I smile. I knew she’d love the highland warriors series.
And tomorrow I can find out just how good Connor is at keeping his word.
CHAPTER 10
CONNOR
Coach Forrest-Hammer stops me on the way to the locker room after practice. “You and Romero were in sync on the ice today.”
“We played together at the Hockey Academy.” Quinn Romero and I go back as far as I do with Dallas Bright, Tristan Stiles, and unfortunately, Flip Madden.
Lexi shakes her head. “It’s about more than history, Grace. You can predict each other’s moves. It’ll be good for the team this season, and for Ryker.”
I don’t know what to do with the uncomfortable feeling in my chest. “We have similar playing styles.”
“Maybe just accept the compliment,” she suggests with a small smile.
“Right.” I nod. “Thanks, Coach.”
“You seem more settled these days.” She walks away before I can respond.
She’s Mildred’s closest friend in their group, so Lexi has to know this thing between us isn’t made of love and promises of forever. But she’s not wrong about me being less…on edge. Meems’s happiness is the reason for that, though.
I continue down the hall to join the rest of my teammates in the locker room.
So far it seems to be louder and slightly less civilized without Roman and Hollis to balance things out. The rookies look up to Madden, Stiles, Palaniappa, and Bright now. Roman basically functioned as the team dad, and I think they’re trying to find their footing around the huge hole his absence has created. Even I feel the loss. Hammerstein was good at creating team cohesion on the ice, and he made me feel like I wasn’t a waste of roster space.
Romero’s cubby is next to mine—probably Coach Forrest-Hammer’s suggestion. He nods at me as I strip off my jersey and sit next to him so I can remove my pads.
“Everything okay?” he asks.
“Yeah. You?”
“S’all right. Big shift from where I was last year,” he admits.
Romero coached for the Hockey Academy and played out in Pearl Lake last year.
“There’s a lot of pressure coming in all directions. Can’t imagine it’s easy to block out all the noise.” I can relate, even if our situations are vastly different.
“I’m staying off social media for the foreseeable future for sure,” he grumbles.
Romero’s dad was a legend in the game, but he had a reputation for being a fighter early in his career. Quinn followed in his footsteps, which contributed to him not being picked up sooner. There’s some irony that the Terror management added two of the chippiest players in the league to their team in as many seasons.
“It helps for sure. But you have someone to manage that for you?”
“My friend Lovey deals with most of it.” The tips of his ears turn red.
Makes me wonder what the deal is with this friend of his. “That’s good. Definitely makes it easier to stay focused when you can avoid the shit talk.”
“And all the women in my messages looking for hookups,” he mutters.
“Ah, yes, that gets old after a while.”
We shower and change into street clothes. Dallas and a few of the other guys invite us to the Watering Hole. I’m pretty sure the invitation is for Romero, not me, but I’m standing right beside him.
“Yeah, I’d love to.” Romero’s all smiles as he turns to me. “You in?”
“Let me check with Mildred.”
“She’s at work,” Flip offers, then adds, “But you probably already know that.”
He’s been oddly civil with me, and I don’t know how to take it.
“Yeah, we have a date tonight.” It’s not a complete lie. And anyway, going to the Watering Hole might also give Flip the opportunity to grill me.
Connor
What time are you coming with books?
Mildred
As soon as my shift is over.
Connor
Which is when?
Mildred
I’m sharing my calendar with you. But I’m off in two hours.
That gives me time to check on Meems and make sure she’s ready for a visitor.
An email alert pops up with the subject: Dred Reformer has shared her calendar with you.
“I have a few things to take care of before I see Mildred, but maybe next time.” Probably not, though. Unless my fiancée is going.
“Sure thing.” Dallas and Quinn give me props as I leave the locker room.
Half an hour later I arrive at Meems’s house. Cedrick greets me at the door.
“How’s she been today?” I hang my keys in the entry and trade my outdoor shoes for my indoor ones.
His expression is pinched with worry. “Tired, sir. She’s been busy.”
“Busy with what?”
“Moving her things into the guest quarters.”
I frown. “Why would she do that?”
He stares at me. I stare back.
He arches a brow. I arch one back.
“She would like you to move in here with your fiancée.”
I poke at my cheek with my tongue. “This is a twenty-two-thousand-square-foot mansion. She doesn’t need to move anywhere.”