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)
My Darling Wife
Don’t do that. Go hang out with the boys. We can talk tomorrow.
Something feels off, and I want to dig around in that message and read into it, but I’m afraid to.
Connor
Everything okay?
My Darling Wife
Just a busy day at work and I’m fading. I’m going to snuggle with your pillow. Have a good night.
Connor
’Night, darling.
The following afternoon, after we’ve landed in Boston and settled into our rooms, we hit the ice for practice, and I decide to pump my coach for information. Aside from Flip—which I still don’t love thinking about—Lexi is Mildred’s best friend. If there’s something going on, she might know about it before I do.
I’d like that to change. I’d like to be the person Mildred comes to first with every worry, secret, and piece of good news, but that will take time. And I’m not above digging to ease my own worries.
“Callie has a game tonight, right?” I ask conversationally as Coach Forrest-Hammer and I pass the puck back and forth.
Coach nods. “She does. I’m so grateful that Roman and Hollis can trade off during away games, especially with Fee in university this year. And Dred is a great backup when we need it,” she adds.
“Mildred loves going to her games,” I confirm. “We both do.”
“She does,” Coach Forrest-Hammer agrees. “But it’s a lot to ask, and her circumstances have changed significantly recently.”
“Have you talked to her today?” I ask.
“I talk to her every day.” She arches a brow. “Have you?”
“She’s my wife.” As if that’s an answer. I roll the puck down my stick and pass it to her. “She seem okay to you?”
Coach Forrest-Hammer shrugs. “A little distracted and tired. She mentioned having a bunch of proposals to work on. The wedding stuff has kept her busy, so it might just be catch-up.”
“Right. The last few weeks have been intense.” We’ve been sprinting since she agreed to marry me. Maybe I’m right and now that we’re back to real life, she has regrets—about marrying me, about letting me into her body, about sharing her secrets.
“You could send her something to let her know you’re thinking about her,” Coach suggests.
“That’s a good idea.” And one I should have thought of.
“It doesn’t have to be elaborate.” She flips the puck on her stick before sending it back to me. “Sometimes small and thoughtful can mean more than something extravagant.”
“Noted.”
“You care about her,” Coach says softly.
“Does that surprise you?”
“Just because this started as something else doesn’t mean it can’t change, Connor. Roman and I are proof of that. So are Hemi and Dallas, and Hollis and Hammer, and Rix and Tristan. Where we end up doesn’t have to be defined by where we began.”
I open my mouth, but then Coach Vander Zee skates over, ending that conversation. Still, it hits where it’s meant to. After practice, I check my phone and see that I have new messages.
Meems
You need to take your wife shopping.
Connor
Sure.
Meems
Her pants have holes in them.
On purpose.
Connor
That’s fashionable these days, Meems.
But I do love the idea of spending time with her, watching her try on clothes, dressing her in beautiful things.
Connor
I’ll take her when I get back.
CHAPTER 32
DRED
Hemi
Watering Hole in an hour?
Rix
I can make it!
Hammer
Obviously you know I can make it.
Apicture of the two of them standing in the office together follows.
Shilpa
Please enjoy each other while I enjoy my sleeping nugget.
A photo of a tired but happy Shilpa snuggling her passed out baby follows.
Tally
I have dance practice. Miss you. Sending my love!
Lexi
I’m in.
Dred
I wish I could, but proposals are calling my name. Eat some potato skins in my honor!
A new message pops up from Lexi in our private chat.
Lexi
You’ve been working on proposals for days. No pressure either way, but are you sure you can’t take a little break?
Dred
I’m almost finished. Maybe later this week, though?
Lexi
Okay. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.
Dred
Thank you. I appreciate you.
I toss my phone on the desk in the library at Grace Manor and flop back in the chair, removing my glasses so I can rub my tired eyes. Even if I hand over everything in my bank account, almost every program I have will have to be cut after this loss of funding. I’ve been scrambling since we got the news, and it’s been a full-time job creating proposals for all of them. There’s no guarantee the committee will see the value in them.
I haven’t said anything to Connor. If he pushes, I’ll tell him everything, and then his already tumultuous relationship with his family will be even more strained. I worry about the ripple effect on Meems, and his sisters.
Last night when he came home, we spent time with Meems, and then I dragged him straight to bed. I needed the escape and the connection. It seemed like he needed it just as much. And sex is a great way to keep our mouths and bodies busy and away from difficult topics.