Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 112884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry, I should have—”
“You had no idea either. We grew up that way. I guess it was sort of cult-like. Worshipping him and making sure we never triggered him and always did what he said.”
“Probably is,” I agree. “I’m going to meet with the kids and then I have a meeting with the fundraising committee. Want to have dinner with me at my house?”
“Yes, I would like that very much.”
“Love you,” I tell her and she smiles.
“I love you more.” I turn and make my way toward the pediatric wing. Spending an hour with them, I take a couple of pictures, less than last time, which is what I like. I get to color with one of the girls. My phone buzzes in my back pocket, telling me my meeting is going to start in five minutes.
When I walk out of the pediatric wing, I stop when I see Lexi’s husband standing with a woman. He smiles at her, unlike the way he was smiling with his wife. The two of them share a laugh, and she turns her head to the side bashfully. “I only speak the truth,” he says to her and then he looks up and spots me. His smile goes tight and he gives me a short nod, and I totally look the other way going to the elevator.
I press the button, waiting for the elevator to get there. “You seem to be all over this place,” a grating voice says and I turn to the side, seeing him standing there, his hands in the pockets of his white jacket. I see his name stitched on the side of it, Dr. Trent Yoder.
“I don’t know about that, Trent.” I use his name, knowing he probably wants me to call him Dr. Yoder. “I’m just here for the summer. In a couple of months, it’ll be time for me to head back to LA.”
He doesn’t say anything else as we both get into the elevator. He’s a touch shorter than me, and where I’m buff and toned, he’s lean. I press the second-floor button while he presses the first. Neither of us says anything to each other until the doors open, and I’m taking a step out. “Say hello to my wife for me.”
I turn and smile at him with a little smirk. “Oh, I will,” I assure him, fucking with him. His eyes go into slits before the doors close. “Asshole.”
I make my way over to the conference rooms, seeing a couple of guys lingering outside. I introduce myself to them and they are all athletes also. There are four golfers, which is normal for this area. Two guys play for the NFL, and two are tennis players. I’m the only hockey guy here, again making me wonder why Lexi’s family isn’t more involved.
I look over and see Cheryl walking with Lexi at her side, the two of them talking about something. Cheryl looks over and sees us standing here. “Now if this isn’t the hottest bachelor auction, I don’t know what is.”
My eyes go to Lexi, who walks over to a couple of the golfers. “Hi,” she says, kissing one on his cheek. “How are you? How is your sister, Bernetta, and the kids?”
“Good,” he replies. “How is Trent? I haven’t seen him at the club in the last couple of weeks.”
“He’s so busy,” she praises him, and I almost roll my eyes. “He was in New York at a medical conference last week.”
“Busy man,” he says.
“Shall we get started?” Cheryl urges us inside the conference room. “I know how limited your time is.”
I wait for the other guys to head in and then I follow, stopping next to Lexi. “Your husband says hello, by the way.” I look at her and her mouth opens and, fuck, if she’s not the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. If there was someone who would ask me who the perfect woman is, I would say her. “I saw him in the elevator on the way down.”
“Oh,” she says, “thanks.” I nod at her and walk into the conference room, sitting in one of the empty chairs closest to the door. Cheryl sits in the chair beside me while Lexi walks to the other end of the table. “Thank you all for coming, we won’t take up much of your time.” She smiles and sits down right when there is a knock at the door.
Trent sticks his head in. “Sorry to interrupt,” he says with a smile, and seeing a couple of the golfers he gives them a chin up as hello. “I need to borrow my wife. I forgot an important file at home and I’m about to do rounds, so I was hoping she could go home and get it.”
I swear I almost laugh at him, typical behavior from a narcissist. His work is always more important than anyone else’s and he makes sure she knows it. “Of course,” Lexi agrees, standing up. “I’m sorry about this.” She avoids looking at anyone. “I’ll try to get back as fast as I can.”