Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 97382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I’m met with silence, and I close my eyes. I’m so stupid. I am supposed to have a professional relationship with this man, but I’m over here asking about his son I have no business knowing about because I have completely blown him off left and right.
In front of his parents!
But he comforted me.
He held my hand.
Ugh. He makes me foolish.
“With him going into the NHL draft, we don’t want him getting hurt, so he’s sitting on lower-ranked games.”
Oh. That makes sense. Wish him well and hang up. But of course, I don’t do what my brain says. Instead, I ask, “Is that what he wants to do?”
Wow. If there is a medal for dumbasses, I get the gold.
Jayden chuckles. “It’s what’s best.”
“I understand that, but he loves playing. He wants to win.”
“I know, but the Bullies are undefeated right now—”
“Because of Dawson,” I say, going for broke at this point. “He is making unbelievable plays, and I know he isn’t straight-into-the-NFL good, but he’s a college badass for our conference. The way he can read the field is wild, and how quick he is on his feet when he’s a fucking giant and weighs over 200 pounds—I mean, come on, he’s kicking ass.”
Jayden is quiet for a moment, and then he chuckles once more. “Um, Ro, is there something going on between you and my son?”
I snort. Like a fucking pig. “No way. Not at all. I mean, he gets on my nerves on the best of days and makes me stabby on others. But I just know how much it means to him and how much he loves playing.”
He doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. I know he thinks I’m a babbling fool. “I hear you, and I’ll make sure to remember that.”
“I hope so.”
I hope so?
I hope so?
What is wrong with me!
“I just mean, I’d hate for him to miss out on what he loves, and the chances of a championship are very high,” I quickly add, covering my face as it burns from my stupidity.
“I know, Ro. I hear you, and I also hear you defending my son pretty hard.”
“Me? Never,” I say too fast. Way too fast. “I don’t know why you’d think that.”
“No clue, huh?”
“None at all.” I let my head fall to the desk. “Oh, I have another call coming in.”
“Sure, see you at four on Saturday,” he says with humor lacing his voice.
“I can’t wait,” I groan before hanging up quickly.
Then I start to bang my head on the desk because, as much as I’ve fought it, I know in my soul… I’m going to end up giving Dawson Sinclair a chance.
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
Dawson
The Rowe Report: Episode 1022: His One Timer: the Titovs.
Jakob Titov: She wouldn’t give me the time of day, and I was obsessed with her. Truly, I was. Hell, still am utterly and pathetically in love with her.
Harper Titov: He makes me sound like I was coldhearted, but I wasn’t. Even back then, he was a hottie with a body, and I was very attracted to him. I totally entertained him and enjoyed his company, but I didn’t want a relationship. I was a rolling stone.
Jakob Titov: That I worked my ass off to make my favorite rock. You know the one you carry in your pocket? Show to everyone?
Laughter.
Jakob Titov: For me, it was love at first sight. She was helping her best friend take pictures of the Assassins for promo, and I’ve never posed so perfectly for anyone in my life. I was doing my best Blue Steel, and I got her number, but then she did what the kids these days say: ghosted me.
A prerecorded round of awws.
More laughter.
Jakob Titov: I wanted her to notice me so badly that I played like she was watching all the time, when really, she only came to home games.
Harper Titov: He pranced around like a peacock for me, and I loved it. It was hard because our best friends were together, and I think if that weren’t the case, he would have let me go.
Jakob Titov: Nope, never.
Harper Titov: Really?
Jakob Titov: Harper, you have always been the one.
Ambrosia Mercer: Ugh, I can’t.
Soft laughter.
Jakob Titov: I wouldn’t give up. I was sending flowers and love notes daily.
Ambrosia Mercer: Oh my. As Ms. Elizabeth Bennet has said, “And so ended his affection. There has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of flowers in driving away love.”
More laughter
Jakob Titov: Did you just Pride and Prejudice me?
Laughter.
Ambrosia Mercer: I’m sorry, but I can’t stand flowers. It makes me sad when they die.
Harper Titov: Me too, and when I told him that, this guy went and taught himself how to dry my flowers so I could keep them.
Ambrosia Mercer: No way!
Jakob Titov: Sure did. Even taught my kids, then my daughter’s husband.