Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 115763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Half dressed and with his dick hanging out the leg hole of his tighty-whities, Brody holds a palm up to Vernon Howe, our goalie. Maybe Brody took one to the melon? He must’ve if he thinks Howe is going to congratulate him for slipping one between his legs, and I’m not talking about his dick. Pigs have a greater chance of growing wings and taking flight than Brody does of getting a high five from the gruff goalie.
Fuck, Howe likes me, and though he has raised a hand at me, it sure as shit wasn’t for a high five. He once smacked me because I let an opposing forward distract me and sneak a puck through my skates with some fancy footwork. The rebuff was deserved, and I learned a valuable lesson. Hopefully, Brody does the same and chills on the over-celebratory moves that are bordering on rubbing Howe’s nose in his slipup.
“Come on, man. You gotta admit that move was slick. Almost as slick as your mom last night,” Brody taunts Howe, even sticking his tongue out in what I fear is his approximation of eating pussy. If that’s the case, he’s never pleased a woman once in his short life, which I swear he wants to end after that comment.
The three closest guys to them take noticeable steps away, getting out of the danger zone. Someone mutters under their breath, sounding exactly like that kid from The Simpsons, “I’m in danger!”
Deciding to stay out of their impending and inevitable tussle, I ask Dom, “What’s the plan?”
We don’t always hang out after practice, but more often than not, we’ll at least grab food before going our separate ways. To be honest, he’s not only my best (and only) friend, he’s more like a brother, and we spend a good chunk of time together. It’s been like that since we were rookies on our last team, hoping to make a name for ourselves. We did, as a unified team of two on the right side of the ice, and as friends who no one and nothing could break apart.
There’s one thing that could tear your friendship to shreds in the blink of an eye.
I swallow hard, forcing that thought back into the lockbox it’s supposed to stay in, safe and secure and far away from Dominic, who would very likely murder me with his bare hands if he had any idea why I don’t date beyond the occasional casual fuck. Or not exactly why . . . but who.
“You wanna grab protein bowls?” It’s one of our usual pregame dinner options, so I’m already nodding, which makes it too late to say no when he adds, “I just want to swing by Penny’s first.”
Fuck. My. Life.
Dominic’s sister’s place is the last spot I want to go, and seeing Penny is the thing I want to do least in the world. I’d rather go to the proctologist, or have a glass rod shoved up my dick without lube and then broken, or wherever and whatever is worse than that. Hell, I’d rather referee Brody and Howe, because they’ve moved on from verbal sparring to some slaphappy roughhousing on the other side of the locker room. Yes, with Brody’s dick still playing peekaboo, which means Howe is sticking to shots to Brody’s northernmost head. So far.
“All right, I’ll meet you at Pro-Bowl, then,” I suggest, hoping he’ll take me up on the offer to secure our preferred table in the back corner of the cafeteria line–style restaurant that lets us load up on protein and healthy veg while giving us a discount, saying it’s for the good of the team. “Triple chicken, brown rice, double guac, and veg, yeah?” I confirm, though I know his order as well as my own.
“Nah, come with me. We can give Penny shit and see if she wants to grab food too.”
Dom’s a thoughtful, protective, caring brother. Did I mention protective? Because fuck, is he. He’s the only one who can give Penny shit the way he does. Anyone else, he’d destroy without hesitation. But it’s done out of love. His whole family dotes on her like she’s the golden child of the household, but the truth is, she’s not. They take special care of her because she nearly always has some drama happening in her life, and though it’s typically not her fault, it doesn’t change the fact that Dom often spends his time worrying about her, to the point of wanting to make sure she eats, but is just as likely a ruse to do a wellness check and make sure nothing has imploded in her vicinity today. Literally or figuratively.
The first time I met Penny, Dominic and I were rookies. He dragged me to his parents’ house during an off week, promising good food, relaxation, and some parental affection. We’d only known each other for a few weeks, but it was like he’d already homed in on my weak spots. To be fair, food and relaxation are something everyone enjoys, but the family angle? That’s always been the special seasoning spice in my fucked-up life.