Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Me too!”
Unfortunately, his harpy of a twin materializes a split second later. They both converge on our little group, but only Theo leans in to give me an awkward hug. “Glad you could make it. And Eric, nice to see you again…” He extends his hand to shake.
Eric is still throwing off tension that I don’t quite understand. He gives Theo the kind of macho, bruising handshake that isn’t really Eric’s style. “Happy to be here,” he says, even if his body language says otherwise.
Theo doesn’t pick up on it, though. Still wearing a grin, he glances between Eric and me, and then back again. “You two came together? Oh, wait—Darcy works for your team, right? I never put that together.”
“Sure she does,” Eric says. “We’ve worked together for years.” Then he steps closer to me and slides an arm around my shoulders. As if that’s a thing we do. “The Legends couldn’t even function without Darcy. And neither could I.”
Wait, what? My stomach suddenly does several flips. Like Simone Biles is in there with a tumbling mat.
“I see,” Maribel says, the word landing with significance. Her eyes dart to Eric’s embrace, hand cupping my shoulder, and a smile slowly blooms on her face. “Maybe if we returned your phone calls more often, we’d be up to speed on all the latest developments.”
“Right?” my brother chuckles. “Darcy, I’m so sorry. You left me a voicemail, but shower gifts were the last thing on my mind this week. The plumber who’s working on our new house caused a flood…”
“… And a huge mess,” Maribel adds. “We were a little distracted, and we’re sorry.”
“Sounds terrible.” But I’m suddenly having trouble tracking the conversation. Eric’s body is giving off a pleasant heat that’s hard to ignore. And up close, his scent is a devastating combination of an expensive, woodsy cologne, freshly done laundry (he’s the kind of guy who actually separates his whites), and a hint of leather.
“Oh, it’s all cleaned up now,” Maribel says. “So tell me everything. How long have you two been dating?”
“Not that long,” I say drily. “In fact, I forget when we started.”
Eric laughs. And I know we’re just playacting, here, but the rich sound of it soaks through all the neediest places in my soul. “It was a very busy hockey season. Whole thing is a blur. Right, babe?” He nudges my foot under the table. “But lucky me. I’ve got a date for the wedding of the year. And a partner for this…” He gestures vaguely toward the stage. “A dance competition? Maribel, really?”
“Not my idea.” She grins, clasping Theo’s hand. “He’s the dancer in this relationship. He’s got us taking lessons.”
“Lessons?” I yelp. It’s hard to picture Theo getting excited about anything other than golf. But dancing?
“I’m one of the owners of a karate dojo,” he explains with a shrug. “And my buddy’s girlfriend is a dance instructor who teaches classes there. I signed us up for swing-dancing lessons to show our support, and it was so much fun.”
Maribel takes a carrot stick off my plate and points it at Theo. “Who knew he had a secret talent for the Lindy Hop?” She bites the carrot stick. “We’re all stunned.”
“Maybe it was all those tennis lessons?” I suggest.
“That’s what I said, too!” Theo smiles right at me. “Seriously.”
This is the easiest conversation I’ve ever had with Theo. And maybe that’s why I feel Tessa’s stare like a sunburn. So I finally give in and look in her direction. She’s glaring at me, as if standing here beside Eric and chatting up the bride and groom were a federal offense.
“Eric? You don’t have to dance,” Maribel says, laying a hand on his jacket sleeve. “If you hate the idea, you can sit out with the other scaredy-cats and losers.”
“Ooooh,” I breathe. “Don’t look now, boo, but Maribel just threw you some shade.”
“Challenge accepted,” he says, pulling me a little closer. “We’re going to win this thing. Right, Darcy?”
“Doubt it,” Tessa mumbles before turning on her heel and walking away.
Someone’s feeling a little bitchy. It could be anything, I guess. But I’m guessing she can’t get over the idea that I have a date with the sexiest man in sports.
Then again, I can hardly believe it either, so I guess we’re both surprised.
Eric frowns after Tessa as she stomps away. “Did I say something wrong?”
Theo turns to watch his sister head for the DJ stand. “Eh, she’s in a mood. It’s about this Josh thing.”
“Who’s Josh?” I ask.
Theo and Maribel exchange a wince. “Her ex-boss.”
“Tessa has a job?” Last I heard, she was doing some travel influencing, which meant traveling a lot on Daddy’s dime to post pretty pictures on Instagram.
Another awkward exchange of glances. “Well, she did have a job,” my brother says. “But she got involved with her boss, and I think it ended badly.”