Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 53034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
“I have no idea.”
“He’s the kind of guy who offers to cook you dinner and then microwaves a couple of Hot Pockets.”
“Hot Pockets are delicious!” Isaac yells from the other room. “Don’t walk in here for the next minute, I’m pissing in a Gatorade bottle.”
Talia makes a face. Isaac refuses to leave his matches to use the bathroom, so he pisses in empty bottles while he’s playing. It’s disgusting.
“I don’t care if there are photographers outside your place, we’re staying there tonight,” Talia says.
“Yep.” I glance at my watch. “Isaac, we have to leave for practice in five minutes.”
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
Talia looks at me over her shoulder. “I’m staying here to clean this place.”
“Don’t. It’ll be a mess again in a few days.”
She shrugs a shoulder. “Probably. But I’ve got nervous energy, and I feel like cleaning.”
Yesterday, she called her dad and told him she won’t be coming to help out with the team anymore. She doesn’t want to bring any negative attention on us from the viral video. He said he understands, and that even though she’s welcome to stay with him as long as she wants, he’s glad she’s ready to move forward and look for a job.
I’m not. I’d prefer she move in with me, but I know she wouldn’t be happy just being my live-in girlfriend.
It sounds perfect to me, having her waiting in my bed when I get home late from road trips, and looking for her in the stands or the boxes at home games, wearing my jersey.
I don’t want to come on too strong, though. My mom wrote me a letter when she knew she was going to die, and I’ve read it dozens of times. She told me the right woman won’t cling to me and expect us to do everything together. She’ll have her own friends and interests. Her own career and hobbies. That’s the key to a lasting relationship, she said. Both of you leaving the bubble of your relationship. Trusting the other person is doing what they want and need to be happy and healthy. And then coming back together to hear about the other person’s life outside the relationship, and spending time together.
My mom was wise. I miss her every day, but her letter helps me feel like she’s still with me. She knew what challenges and choices life would throw at me.
She’d love Talia. Mom volunteered with Special Olympics because one of her close friends had a son who was part of it, and she loved it so much that she kept volunteering. She’d light up if she could talk to Talia about her work, and she’d approve of the way Talia shut my shit down the night we met.
“Feel like going out for dinner tonight?” I ask Talia.
“Yes, I’m over being cooped up and eating delivery food.”
I stand behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. “Are you sure you don’t want to come on one last road trip?”
She relaxes back against my chest, sighing. “I want to, but with the video, I don’t think I should.”
“People are overwhelmingly in support of you. You’ll get more requests for autographs than anyone on the team.”
She groans. “A drunken tirade isn’t something to sign autographs for. I’m planning to hang out with Suki tomorrow. Charlotte is in a school play in the evening, and we’re going to it.”
“Good. I’m sure Carter hates that he can’t be there.”
Talia fits in so well with my Crush family. I always envied what Carter and Suki have, and if Talia stays close by, I think we could end up with a life like theirs. Kids, a home, maybe even a giant pet pig who destroys the floors and hogs the couch.
“Don’t wear yourself out cleaning up after Isaac.”
“I won’t. Seriously, I don’t mind. I’m doing our laundry, too.”
I reluctantly step away from her. “Then I guess this is where we stop being together twenty-four seven.”
She smiles at me over her shoulder. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
“It also makes the dick grow harder.”
“I’ll never complain about that.” She turns and leans up to kiss me. “Have a good practice.”
“I’ll see you back at my place, babe.”
I walk into the living room, where Isaac is still immersed in his game.
“I’m not gonna be late for practice, and I don’t have my car here, so get off your lazy ass and let’s go.”
He flicks a glare at me. “Fine.” A couple seconds pass. “I have to go, guys. My asshole friend is making me go to work.”
“You got a whole week off from your head injury. You should’ve been rehabbing over the break.”
He takes off his headset and sets it next to him on the couch. “I did. It’s just not the only thing I did.”
I gesture at the coffee table. “Clearly.”
“You’re busting my balls a lot for someone who left cum stains all over my guest room.”