Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 102607 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102607 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
I shift in the metal chair, trying not to make eye contact with anyone, which is hard when the woman next to me compliments my large, hoop earrings and tries to touch them. Meanwhile, a middle-aged man in the opposing team’s jersey is slumped in the corner, passed out.
This cell smells like beer and defeat, full of poor decision makers.
Aka: me.
Sigh.
I am a cautionary tale. A girl in an oversized Luca Babineaux jersey with zero regrets and zero fucks given.
“What’s your name?” the woman says, the glitter on her lashes is bright blue and gold—clearly a Baddies fan.
“Nova.”
She nods. “I’m Hailey. What did you do to get thrown in here?”
“It’s a long story, Hailey.” A really long story… “What about you?”
“I threw a cup of beer at the Pirates mascot when it walked by. But I wasn’t planning on it, I swear! And now it’s going to cost me five-hundred bucks to get out of here. My boyfriend is so pissed.” Hailey crosses her arms. “He said I overreacted. We’re in a bit of a rough patch.”
“Well Hailey—you’re in good company.” I smile. “You deserve someone who’ll bail you out of hockey jail without judgment.”
She lights up. “Right?!”
I sink in the uncomfortable metal chair, hands clasped in my lap, wishing they hadn’t taken my phone. I want to scream and laugh and shout it from the rooftop—I told a man I love him!
Stormed the penalty box like a lunatic. Declared my feelings in front of an entire arena. Got escorted out by security. All in under five minutes.
How is this for a grand gesture?!
Hailey is still mumbling about her boyfriend’s lack of mascot loyalty when a shadow passes by the door.
The heavy thud of boots. The unmistakable jingle of keys. Then the squeak of the door hinges as it creaks open.
I glance up.
It’s the same security guard who walked me in here. Still looks unimpressed.
She peeps her nose into our holding cell, studying my face a bit too long.
“Why do you look so familiar?” She squints. “Wait a second. Aren’t you Gio Montagalo’s sister?”
I blink, giving her a sheepish little wave. “Unfortunately, yes.”
She raises both brows. “Then why the hell are you wearing a Babineaux jersey?”
WHY IS EVERYTHING ABOUT HOCKEY WITH THESE PEOPLE?!
I plaster on a smile that feels more like a grimace. “I’m wearing his jersey because sometimes your brother’s teammate has a thick head of hair and a stupidly strong jawline and suddenly you find yourself falling in love with him.”
Hailey gasps. “You’re sleeping with Luca Babineaux?”
“That is not what I said!” But yes, I’m sleeping with Luca Babineaux and the proof is spelled across my back like a glowing, neon sign. Not that it’s any of their business.
“You have plenty of time to tell me the story from the beginning.” The security guard laughs. “There are still nine minutes in the game.”
Crap.
Nine minutes is an eternity!
“Okay. So.” I sit up straighter in chair, fully aware that everyone in the holding cell is blatantly eavesdropping—including Hailey, some guy who tried to fight the mascot—and the previously unconscious man in the corner, who is blinking himself awake. “I matched with Luca on a dating app and we’ve been dating in secret for the past month.”
The guard gets closer to the bars at the word ‘secret.’
“No way.”
I nod. “Way.”
“Why was it a secret?”
Ugh, this is the embarrassing part. “Because my sibling is overprotective and thinks he’s the boss of me and has forbidden me from dating his teammates.”
Everyone mutters their disapproval.
“That’s messed up.” Mascot fighter crosses his arms, indignant.
“Seriously,” Hailey agrees, nodding. “You deserve love and a man you can climb like a tree.”
Rawr.
“Thank you,” I say, putting my hands on my heart. “That’s exactly the energy we’re going for.”
The guard lingers by the bars, brows furrowed. “What happened during the game? Why did you storm the penalty box?”
“My brother caught Luca and me on a date last week,” I say, letting the words hang for dramatic effect. “And my reaction… was not the greatest. There was yelling. Some dodging. A spectacular refusal to take accountability on my part.”
Everyone leans in.
“Then,” I continue. “Luca told me he loved me.”
Hailey gasps.
I pause, placing a hand to my chest. “I straight up panicked. Nay—I froze. Absolutely did not say it back.”
A collective groan echoes off the cement walls.
“Girl—” the drunk mutters, facepalming. “You didn’t say it back?!”
I nod solemnly. “I did not.”
Hailey clutches her heart like I personally wounded her. “You monster.”
“I know!” I say, throwing up my hands. “I panicked! He said the thing, and my brain short-circuited and all I could think about was Gio murdering him and me being forced to give a eulogy at a closed-casket funeral.”
“Still,” Mascot fighter mutters. “Cold-blooded.”
“It was!” I groan. “I meant to say it. I knew I loved him! I just didn’t know how to say it in the moment and then it was too late and—”