Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 114951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
It was the chicken pan. The box of brochures. The lifting.
Not… anything else.
That dinner party felt like a lifetime ago now, the days blurred by event prep and a showering of love from my husband. Nathan had been so over-the-top helpful the last week that it made my head spin. He’d planted sweet kisses on my cheek in the morning, sent texts every afternoon: How’s planning going, sweetheart? So proud of you.
He’d hired a housekeeper and a chef, telling me it would help me lean all my focus into Sweet Dreams. He’d bought the gorgeous dress I wore now, a deep, brick-red and velvet-laced number that cinched my waist and flowed like magic down to my heels. He’d come home every night all week, spending quality time with me — watching movies, making ice cream sundaes, telling me how excited he was to see what I did with the event.
This morning, there were flowers on the counter with a note: Tonight’s going to be a home run. I’m lucky to have you.
If my life were a theme park ride, then I’d just been whipped backward and through a loop. My head was spinning and aching trying to make sense of it all.
But I didn’t think of any of that tonight. All my focus was on Skate for Change.
“Look at this place,” Maven said, suddenly at my side with her hands coming up to frame my arms. She looked around with pure wonder in her eyes. “This is insane.”
Grace appeared on my other side like she teleported, linking her arm with mine. “I feel like I’m at some Hallmark movie event, but, like, one that doesn’t suck.”
I laughed, the sound coming easier than it had in days. “That’s the goal. Cheesy but effective.”
“Have you seen the donation numbers?” Grace asked, nodding toward the big clear box by the doors. Crumpled bills and folded checks were stacked inside, and there was a QR code for people to scan if they didn’t have cash. “I cannot wait to see the final number on the jumbotron later. I’ve been clocking the people in attendance, and there’s some big money in here. How the hell did you get Robert Jennings to attend?!”
Robert Jennings was the CEO of Jennings Financial — and there was a literal skyscraper named after his family’s business just two blocks away.
“That would be Nathan, actually,” I said, hating how my stomach soured a bit at the admission. It was a great thing that he’d brought in such great benefactors, but something about it ate at me. “He’s been calling in a lot of favors for tonight.”
“Bless that man,” Grace said.
“And the players are having a blast,” Maven added. “Vince is already out there trying to impress toddlers with his toe-drags. You did this, Ari.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “We did this,” I corrected. “You two, PR, the shelter, the team—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, you’re a team player,” Grace cut in, rolling her eyes fondly. “But seriously. This is all you. You look happy, and you should be. This is your baby, and these are its first steps. Soak it in, darling.”
The words landed in a place that hadn’t felt anything in a while.
For a heartbeat, I let myself feel it — the buzz of the crowd, the laughter, the smell of popcorn and ice and cheap hot chocolate. Kids who never got anything special were getting a night on the ice. Sweet Dreams was getting money for beds.
I was happy.
And still… there was a hollow space in my chest where the dinner night still sat like a stone, cold and heavy.
I must have been absentmindedly rubbing my wrist again because Grace softened, nodding toward the reflex. “You okay?”
I startled, smiling big and immediately folding my hands behind my back. “Oh, fine. Think I may have tweaked something lifting boxes of t-shirts earlier.”
“Easy to do,” Maven said. “Let the volunteers do the heavy lifting later, okay? Ah,” she added, nodding behind me. “I think our time of kissing your feet is over, at least for now. Your leading man just arrived.”
I followed her gaze.
Nathan strutted in like the arena belonged to him, and I suppose it might as well have. His suit was perfect, hair perfect, that signature GM smile turned up just enough to charm but not enough to look like he was trying. A few fans called his name as he passed, and he paused for a quick photo like it wasn’t a bother at all, all polish and ease.
When his eyes found mine, they softened.
“There’s my girl,” he said as he reached me, arm sliding around my waist and pulling me in. He kissed my temple like he used to when we first started dating. “You are incredible. This place is buzzing.”
The warmth of his praise collided with the memory of his grip, confusing everything inside me.