Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 93683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“I believe…” Grams begins with two of her most popular words, “that this is what Bronny needs.” Her pause pushes our stares to latch onto one another’s. “This is what your family needs, Thayne.”
And there’s my Achilles heel.
The one puck that can always get into that teeny, tiny space between my pads.
Family is the only thing more important to me than hockey.
Which she knows.
Which means if she’s using that shit to snipe then it’s serious.
“Of course he can stay with me.” Seeing a hint of a smile has me flashing him the same. “I’ve got the room. I’ll figure out the time.” Hope spreads throughout his expression, a sight that leads to me nodding. “This’ll be good for him.”
“I know it’ll be good for both of you.”
Because what could possibly go wrong with moving my much younger brother in with me?
“He’s gonna need a new phone as his had a little accident on his way to the airport today.”
“She ran over it in front of him,” Dubs informs between sips of beer. “Like a hate crime.”
“Like a warnin’,” Grams argues back loudly. “You bes’ stay miles and miles away from Juniper-”
“Julliard,” whispers Bronny.
“Mudan-”
“Milan.”
“And Axspell.”
Instead of correcting her, he shrugs. “She actually got that one right.”
Slowly shaking my head is attached to a heavy sigh. “I’ll get him a new phone and put my tendy skills to good use.”
“You’re a good man, Thayne,” praises the woman who actually raised me right alongside my mom. “Help Bronny become one too.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” I warmly announce around her coughing. “Get some rest.”
“There’s a hot toddy, slice of pie, and episode of Yellowstone with my name on it.” We collectively snicker at the announcement. “Love you, boys.”
“Love you, Grams,” the three of us call back in unison.
Post ending the call, I shoot the man beside me a question, “Why didn’t you text me that you were comin’?”
“I did during our last layover,” he informs. “There wasn’t exactly a shit ton of time between gettin’ marchin’ orders this mornin’ and havin’ to head out.” Dubs shoots me a teasing smirk. “You probably missed it ‘cause you were busy tryin’ to get ready for your date.”
“The date I now need to cancel,” is grumbled on a fidget of my lapel.
“Nahhhh,” denies the recently dumped male beside me. “You can resume yellin’ at Bronny after you go get laid.”
“You probably won’t even wanna yell at me after that,” my brother mirthfully points out.
“Ohhhh, there’s definitely still yellin’ to do, little bro,” I state both playfully and seriously as we lock eyes again. “But if Dubs doesn’t mind keepin’ an eye on ya then I’ll get you settled and then go on my date.” An uncertain breath is blown out. “Assumin’ she’ll still want to when I push the time back an hour.”
“She will.” Another gulp is taken. “And I don’t mind keepin’ an eye on him. It’s not like my ass was gonna be doin’ anything else tonight besides watchin’ STN highlights and sketchin’ new bucket designs.”
“League wide?”
“Coast to coast.”
Pride-filled nodding is attached to a wide mouth grin.
He deserves it.
His bucket art is exactly that.
Art.
And getting to have new designs from him and by him out there with me every game is like having him out there.
With me.
Every game.
Despite the fact, Dubs has never been on a hockey team with me, he’s always been my best teammate.
“Let’s get you a room and dinner and go over some general rules for you stayin’ here,” I instruct on a point to his backpack. “One of the most important bein’ you pick up after yourself jus’ like at home.”
“But you’ve got a cleanin’ lady.”
“And it ain’t her job to pick up your shit.”
He rolls his eyes and snatches up his bag as I grab my phone to text Gilly.
“Who’re the suspenders for?” Dubs curiously questions on another mouthful.
“The perfect ten I met after your non-wedding.”
“She came all the way out to Dalvegan for a date?”
“She lives here.”
“She lives here?!”
“Yeah, she was only in Middlebrook for your weddin’.”
“My weddin’?!” Disbelief darts his eyebrows down. “And I don’t know her?”
“Doubt it.”
“Was she crashin’ it on a random whim? A dare?”
“She was one of the bride’s guests’ dates.”
His finger waves through the air to draw himself a map.
“She was the plus one when the chick’s husband refused to go not thinkin’ the woman was gonna go through with it.”
“When it comes to me, they never do.”
“Nee would,” murmurs Bronny during his heading in my direction.
Yeah, he’s still gotta work on what are supposed to be inside thoughts versus outside ones.
“I ran into her when I took Looferz for his gibs visit.” Delight leads excitement out of the tunnel. “She’s his dentist.”
“No shit.”
The next bit of information, however, is harder as well as less appealing to divulge than the last. “She’s also Coach’s sister.”