Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
“I’m really okay,” she says.
“I’m sure you are, but it’s for my peace of mind.”
She lets him help her to her feet. I should’ve been the one to do that, but I was too busy flirting. Miller and Uncle Alex flank her as she skates over to the bench. My dad and I grab the sticks scattered across the ice.
“I know what the issue is.” Mav tips his head in her direction. “Her skates need sharpening. Her feet keep slipping.”
Dad squints and watches her glide across the rink. “You’re right.” He turns to me. “I’ll find out what size she wears, and we can get her a loaner pair.”
“Seven men’s, nine women’s,” I tell him. “I’ll get Lovey to grab them.”
He arches a brow, but doesn’t ask how I know this.
I break away from Mav and Logan, skating to where Lovey, Rose, and Clover sit in the stands.
“What happened? Is Winter okay?” Lovey’s eyes are wide with worry as she twists the end of her ponytail.
“She’s all right. Her skates need sharpening. You mind grabbing her a pair from the rental stands?” I tell her Winter’s size, and she disappears down the hall.
I skate over to the bench to make sure Winter really is fine.
“Oh. It’s okay. I don’t have cash on me, and I forgot to bring my debit card.” Winter chews on the corner of her lip, cheeks flushed all over again.
“There’s no rental fee for the skates or the sharpening,” Uncle Alex says.
“Lovey’s gone to get a loaner pair,” I tell them.
“Thanks. I feel bad. I didn’t realize how dull my blades were.” Winter’s gaze shifts to me, then away, cheeks flushing an even deeper pink.
“It happens to the best of us. Don’t worry about it,” Uncle Alex reassures her.
A minute later, Lovey returns with a pair of skates in Winter’s size. She passes hers back to Lovey so we can have them sharpened while we’re on the ice.
If we thought Winter was a good player before, she’s amazing with a pair of sharp blades. The only thing that trips her up are the tight turns in the crease, but that’s nothing a few lessons with me wouldn’t fix.
My dad and Uncle Alex exchange a look when she scores a goal. I can see their wheels turning. There’s still a handful of weeks left in the summer program. She could be a huge asset to the women’s team.
Winter’s team ends up winning the scrimmage by one goal. We all pat one another on the back, and Winter gets a ton of praise. My dad and Uncle Alex take her aside as the rest of us head for the locker rooms to shower and change.
“I would bet my left nut our dads are trying to recruit her,” Mav says as he pulls his jersey over his head and removes his pads. He was offered an NHL contract this year, but he turned it down. To anyone on the outside, it probably seems like a mistake, but Mav isn’t obsessed enough with hockey to make it his career. It wouldn’t have made him happy. Not the way teaching seems to.
“Girl’s got skills.” Logan unlaces his skates. “How do you know her, anyway?”
“Rose works with her at Boones, she knows Clover from the library, and Lovey knows her from the foodbank. I think they volunteer there together or something.” I conveniently leave out the fact that I almost took her out with my Jeep this morning.
Logan pauses, brows pulling together. “Is that what she said? That she volunteers with Lovey?”
“Well, she said she knows her from the foodbank.” I rid myself of my jersey and shoulder pads before I get to work on my skates.
The furrow in Logan’s brow smooths out, and his face goes carefully blank as he unclips his shoulder pads. “Her last name is Marks, yeah?”
It was on the back of her jersey and inside her skate. “Seems that way. Why?”
“Just curious.”
“You’re never just curious.”
“She’s a new face.” He pulls his undershirt over his head. “I gotta hit the showers. I’m on night shift this week.”
We’re quick to shower and change, and we drop our equipment off to be cleaned. The girls are already in the lobby when we get there. Winter’s back in her leggings and T-shirt, her long, dark hair wet and hanging over her shoulder. She’s built like a hockey player, with strong legs and a serious butt. I try to be subtle about checking her out.
“You guys want to grab a bite at the diner?” Lovey asks. “It’s still open for another hour.”
“Sure, sounds good.” I can always eat. Even in my sleep.
Lovey turns to Winter. “You’ll come too?”
Winter tugs on the end of her hair. “Oh, uh, I don’t have my debit card, and I forgot to bring cash.”
“I got you covered. I owe you for this morning,” I say.