Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“What’s your schedule like while we’re in Arizona?” he asks.
“I’ll be with the film crew the entire time, but after the game, I’ll hang with Emory and Felicity.”
“You need that,” Gage observes. “I know you miss them.”
“That I do,” I say upon a sigh. “We’re probably going to have drinks at the hotel after the game, if you’d like to join us. I’d love for you to meet Felicity.”
I hold my breath, ready to cringe if he says he can’t, because while he might have a legitimate reason, my abused and battered ego expects the worst.
“I’d love to,” he replies. Although I can’t see his face in my current position with my head against his shoulder, I hear delight in his voice. “I was hoping I’d get to spend some time with you.”
I force myself to release my breath slowly and easily. Once again, Gage has shown by his actions that he’s almost too good to be true. I know I should accept and enjoy, but part of me can’t help but feel like the other shoe is about to drop.
“Do you think this is weird?” I ask.
Gage jerks a bit, pushing me back so he can peer down at me. “Think what is weird?”
I feel my face flush warm, but I want to be honest. “Just… this seems like an old-fashioned courtship. You’re the epitome of the perfect gentleman. Far kinder than most men I’ve known, except for maybe my dad. You’re so careful and respectful of me. And here I am, after only having been on three official dates with you, only knowing you for three weeks, cuddled with you as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. It’s just… weird, right?”
“It’s unusual,” he admits with a chuckle, pulling me tight against him. “But if it helps you to know, I have plenty of thoughts about you that aren’t gentlemanly. I definitely want to take this to another level when you’re ready.”
The man is dangerous, for with a few words, he makes me want him fiercely in all ways.
“I can’t explain what this is, Jenna.” Gage once again pulls back and cups my jaw with his hand so I look up at him. “Honestly, I don’t want an explanation. I just want to trust in my instincts with you, and my gut is telling me that fate has been holding you in reserve for me. That I’ve been waiting for you to come along. And maybe, you’ve been waiting for that too.”
I get sucked into the naked truth brimming in his eyes, and a moment of clarity comes over me. I’ve never been a romantic believer in soul mates, but I think that might be because I’ve never come close to feeling what that might be like.
It’s soon. It’s fast. It’s not love at first sight, but it is a deep connection building very quickly.
It will be a roller coaster for my emotions. Mere weeks ago, I’d shy away from something so volatile to my little bubbled world, but somehow, this man has picked me, and I realize now this is a gift I cannot ignore or push away.
With my hand on his stomach, I push up so my mouth meets his. Within my kiss, I seal a vow that I’m going to bare myself to him in all ways that I can and trust in what this is and has the potential to be.
CHAPTER 15
Gage
I’m not sure what it says about me as a leader on the Titans, but we just got our asses handed to us by the Arizona Vengeance, dropping us another position in the playoff standings. And yet, I’m more excited to spend time with Jenna and her sister and niece than I am bent out of shape about the loss.
I’m slightly ashamed because tonight I wore the C on my jersey, having been elevated to team captain. Coen’s league suspension was handed down this morning, as expected, and he is captain no more. Coach Keller was almost giddy tonight. Although he’d never admit to it being because Coen wasn’t with us, we all knew differently. Callum spoke with the team before our flight took off, the entire thing recorded by the documentary crew. He gave an impassioned speech about needing to balance consequences—which were deserved—and grace to have understanding for the circumstances.
As it stands, Coen’s suspension is for ten games, and Callum has said he’s not going to appeal. I suspect it’s because everyone expected a much larger suspension, given Coen decked a ref, but I’m assuming there’s been some compassion coming into play for what he’s been through. As it stands, his suspension will carry us past the end of the regular season. After tonight’s game, there are only five games left.
Five games to hang on to a playoff spot, and we are clinging on by our teeth now without Coen and Jesper.