Page 50 of The Reading

“Just try to have a good time,” she went on.

“What if he wants sex on the first night?” I joked-kind of.

“He’s a retired professional hockey player that’s six-foot-lots-of-tall, has an athletic physique, and has probably had scores of women, making him an expert in the bedroom,” she listed off. “I’d say let that man toss you on the bed and have his way with you. For the love of God, one of us should be getting lucky.”

“I envy Kit, Sloane, Hattie, and Viv,” I sighed wistfully. “I bet they’re getting laid every night.”

Alessa’s sigh matched mine. “I know, right?”

“Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know how it went.”

“Hopefully, it goes well enough that you don’t call me until the afternoon,” she teased.

I could only hope.

*****

Wyatt~

Iwas sitting on my couch, ESPN highlights on my television, listening toKaleb laughing at me. I loved my brother, but he was definitely a dick sometimes.

“Are you done?”

“C’mon, Wy,” he said, still chuckling. “This shit is going to be all over town by tomorrow. Even if the guys don’t go home and tell their wives, you have a classroom full of seven-year-olds that went home and told their parents how their day went. You better grow thicker skin, bud.”

“That’s nice,” I deadpanned.

“Look, you finally got a date with her,” he pointed out. “So, what are you so upset about?”

“Nothing,” I grumbled. “Just…what if she only said yes because she felt pressured, or didn’t want to upset her kids?”

“And so what if she did?” he replied. “She’s still going to dinner with you, so that’s your one chance to show her what a great guy you are, Wy. It doesn’t matter how you got your chance with her, just that you got one.” I could hear him letting out a deep breath. “Christ, do you have any idea how many years I’ve heard you talk about Chanel Ainsley? If you cancel, I’m going to kill you.”

“I’m not going to cancel,” I quickly assured him. “It’s just…I think I’m nervous. For the first time in my life, I’m nervous about going out with a woman, and…I’m just not use to feeling unsure.”

It was true. I’d always been a confident kid, and confidence was a must in any professional sport. You didn’t get far by being timid or hesitant. Great shots only happened when you weren’t afraid to get in there and make them happen. Sometimes, it felt like you were taking a shot against the greatest odds, but you still did it because failure wasn’t an option.

“I get it, Wy. I do,” Kaleb said supportively. “Nothing turns a man stupid like a woman that he’s interested in. All these years later, I still worry if I’m doing everything that I can to make sure that my wife doesn’t leave me. It drives me fucking crazy.” I chuckled at that because I could never imagine my brother’s family not ever being together. “There’s nothing like God handing you everything that you’ve ever wanted, and Satan laughing at you for it.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“I’m just saying that it’s okay to feel nervous,” he went on. “Just quit being a pussy about it.”

I laughed. “You should start your own advice podcast. Really.”

“I should,” he replied, and I just smiled. “I’m full of good advice.”

“Yeah, after you’re done laughing at a motherfucker,” I snorted.

“I never said that I was the sensitive sort,” he snorted back.

“Okay, so what if she realizes that she’s not interested after dinner? Then what?”

“Then you move on with your life and quit harassing me about Chanel Ainsley,” he retorted. “It’s been fifteen damn years, Wy.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I,” he shot back. “It might be your first heartbreak, but at leastyou’ll quit whining about the girl who got away.”

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