I squeeze my thighs together as heat spreads through me.
What we did before leaving the apartment…wow. Or should I say what he did, because other than being a willing participant, I didn’t exactly do anything. I did thoroughly enjoy myself, though. It was also the perfect way to get me out of my head about what the night was going to hold. In those moments, only two people existed. It was us against the world…or maybe the kitchen island…
I snigger, amused by my thoughts and a little delirious from the stress—and drinks—of tonight.
“I can’t wait to see your moves on the dance floor, Handsy,” I tease.
He smirks, shaking his head before he sips his beer.
As we stand at a table, the others drift over. And as my cocktail goes down, I get a little braver and step up to the railing that allows us to see the gyrating bodies beneath.
The place is packed.
Bright, colorful strobe lights move across the crowd while reflections from the numerous, huge glitter balls hanging above us dance across every surface.
I scan the sea of people, searching for anyone I might know. I tell myself I’m looking for Vipers’ players, but deep down, I know that’s not true. I’m looking for him and his entourage. As if he’d be down there with the “normal” people. He’d only attend something like this as a special guest with a one-way ticket to the VIP area.
Somewhere down there are Rett, Killer, and Hayden. The look on Hayden’s face when Rett wrapped his arm around his shoulders and dragged him in that direction was hilarious. He was clearly excited, but also a little terrified.
I get it. Rett is a big character, and Hayden clearly hero-worships him. I just don’t know if Hayden is strong enough not to get swallowed up by Rett and Killer and the way they live their lives. Hayden might want the hockey life, and from what I’ve heard from Cole, he wants to embrace his popularity with the bunnies, but he seems too sweet to do the whole hit-it-and-quit-it thing.
I sense someone step up beside me, and the second their sweet scent hits me, I know it isn’t Cole.
Glancing over, I find Hailee next to me, also with a cocktail in hand.
“They’re over there,” she says, pointing directly to the center of the vast crowd.
I follow her finger, and yep, right there, center stage, is Rett, Killer, Hayden, and a couple of other guys I also recognize as Vipers.
“I’m sure they’ll have given me a few new gray hairs before sunrise.”
I fully turn to her, taking in her beautiful dark curtain of hair. “They’re just having fun,” I say. Although the instant the words roll off my tongue, I regret them.
“They could still have fun without the scandal that’s going to keep me busy tomorrow.”
“Maybe tomorrow will be different,” I hedge.
“And maybe pigs will fly. Honestly, have you ever looked up Everett Donnelly online?”
I shake my head. I try my best to stay away from anything that includes fake news and made-up stories that ruin people’s lives on a daily basis. I came to the decision not long after leaving Rowan that ignorance was bliss, and I haven’t turned back since.
“No, but I can imagine,” I confess.
“Seriously, the day he was traded, I received a message from the PR Director at the Bandits wishing me good luck.”
“Oh, wow. That’s…something.”
“His life got significantly easier the day that trade was announced. Mine…not so much.”
“I’m sure upper management know what they’re doing,” I say.
“On the ice, yeah. Off it though…” She lets out a heavy sigh.
“You’ll figure it out. Maybe he’ll find a girl and settle down.”
“What did I say about flying pigs?” She laughs. “It’s fine. Donnelly might just be right about something; those boys sure stop me from getting bored.”
She takes a sip of her drink, and we both turn back to the dance floor beneath us.
