I turn to see my little sister dressed in a pirate wench outfit. It has a black vest-like corset thing that pushes her breasts up in a way I don’t like.
Glancing around the room, I notice a few of my teammates checking her out. “Aren’t you cold?”
My voice is gruff, and she frowns. “It’s not cold in here at all. In fact, it feels pretty perfect.”
“You sure are showing a lot of skin.”
“You are not about to pull that big-brother shit on me tonight, Owen Stone. Not after all the times I’ve passed up dates to help you with my adorable niece.”
My chest is tight. “You’re just putting a lot out there. I don’t want to get into a fight tonight.”
“Then don’t.” Her voice is sharp. “It’s Halloween, and maybe I feel like a treat.”
“Well, hell, why didn’t you have a treat in Newhope?”
“I told you why. Things are different here.”
“Yeah, they are. These guys are my teammates. I’m with them all the time.”
“Who says I’m interested in a hockey player?” Her eyebrow arches. “I’ll be lucky if he has all his teeth.”
“I have all my teeth.”
“Only because Grammy Gwen cast a spell so you wouldn’t get hit in the face with a puck.”
“She did not.”
Heather gives me a look, and I hesitate, thinking. I have had a few close calls in my career. Still, that doesn’t mean…Does it?
“Well…” I don’t know how to respond to this new information. “Just don’t date any of my teammates.”
“Deal.” She sticks out her hand, and I give it a firm shake.
“I guess that means I’m on Maddie duty then?” I do my best to keep the disappointment out of my tone.
With the way Gigi looks tonight, I was thinking John might need to sneak into a bathroom with Kendall.
“Actually, Haddy offered to watch her for us tonight. She said she’d be leaving early anyway because of the baby, and she and Maddie could have a movie night.Mr. Toad and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
“Good one.”
“And Mads has never seen it, so bonus!”
“Well, have fun tonight. Make good choices.”
“I always do.” My sister turns to go just as Ryan the photographer walks through the door.
Heather waves and runs over to him, and he gives her a smile I kind of don’t like. But at least he isn’t a Champion.
A woman with bobbed dark brown hair and a tall guy who looks Russian are also with him. They’re dressed as Natasha and Boris, and they all mix in with the crowd dancing in the middle of the living room where the furniture used to be.
Looking around, I realize Spanky’s cage is gone, and I didn’t see Ladybird in my rush to get changed and get back down here.
I turn to go to the kitchen when I notice Donovan dressed as a pirate, bending down and talking to Gina. He’s smiling at her, and she reaches out to grab his arm, giving it a firm shake.
He says something in her ear, and her eyes close. My vision goes red, and I forget about the dogs, my daughter, my sister… everything.What the fuck?
Without really thinking about it, I stalk over to where the two of them are standing.
