There’s nowhere to go, but I still take a half-step to the side and try to reclaim at least a tiny fraction of my personal space. She either doesn’t realize or doesn’t care, because she laughs like I’ve just told the funniest joke she’s ever heard and closes the slight distance between us again with a half-step of her own.
“Great on the ice and a sense of humor, too?” She raises a brow. “It seems like you might be the whole package.”
I have to struggle to keep from grimacing in her face. I don’t want to be rude, but this is honestly the last thing I want tonight.
“Thanks,” is all I say, hoping she’ll get the hint.
Nope.
She leans in even closer and places a hand on my chest. “I’m Cindy, by the way. Maybe we can get a table over there and?—”
“Thanks, but no.”
I feel a momentary twinge of guilt for cutting her off like that, but Cindy is nothing if not persistent.
“Oh, come on. Let’s have a drink or two. I bet we could have some fun together.”
This time, I don’t try to sugarcoat my reply.
“I’m not interested.”
Her smile finally fades, and it’s replaced by a look of genuine surprise that tells me Cindy isn’t used to getting turned down.
“Not even one drink? Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
She studies my face for a moment, then pulls out her phone. “Here’s my number, if you change your mind.”
“I won’t.” I take another, blatantly obvious step to the side. “Have a good night.”
I turn away before she can say anything else, and nearly run into Noah, who has apparently witnessed the whole uncomfortable incident while he’s been in line to order another round of drinks.
“Real smooth, Parker.” He shakes his head like he’s on Team Cindy. “That woman was practically throwing herself at you, and you just shut her down cold. Did you seriously not notice, or…?”
If he’s going to go to bat for her, he can deal with the same response. “I’m not interested.”
“Yeah, I think that came across loud and clear.” He starts to take the drinks from the bartender, then gives me a curious look. “What’s going on with you, man? You never come out with us, and when you finally do, you stand here like a bump on a log and shoot down the best offer you’re probably going to get in this place without even blinking twice.”
“Sorry, but I’m already spoken for.”
The words are out of my mouth before I can even think to stop myself, and Noah looks as surprised by the revelation as I feel.
“Spoken for? By who? The Aces?”
I shrug but don’t correct him. It’s easier to let him think that I’m married to the game than to explain that I can’t seem to stop thinking about his sister-in-law, who happens to be sitting twenty feet away and wearing a jersey with my name on it.
“Oh boy, Parker.” He shakes his head one more time before turning away with the new round of drinks in his hands. “You really do need to get out more, bro.”
Again, I don’t bother correcting him. I’m already looking back across the bar in Heather’s direction.
But this time, she’s looking at me too. She’s holding her wine glass halfway to her lips, and there’s a little line that’s appeared between her eyebrows. I wonder if she saw me talking to the blonde woman. The way she holds my gaze for a few secondsbefore turning back to April and Margo and giving a tight smile makes me think she saw just enough to get the wrong idea.
Maxim, Owen, and a few of the other guys pull me over to their table, and I’m half-listening to their recap of the game while I nurse my second glass of water. They’re loud and half-drunk, reliving every play and arguing about strategy.
Normally, this would be my cue to leave, but I stay.
And even though I’m trying to avoid looking across the room, I still catch myself checking up on the table where Heather and April are sitting with Noah and Margo.
