I grin, knowing that the evening is saved, and I still have today and tomorrow left with my guys.
Chapter twenty-seven
3Monthslater
“You’re sure you’re okay with us going?” I ask her as I walk back home from the convenience store.
“Yes! Go, have fun. This is a big deal,” Charlotte says on FaceTime, looking even more beautiful than ever. We’ve seen her four more times in person since the game my parents intruded on. I had serious words with my parents, but they acted like they did nothing wrong. At least I know that Charlotte isn’t about to bail on us. Not that I thought she ever would. We’re scent matches. We may not be bonded, but as soon as we know where we’re each going and have a plan, I’m going to change that immediately. I need my mark on that girl as much as I need to fucking breathe.
“I just feel bad. I feel like you should be there.” I want her to celebrate with us, but our agent said that it was boring and no one else brings their girlfriend.
“Your agent is paying for you guys to go. It’s only a few days. We can plan our own celebration as soon as you get back.”
“Jake said it’s a big deal for us to go, even though none of us can legally drink.” She rolls her eyes, and I laugh. We all got pretty lucky meeting the deadline. We all turn twenty-one in the next coming months.
“It will be fun. I’m so excited for you all. Do you have any hopes?”
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to be a Bruin. But as long as I can play and have my girl, that’s all I want.”
“Such a sap,” she jokes. “Piper is home for the summer before she transfers to Yale anyway. We’re going to have some girl time.”
“She still with that guy from tubing?”
Charlotte coughs and smiles. “No. Piper, my little heartbreaker. He got a job in Raleigh, and Piper doesn’t do long distance.” She winces, and I shake it off.
“It would be different if he were her scent match.”
She smiles into the phone and nods. “That’s true. Speaking of which, I’m gonna need some more scents.”
“You want our hockey gear after we’ve been sweating all day?”
“Don’t tempt me,” she jokes.
“Alright, I got to head to the airport. Be good.”
“Me, be good? You’re the one going to Vegas. You be good.”
“Always, Char baby.” She grins and makes kissing noises over the phone and hangs up.
As soon as I’m back at the townhouse, the guys are all packed up, and the car is ready to go. “Ready to go, fuckers?”
“Are we sure we should go?” Anders asks.
“Jake said it was a big deal.” We all landed the same agent, hoping that would help us with our goals to be near each other and figure out how we’re all going to be the Alphas that Charlotte needs.
Mikael and Anders nod as we get in the car and make our way to Logan, something telling me I should have pushed harder for Charlotte to come with us. But I’m sure it’s just my nerves over the draft and nothing more.
“Boys!” Jake Lawson, our agent, grins and spreads his arms, grabbing each of our shoulders as he meets us at the airport. “Things are looking good. Real good.” He tugs me off on my own. Mikael and Anders walk behind us. “It sounds like the Lightnings want you real bad. It sounds like franchise potential. I know you wanted the North East. But to be a major part of a franchise is everything.”
“You’re right. What about Anders and Mikael?”
“Not sure yet. We will need to see where the cards fall.”
“Thanks, Jake.”
“That’s why you guys hired me. I’m only going to work to get you the best.” I nod as he walks us out of the airport to a luxury SUV that takes us to our hotel.
Vegas is unlike anywhere I’ve been before, and we all take in the lights, the people, and chaos around us. The hotel we’re staying at is in the heart of everything, and we take our time exploring the casino floor and restaurants before heading up to our suite.
