“No, he’s just a friend.”
“I’m just a friend,” Owen says with a smirk as I hand him his glass and take a large sip of my own. I shrug my shoulders and redirect the conversation.
“So you’re the new goalie they’ve all been talking about, huh?”
“Subject change, classic, I like it,” Owen says, taking a sip then swallowing. “Yeah, I wanted to make sure it was going to stick before I said it out loud to anyone.”
“Didn’t want to jinx it?” I say with a smile, and he nods his head. “Well, at least we don’t have to do the awkward get to know yous. You should know everyone from the team, just not their neighbors.”
I turn and look to the side. Alexi is talking with a few other players, but he keeps looking at me and Owen—often.
“This might be an awkward question,” Owen says.
“Shoot.” Does it get any more awkward than walking in on me standing in a pantry with his captain? His captain, who I was totally going to let finger bang me next to the crackers and apple juice in my best friend’s pantry. Maybe I need another glass of champagne to get through tonight. Owen was supposed to be my buffer, but it seems like he’s going to be a bigger complication than anything.
“Does Alexi usually stare at you like this, or is it because I’m here?”
I furrow my brows and look at Owen. “Why? Does he usually stare at you?”
He shrugs his shoulders. “Maybe.”
“Hmm, then you’re not alone. He’s intense,” I reply and sip my drink. I swear the big Alpha smirks at us across the room, and I swallow thickly. “Do you want to get some air? There’s a fire out back.”
“Yeah, a refill?” he asks. I don’t even have to nod, I just hand him my glass, and he fills us both up before we go out the sliding door. “Damn, this backyard is something.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Yeah, three hockey dads and a mom with an active imagination,” I say, looking at the built-in trampoline, pirate ship playset, treehouse, and the spot where they blow up the bounce house when it’s warm outside.
“So Charlotte, Mikael and Eli’s Omega, is your best friend?”
I smile and nod as we sit on the chairs circling the firepit. No one else is out here, and it feels peaceful. The first time I’ve been able to quiet my mind since I got to this party.
“Yes, for as long as I can remember. She’s my person.”
Owen smiles and nods his head, taking a sip and looking at the flickering flames in the backyard.
“When you said you were the fun aunt, was it about their daughter?” he asks, and I can’t help but to smile and think about how much I love Katie.
“I love Katie like she’s my own, but I get to return her at the end of the day.” I laugh, and he does too. I tap my fingernail against my glass and look at him. “What about you, do you have any nieces or nephews?”
He shakes his head. “No, I haven’t really been around many kids, don’t know if I want them either. But I think pack life is for me, down the road.”
“Every pack needs a Beta.”
“Oh yeah?” he says.
“Who else is going to keep everyone sane and in check?”
“Your friend doesn’t have a Beta.”
“True, but she has her hands full.”
Owen laughs and shakes his head. “Mikael seems like a full time job.”
I don’t comment but take another sip of champagne. The bubbles are definitely starting to kick in now. I cannot let history repeat itself when it comes to champagne and Charlotte’s deck, I remind myself.
“I’m sorry we never got to go to the Christmas market,” he says.
“Oh, it’s no big deal. I’ve been working a lot anyway.”
