The restaurant breaks into raucous, overwhelming applause. Every member of the Storm is on his feet, applauding for Luca, hollering and cheering, while the Rookie laughs, blushing.
“Yeah, Rookie,” Hayden yells down the table.
“Thatta boy, Walker,” Rory calls.
Alexei walks over to Luca with a stern, furious expression before he pulls Luca to his chest, hugging him tightly.
And me, I just smile. My eyes sting as Alexei gives Luca a few hard slaps on the back, lets him go, and roughly clears his throat. The rest of the guys give Luca hugs.
Tate and I meet eyes, and there’s a leap of something bright and yearning in my chest.
This team is a family. I want to be a part of it, and not just until the end of the season.
CHAPTER 62
JORDAN
A few days later,I spot Tate at the elevators and take a deep breath.
No more avoiding him.
“I’m sorry I ran out the other night.” I take the spot beside him and stare at the call button. I hate this honest thing. Tate always makes it seem so easy. “You have a kid, and that complicates everything. We can’t be casual.”
We can’t be casual because I’ll get my heart broken. What’s left of it, anyways.
“I think it’s best if we’re just friends,” I add, even though I don’t want to.
Beingjust friendswith Tate Ward is like living off popcorn for the rest of my life. It’ll never be enough.
When he doesn’t say anything, I glance up—and my heart stops.
“Oh.” It’s not Tate. “I’m so sorry.”
He has Tate’s eyes and nose and the same color hair and even his amused and curious smile is similar, but it’s not Tate.
“I thought you were Tate,” I say, frozen in horror.
“Jordan Hathaway,” he says like he knows me. Like he’s happy to finally meet me.
“You must be Noah.”
There’s something cheeky in his expression. “What’s this aboutthe other nightwith you and Tate?”
I can feel my expression of total fucking mortification. “Nothing.”
“It doesn’t sound like nothing.” His eyes are bright and curious. “It sounds like you guys are doing it.”
I choke. “We’re not?—”
“Noah.” Tate appears between us, giving us an odd look. “I see you’ve met Jordan Hathaway.”
When they’re next to each other, it’s clear. Tate is the more handsome brother. Noah is good-looking, but Tate is something else. There’s this extra sheen to him beyond unearthly good looks and charisma.
Tate’s eyes flick to my collar. Is the necklace he bought me peeking out? I shouldn’t have worn it today, but it’s just so pretty.
Noah smiles down at me. “Yes, I’ve met your girlfriend.”
“No,” I rush out, eyes going wide. Fuck, I hope he doesn’t say anything else.
