kennedy
Everyone starts to hoot and holler as the pounding bass morphs into a country song—oh dear God. It’s not just any country song; it’s the most famous of famous country bar songs. I pick at the cuticles of my nails to the beat pumping through the speakers. Do I like this song? Yes. Is this song now ruined for me forever because of what’s happening at this club? Also yes. My brows raise as I shift uncomfortably in my chair, as an annoyingly attractive man-child hops on the bar and begins performing the entire dance from Coyote Ugly.
“Yes!” Benny screams, my drink nearly spilling in shock. “I knew coming here was going to pay off!”
My mouth gapes open, my gaze bouncing around to see the rest of our table, hell,the entire bar, is clapping along, singing, and loving every minute of it.Am I the only one who thinks this is ridiculously immature?
“Don’t you find this annoying?” I shout over the song. “Aren’t we a little old for this?”
“Lighten up, Kenni!” he yells from the corner of his mouth. “This is entertaining as hell! One of the top players in the NHL is doing full, iconic choreography to a kickass song…and he’sactually really good at it! Holy shit, he’s taking his shirt off.” He cups his mouth and yells across the club, “Go Bougie!”
I swallow hard as my eyes nearly pop out of my head. I’ve heard rumors of him stripping the moment he boards the plane—most of the players do since they’re required to wear a suit and they all change into comfy clothes before takeoff—but I’m too busy doing my pre-flight checks and preparing for takeoff to ever see it happen. Too busy doing myactual job, getting his ass safely from one city to the next, while he sits back there doing God knows what. He’s probably back there every flight playing strip poker, texting supermodels, or some other dumb shit.
But there’s no avoiding watching him strip now. It’s happening. Right in front of me. And an entire club full of people. It’s like a train wreck I can’t look away from—a train wreck with a six pack that could crack open a walnut. His tan skin does nothing to hide the muscles beneath. I sit up straight in my chair, trying to push down the tension creeping up. Goddammit, why does he have to be so hot? And his arms…dearGod,his arms. Every precise move of the dance highlights a different muscle.
The noise in the club fades; my attention and hearing solely focused on this spectacle as he is handed a pitcher of water and proceeds to pour it over his dark, wavy hair. My thighs squeeze together, betraying every signal my brain’s firing to ignore the display of ripped muscles and pure sex. I swallow heavily at the sight of the water dripping down him like hot wax from a candle. Apparently, my body doesn’t care that he’s an arrogant, entitled asshole.Traitor.If he weren’t so annoyingly cocky, I might even enjoy this. Goddammit! These athletes and their chiseled bodies.Shit, I need to get laid.
The song comes to an end, my lungs finally filling with air, and the entire club gives him a standing ovation as he takes a bow.
That’s my cue to call it a night.
Just as I’m about to head out, I hear my name.
“Kennedy! Benny! What’s up!” Erik Johanson, one of the players, yells from across the room.Dammit.He’s a nice guy, but I was really hoping to sneak out before I was discovered by the team. I paste a smile on my face as he heads our way with a cute blonde on his arm.
“Hey, Erik, good to see you!” I say as I give him a hug from my seat.
“Good to see you too! Have you met my girlfriend, Natalie?”
I extend my hand to her. “I don’t think so. Hi, I’m Kennedy.”
“Nice to meet you. Erik said you’re the team pilot, that’s so cool! Do you make a lot of money doing that?”
Do I make a lot of money? Is this girl interviewing me for a loan application?I pull my hand back and shrug. “Umm…I do okay. Flying is a pretty fun gig. Except when I have to fly their tired asses back to Milwaukee after they lose,” I spit out, jabbing Erik as he rolls his eyes. “Speaking of, don’t you guys have a game tomorrow? Surprised to see you out tonight.”
“It’s Tay’s birthday, so we’re making an exception. Plus, we’re playing Chicago. Wealwaysbeat Chicago, so none of us are too worried.”
My brows touch my hairline. “Wow, confident, huh?”
He shakes it off with a laugh. “I’m actually controlling myself tonight; just a couple and that’s it. Tay doesn’t drink much either, but everyone is buying him shots, so he’ll probably have more than he should. I’ll be dragging his ass to morning skate tomorrow.” He looks around, chuckling as Tay downs another gulp with a twisted face. “What are you doing here tonight? Club 414 doesn’t seem like your cup of tea.”
“It’s not,” I say with a laugh. “I’d much rather be at Walt’s, but Benny here is leaving us, so this was his choice.”
Erik’s eyes go wide, his jaw slack. “What?! Benny, you can’t leave! What if it upsets Vladi’s winning streak?! Shit…how did I not know this? Tay! Get over here!”
Colton Taylor walks our way, just a little off kilter, a scowl on his face after beingsummoned. “Tay, did you know Benny was leaving?”
He rolls his eyes, shaking his head. “How did younotknow about this?”
“Well,someone, apparently my roommate, forgot to tell me. You literally live across the hall! You can’t tell me these things?”
My head jerks back and my eyes dart between them feeling like I’ve opened up some sort of can of worms.Really wishing I had made my way to the door earlier.
“I can’t be responsible for all of your knowledge, EJ. You could educate yourself on things other than…ohh, I don’t know…yourself,” Colton snarks, crossing his arms and leaning in.
“Excusemethat I don’t watch Jeopardy every night like a giant nerd and record it to catch the episodes on game nights. We need to ask Bougie if he knows about Ben leaving.”
And that’s my second cue to leave. My muscles tense at the thought of him making his way over here.
