"Thanks." I moan.
"It's going to be okay. Don't overthink it. Right now, it's a shock. But once you're back at work, over time, you won't even remember that night."
Maybe she's right. Positive thinking.
"You've got this, babe."
"I miss you. Wish you were here."
"Me too. Soon, I promise. Now, I know you're hiding in your room. Go back out there. Be the badass that I know you are. And show him you're not affected."
She's right. I say my goodbyes and hang up. “You walk out there confidently. That man does not affect you. No matter how good-looking he is or how your body tingles when he's close by," I tell myself in the mirror. I then splash cold water on my face, fix my hair, and take a breath.
Then head back out to the party.
The party is still going when I rejoin it. Harper and Issy are laughing about something near the window. Pierre has his arm around Issy, looking more relaxed than I've seen him before. Felix is telling a story to some of the guys. And then there'sEmmett. He's by the couch with Sully and a couple of other players, beer in hand, laughing at something.
Wow. I've never seen him smile like that before. Usually, he has this surly, grumpy face on that tells the world not to talk to him. But in that moment .... Shit. He is so fricken handsome. Urgh.
Our eyes meet across the room. Shit. But neither one of us looks away. It's as if we're both caught in the electric pull we have with each other. Thankfully, he looks away first, breaking whatever hold there was between us.
I grab a fresh glass of wine and join Collette and Issy's sisters, who I haven't seen in years until tonight. Collette has become quite close with them since moving to New York.
"Are you feeling better?" Collette asks.
"Yes. Thanks. Jet lag," I tell the girls.
"You are doing so well for only arriving yesterday," Violetta says.
"Had no choice," I say, sipping my wine.
"Pierre has been so excited about you moving to New York. Felix too. But Pierre has gone all mother hen over it. Never seen that side of him before," Evelina adds.
"Might have something to do with your sister." Collette chuckles.
"The two of them are disgusting together," Violetta states, almost gagging.
"Never thought the two of them would ever get back together," I add.
"Us either." Evelina laughs.
"But they are happy, and that's all that matters," Collette states.
"Guess you can't fight fate." I smirk.
"So, have any of the men here tonight caught your eye?" Violetta asks.
I shake my head. "I don't date hockey players."
"Obviously. Conflict of interest. But what about the other men here?" she asks.
Harper's brother Sam is here, now he is hot. But I think something is going on with the blonde, I think her name was Kimberly. Then there's Nate, who is Harper's best friend's partner. He is one of the hottest men I've ever seen, but he is with one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen, too. And they brought a couple of friends, but I don't know who they are.
"They seem to be taken."
"That's what I said," Evelina adds, looking at her sister, who rolls her eyes at her.
"We can't touch the hockey players. But you guys can," Collette teases.
