His eyes are so kind, and I’m sure he can tell I’m uncomfortable. I appreciate his efforts to make me feel at ease. “Thanks. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“I’m sure it will be too.” He flashes me another smile. “You just moved from out of state, correct?”
“That’s right. From California.”
Coach Fry’s eyebrows rise. “That’s quite a change.”
“It definitely is,” I agree. “But I like it here so far. Everyone’s so nice.”
“Well, good, I’m glad to hear that. Will you be coming to our first home game? The team goes all out. It’s a lot of fun.”
“I’ll be there.” For my brother, I’ll be there. Even if I want to stay far, far away from anywhere Logan Byrne will be.
“Good. Well, I look forward to seeing you then. I have a few phone calls to make, so you’ll have to excuse me.” Coach Fry offers me one last, kind smile. “Have Joe come get me if you need backup, okay?”
Chuckling, I nod, even though I have no intention of asking him for help. If I can raise my little brother all on my own, I can handle two dozen rowdy hockey players.
The coach says his goodbyes, and then I wait. It can’t be more than fifteen minutes later when the first few players make their way over to me. They introduce themselves, listen to my instructions, and quickly get to work signing pucks and pennants. As more of their teammates join them, I loosen up. The guys are all nice, and they draw me into conversations with questions and jokes. A few offer me flirtatious smiles, and one guy even asks me for my number, but I politely decline, peering down at my feet in embarrassment. I’m not used to attention like this.
When I look up, my breath catches in my throat as I find my Viking staring at the guy who just asked for my number, a frown marring his handsome features. Four men stand around Logan, their gazes pinging between the two of us. One man, a blond with shaggy wet hair and a massive grin on his face, steps forward and sticks out his hand. Startled, I take it without thinking and return his shake.
“Well, hi there,” the blond man drawls. His hazel eyes twinkle with mischief. This one’s going to be trouble, I can already tell. “Blair, right?”
Oh, god. He knows.
Nervous, I shift on my feet, my cheeks heating, and I tuck a curl behind my ear. “Uh, yeah. Hi.”
Blondie’s grin grows impossibly wider. “Hi. I’m Griffin. It issonice to meet you, Blair. Really,sonice.”
Griffin drops my hand, and I wrap my arms around my waist. “Oh, um, thanks?”
“You’re new in town, right?”
I try not to squirm as I keep my eyes on Griffin’s face so I’m not tempted to look at Logan. “Uh, yeah.”
“Do you have friends or family here, Blair?” Griffin watches me intently, but I don’t get the feeling that he’s mocking me or trying to make me uncomfortable. No, I’m managing that all on my own.
There’s Reed, but that’s not what Griffin is asking. And I don’t want to explain our situation to these guys, so I’m not going to bring him up. I shake my head. “No.”
“No one?”
I shake my head again, not really sure where he’s going with this.
“Well, that’s no good. You should come out with us one night soon. My wife is always looking to make new girlfriends, and I have a feeling the two of you would hit it off.”
That… isn’t where I saw this going. My eyes go wide as Griffin grabs a Sharpie and a puck and writes a number on it.
“That’s Mira’s number. I’ll tell her to expect a text from you. She and Isla and Lexi have a girls’ night planned next week, I think. I’m sure they’d love to have you.”
Seeing my confusion, the tall, dark-haired man Bryson introduced as the Rogues’ captain cuts in. “Isla is my wife. Griffin is married to my sister, Mira. And Lexi is Ryder’s girlfriend.” Maddox hooks a thumb toward another dark-haired man. This one has more boyish features and longer, wavy hair. He smiles kindly at me.
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude.” They’re sweet, but there’s no way I’m inviting myself out with a group of women who are already friends. Especially when I can’t justgo outwhenever I want. Reed may technically be old enough to stay home alone, but I’m not comfortable leaving him to fend for himself while I’m offhaving fun.
“They’ll be at the game next week. And the family event after. Will you be there?” the younger man named Ryder asks me.
“Oh, I…I think so.”
I swear, I can feel Logan’s eyes burning a hole into my head.
