Soft globe lights covered in rope dangle over the tables, and yacht music plays softly in the background. The place is warm and cozy, and I understand why it’s such a popular hangout for the team.
A waving hand draws my attention to a table at the back of the restaurant. I recognize Sophie’s big smile, pink top, and near-black bangs right away. Mia’s blonde head and Lily’s honey brown one both turn in my direction as well, both smiling as they wave me toward the table.
As I approach, I take in the French doors leading to a patio, which give a full view of powdery white sands and the aqua blue ocean beyond. I arrived almost a week ago, and I’ve yet to explore the beach, let alone the nuances of this cozy town. I’d planned to ask Wade to take me for that sunset walk, buthe wound up getting injured. Perhaps this weekend I can go by myself. Or even better, perhaps my new friends might like to make a day of it.
I slide into the booth next to Sophie, letting my purse strap fall to the bench seat. She pulls me into a hug while the other two ladies continue to smile at me.
“I’m so glad you came.” She squeezes me tighter before releasing me.
“Me too.” I tuck my hair behind my ear, my nerves making me feel a bit on edge.
Or maybe I’m hangry? I wound up so busy working on the Date a Hockey Player event that I never ate lunch. And then Rebecca asked me to handle a social media hiccup involving one of the rookies, who took the crown from the team’s new mascot, Stingin’ Ray, and posted a video of himself parading around the locker room wearing it. When I explained he’d jumped the gun in revealing the new mascot, he frowned and said it was only the crown.
He had a point. Instead of taking the video down, I reposted it on the team feed as a small hint about the big reveals planned for the game on Saturday. The fans ate it up, reposting and sharing, while posting guesses what it could be in the comments. Nothing like a little intrigue to get our stats pumped up.
My favorite speculated that the crown was for Payton, along with an honorary title of royalty in Sarabella. The thread of replies had so many hilarious suggestions, I tucked it away for future reference, just in case.
Yeah, that was my day—crazy yet great, because Rebecca said my pivot to make a blunder appear intentional wasbrilliant. And I may have preened a little over her praise.
I pick up the menu. “What’s good here?”
All three reply at the same time, “Everything.”
We all erupt into giggles, which diffuses my nervousness about fitting in with these three women. They’ve done nothing to make me uncomfortable. Quite the opposite, actually. The shy girl I used to be in school returned with a vengeance after the whole Chase debacle, bringing back my insecurities in a major way, so this feels like an upgrade in comparison.
“We already ordered some hushpuppies.” Just as she says this, the server arrives with a tray holding a red basket lined with checkered paper and three glasses of white wine.
Mia slides her glass closer. “We didn’t know if you preferred wine or beer. Or water.” She adds the latter as an afterthought.
“Wine sounds great.” I smile at the server. “I’ll have the same.”
She nods and leaves.
After taking a sip, Lily lowers her glass. “So, Aubrey Marie Sutton, what’s your story?”
How does she know my middle name? I’m almost positive that the subject didn’t come up last night. “How did you know Marie was my middle name?”
Mia waves her off. “Don’t mind her. She’s a bodyguard?—”
“Formerbodyguard,” Lily interjects.
“Whatever.” Mia rolls her eyes. “As I was saying, don’t mind her. She investigates everyone she meets.”
I didn’t have a chance to ask Lily about her profession last night. On that first day at the arena, Payton explained what had happened earlier in the season when his title as an heir apparent wound up leaked to the press. He kind of glossed over his fiancée being his bodyguard, though. “Payton mentioned you were his bodyguard.”
Lily pauses mid-sip and puts her glass down. “He loves to pull that card out every chance he gets.”
After I thank our server for the wine she places in front of me, I return my attention to Lily. “He didn’t go into detail. Did you really have to protect him from a threat?”
“Only from himself and the press, thanks to a rival who has a bone to pick with him and revealed Payton’s true identity to the paparazzi.”
Sophie dips a hushpuppy into a creamy orange sauce. “You should have seen her take charge. Even I was shaking in my shoes.”
Lily dons a maniacal grin. “Now I get to put all those skills to work for the team.”
“Playing bodyguard?” I can easily imagine her bossing those guys around.
She snorts. “Sometimes. But not really. I handle security at the arena.”
