“Your lawyer’s here,” Benji would announce whenever Chase walked in, like I couldn’t see him myself.
“He’s not my lawyer.”
“No, he’s yourboyfriend, the hot lawyer who’s also your boyfriend. Do I need to make you flashcards?”
“Your videos are reminder enough.” I elbowed him, earning a laugh and a raised phone, as though he was about to go Live right then and there.
“God, I hate you.”
“No, you love me. More importantly, you love my videos. The bar’s an Instagram sensation.”
I couldn’t argue with that. Benji’s follow-up to our accidental celebrity status had driven a steady flow of new folks through our doors, along with a host of regulars who drank their way through every lecture he served up.
In late February, we had a Sunday afternoon home game, which had become rare for the Lightning. The bar was slammed by noon. Chase showed up in jeans and a tight Lightning T-shirt I’d never seen him wearbefore. The blue of the shirt made the blond in his hair look even lighter, and the tight fabric drew taut around his biceps in ways that made many of the guys turn and stare. That sent an odd mix of pride and something snarky I refused to admit through my chest.
“Did you buy that just for today?” I asked when he reached the bar.
“Maybe.” He looked almost sheepish. “I figured if I’m going to be here all the time, I should show team spirit.”
“You’re adorable.”
“And hot,” Benji interjected.
“Like a griddle hot,” Jacks added from behind me.
“What the fuck? A griddle?” Benji squinted at Jacks. “That’s so not sexy.”
“Guys!” I threw my hands in the air, not really annoyed but feeling the irrational need to mark my territory.
Chase chuckled at the chaos.
I leaned across and kissed him, then whispered, “You bought a team jersey to impress me. That’s adorable.”
The snap of Benji’s camera pulled us apart.
Chase blushed. “Can I have a beer before you make this worse?”
I popped the cap off a Heineken and watched himdisappear into the crowd to find standing room near one of the TVs.
There was something about seeing him there, in a Lightning shirt, surrounded by the madness of my bar, relaxed and enjoying himself, that made my chest tight. The Lightning scored, and I swear I saw a flash of blond bobbing among the sea of celebrating boys.
Was this my life now? I couldn’t contain a smile as I grabbed a glass and turned to my next customer.
Chapter 38
Chase
On a Tuesday night in mid-March, I was back at the bar. Imagine that.
I’d been going there at least twice a week since we’d met, and my corner booth had become my second office. The Morrisons probably wondered why my billable hours looked so good despite me leaving by six most days, but the answer was simple: I’d discovered I could focus better with the ambient noise of Barbacks than I could in the silence of my townhouse.
Or maybe I just wanted to be near Finn.
The truth was probably closer to that second thought, but a win’s a win.
On that particular night, the Lightning faced off against Boston. Again. The bar was beyond packed, and the energy was electric. People cheered, groaned, and shouted at the TVs. I’d given up on actual work about twenty minutes after entering and decided tojust watch Finn work behind the bar.
He was in his element, moving with purpose, laughing with customers, and pouring drinks with practiced efficiency. His auburn hair was messed up from running his hands through it every five minutes, and there was a slight flush to his pale cheeks from exertion.
