“I’ll probably go this year since I’ll be in town,” he adds.
“I’m sure you’re busy, with the Owls being a brand-new team and all, but you should come as my plus-one if you can spare a few hours,” Livie says, looking at Finn as she sets our drinks in front of us, “We’re ‘encouraged’ to take dates.”
Something akin to jealousy coils inside me. Olivia would never make a move on a guy I’ve hooked up with, but the discomfort in my chest remains. Something about him makes me feel territorial, which is absolutely ridiculous since Finn Barlow doesn’t belongto anyone but himself. Hamilton snorts like he knows there’s no chance Finn will be interested in attending.
“When is it?” Finn asks.
God,his voice.It’s as smooth as the bourbon in Liv’s old fashioned and sinks into me with the same warmth.
“Next week.” She takes her phone out. “I don’t think I have your number. Joss can text you the details.”
She says it nonchalantly, but my face heats anyway. I stare at the drink in my hand and ignore her statement.
“Who are you taking?” Tiago asks, turning to me. “Not Tate.”
I make a face. “Hell no.”
“Why are you encouraged to take a date?” Finn asks.
“Well, not just any date. People who will drive more attention to the cause. Preferably athletes,” Livie says.
“Don’t fret, Barlow,” Hamilton smirks. “Everyone knows about your aversion to dates and having your picture taken with women.”
“Random women,” Finn corrects.
Hamilton’s brows rise. “Which … are all of them when it comes to you.”
I bite my tongue and focus on my drink. Finn doesn’t argue, and I don’t dare look over to see what his expression looks like. Not that I’d be able to decipher it, as confusing as he is.
“What does that mean? Do you not date at all, or is it the pictures you don’t want?” Tiago asks.
“I don’t date,” Finn responds.
“Ever?” Tiago asks, raising his eyebrows.
Livie snorts. “Not everyone wants to find love, Prince Charming.”
Tiago shoots her a look, then looks at Finn. “So you just never date?”
“He had a bad experience his first season in the NHL,” Will explains.
“With the woman who snuck into your apartment?” Livie asks.
“She’d been there the night before and thought she shouldsurprise him by being there when he got home from a game,” Hamilton says.
My jaw drops. Finn scowls and looks away, the muscle in his jaw feathering like he’s over this conversation even though he hasn’t even said a word.
“Don’t they have a fan account that tries to figure out the identities of the women you’re seen with?” Livie asks.
That leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I’m not surprised she knew all of this and hadn’t told me. She’d have no reason to mention any of it to me, but it still irks me that she knows and I didn’t.
“Joss deals with crazy shit, but thankfully no one has ever snuck into her house,” Tiago says with a scowl on his face.
“Are you taking a plus-one?” Hamilton asks, glancing at me. “Or are you the exception to the rule since you have more followers than everyone in this bar combined?”
“That’s quite the exaggeration,” I say, and feel myself smile. “I don’t think I’m taking anyone.”
“But Tate is still going,” Livie says, concerned. “That’s what Dame said.”
