By the time I’m dropping her off at her car, I wish I could ask her to stay.
But I can’t.
Hockey takes priority. I don’t want to need people.Needing people means you rely on them. Which always leads to them letting you down.
I’ve had enough letdowns for a lifetime.
“I’ll see you at the arena tomorrow?” I ask Piper, shutting her door.
We each had one drink at the bar before switching to water. We talked for hours. I could tell you her preschool teacher’s name at this point.
Easy, because it was her mother.
She nods.
“I’ll be there.”
Chapter Nine
CASH
“You’re looking a little stiff there, Willy. You need a drink?” Troy asks.
I adjust my bow tie—not for the first time tonight—and look around. I don’t think I’ve ever been invited to Cap’s house before.
When Cassie told me and Piper that we had to be at the event tonight—to raise money for Team Rainbow, Angie’s father’s organization—Angie jumped at the chance to invite her for a day of pampering.
I’m just thankful that Piper’s parents have a fundraiser at her mom’s school so I won’t meet them tonight. That would be way too much pressure on me.
“I’ll take a beer if you have one.” Anything to calm my nerves.
“Me too!” Noah chimes in from his spot on the couch.
“Coming right up.”
I take the brief reprieve to look around Troy’s living room. His house is like mine—nothing over-the-top or ostentatious. Angie and Troy live in one of the nicer areas of Denver and have a decent-sized back yard. Largewindows give them a view of downtown and the mountains beyond them. Everything in here looks cozy and lived in. Likely Angie’s doing. Nothing like mine that looks straight out of a magazine.
“You nervous about tonight?” Noah asks.
I shrug a shoulder. “Not really.”
“Then why do you look nervous?”
Noah is sitting there like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“Because I have to hang out with you idiots all night.”
“Ouch. That hurts.” He mocks pain, throwing his hand over his chest. “You wound me, Willy.”
“Leave him alone. It’s his first big night out with Piper,” Troy says, coming back into the room and handing each of us a drink.
“It’s still weird I didn’t know you were dating my sister.” Noah shakes his head, sipping on the amber beer Troy gave us.
“I’m a better option than Duncan,” I tell him.
“He’s not coming tonight, is he?” Noah asks.
I snort over the sip I took. “Hell no. The team didn’t mandate it, so he’s probably off screwing his latest conquest.”
