“What are you talking about?” Troy sputters around his beer. “Where is this coming from?”
“What? I can’t want to meet a nice lady?”
“Lady?” Cash laughs. “You’re not dating in the fifties.”
“Fuck off. You know what I mean.”
“Cash, be nice,” Piper chastises him, smacking him in the chest.
“The last time Ang tried to set you up, you told her you weren’t interested in dating until you were older,” Troy tells me.
I roll my eyes, hating that my captain is also my brother-in-law. Of course he remembers everything I’ve ever told him.
“Because I was still in college. I didn’t want to screw up my focus and risk not getting drafted.”
“For a prodigy like you?” Noah asks. “Never would’ve happened.”
“I’m serious though. Watching all of you guys together makes me want what you have.”
“I don’t have that,” Noah corrects.
“You could, Strawberry, if you let us set you up too,” Cash says.
“Fuck no. I’m just fine on my own.” Noah acts like it’s the worst thing in the world to want to be with someone.
“You’re not getting any younger,” Troy tells him.
Noah flips him off.
Angie, ignoring all of them, turns to me. “You know it wasn’t as easy as snapping our fingers and us finding what we have, right?”
“I know.” It’s not like I don’t know what Angie and Piper both went through to find what they have now. Cheating boyfriends and family feuds? I know this. But it doesn’t mean I don’t want to try and find something. “I just… You’re all settled. Happy. I want that too.”
They all share sappy looks, and it has me swigging down more of my beer.
“Are you not happy with me and Oreo?” Noah asks, looking affronted. “I’m beginning to think we’re not good enough for you.”
I roll my eyes at the dramatics of my best friend. “What, I can’t have my best friend, bunny, and a girlfriend?”
“You know, if you post a picture of you with Oreo on a dating app, everyone will eat that up,” Troy states.
“Or they would eat him up because he’s a hockey player and way too shy for all those women who would be interested,” Cash tells me.
“Jesus. You guys really aren’t making a good case for me here.”
“Sorry.” Piper scoots over Cash’s lap to take the spot next to me. “Look, I think I have someone that you would like.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask.
Piper tucks a lock of blonde hair behind her ear and tells me about her. “Her name is Caroline. We went to school together. She was always nice to me, and I don’t think she’s that into hockey.”
“Seriously? She’s not into hockey?” Noah asks.
Piper rolls her eyes at her brother. “There is more to life than hockey.”
Cash claps a hand over her mouth as they all gasp. I can’t help but laugh at how dramatic they can be.
“Careful, Piper.” Cash nips at her neck.
