At some point a couple of guys drift over from the bar. It’s a club. Eventually circles overlap.
One of them lifts his glass toward our group. "You ladies mind if we join the dance floor or is this a private party?"
"Depends," Mia says. "Are you good dancers or are you about to embarrass yourselves?"
The guy laughs. "Moderately embarrassing at worst."
His friend nods toward the bar. "First round’s on us if that helps our case."
Annabelle tilts her head. "Free drinks are a compelling argument."
"See?" the first guy says. "We’re already winning."
"That’s a strong word," Harper says.
They disappear toward the bar and return a minute later with drinks for everyone.
"Peace offering," Sunglasses Guy says, handing one to me.
"Thank you," I say.
"I’m Tyler," he says. "And this is Jake."
"Natalie," I say. "These are my friends."
"The intimidating committee," Mia adds.
"We prefer quality control," Robin says.
Tyler laughs easily. "Fair enough."
The music shifts and the DJ slides into a song everyone seems to know. The crowd surges back toward the dance floor.
"Round two," Annabelle declares, grabbing my hand again.
We pull the guys with us.
For a while it’s just a big messy group. Dancing, laughing, yelling over the music. Tyler spins Annabelle once and she mock glares at him like he violated a union rule. Lila drags Jake into an exaggerated spin that almost takes out a guy walking past.
"This is chaos," Robin shouts happily.
"Good chaos," Mia says.
Tyler ends up next to me again as the circle shifts.
"Your friends are intense," he says.
"You have no idea," I say.
"I like it," he says.
Another song starts. The lights flash red and blue and the dance floor gets tighter.
Tyler leans closer so I can hear him.
"So how do you all know each other?"
"Hockey world," Mia answers before I can.
