“Yeah, that’s his room,” Grady confirms.“The one next to Theo.”
Bingo.I smile.“Later, boys.Call if you need anything.”
They don’t even bother to say goodbye, too obsessed with Randie.I make my way down the hotel hallway, past the elevators, and hook a left, following the signs that say room 919 is this way.I get to Callan’s door just as he’s stepping out of his room.He seems shocked to see me.“Landon had me and Randie fly down so he could see her.Fourteen days is way too long for them to be apart.”
“Is that legal?”he asks, and I roll my eyes.
“The coach gets that Landon and Grady are her only parents.I’m sure he’s cool with it,” I reply.“Plus she’s sleeping at Mom’s tonight and won’t interfere with your ridiculous hockey routines.”
“They’re not ridiculous.”
“You’re grown ass men, and you nap every day,” I retort, and now he rolls his eyes.
“So where are you staying?”he asks pointedly, and his gaze shifts to the door to his left.Callan would be a terrible poker player.
“I have a room on the fourth floor,” I explain casually, trying not to smile at the fact that I now know what room Theo’s in.“But Grady mentioned a dinner at a Mexican place.”
“Team dinner.You are not on the team,” Callan replies.
Before I can argue or complain, Theo’s hotel room door opens, and my face lights up at the prospect of seeing him.I can’t hide it.Only it’s not him stepping into the hall.It’s a woman.And she’s… gorgeous.Short like me with long dark wavy hair and a perfect little ski jump nose and full mouth painted a cherry red… She’s in a clingy dress that looks like a long men’s Henley shirt, and she’s paired it with suede ankle boots.Her tiny waist and curvy hips are on display.I immediately feel inferior and embarrassed, wishing I’d put on something better than jeans and a T-shirt.She glances at me.“Hey.”
“Hi,” I spit out and try to smile because she’s smiling at me.Why?I have no clue.But I can’t hate her.She doesn’t know I’ve been banging him, too.
She turns to Theo.“Thanks.I’ll message you tomorrow and tell you how it goes.”
“Yeah.Cool.”Theo steps into the hall, and when he sees me, he freezes.His normally healthy complexion turns to ash.“Lola.What are you doing here?”
The woman keeps walking and turns the corner toward the elevator.“I brought Randie.She’s with Landon.”
“Oh,” he says, and I want to puke because he’s acting weird, which means I definitely caught something I shouldn’t have.
“Yeah, so… Have a good night.”Callan slaps my back like I’m one of his buddies and looks to Theo.“Ready for dinner?”
A door opens down the hall as Theo’s gaze ping pongs from me to my brother and back.“You guys coming?Theo?Are you actually participating in a team event?”
“I… was… I mean…”
“Yeah.He promised me he would,” Callan replies to the guy two doors down, who is obviously also a player.
The guy comes toward us and gives me a slow, very obvious once-over.He extends his hand.“Iggy Redov.”
“Lola,” I say and take his hand.
“My twinsister,” Callan adds.
Redov pulls his hand back like my skin was about to catch fire.“Another Casco?Cool.You wanna join us for dinner?This place makes the most amazing Enchiladas verde.”
“She’s good.”
“I’m goodandhungry,” I add and smile at Redov.“Thanks for the invite.I’d love to.”
Callan groans, his giant frame sagging, and I flip him the finger.Redov watches, amused, and turns to Theo.“Siblings are wild.I’m so glad I was an only child.”
Theo just smiles, but it’s tight.Good.He doesn’t want me at dinner.Too bad.I’m going, and I’m going to make sure it’s one hundred percent clear I don’t give a flying fuck that I just saw his hook up, or whatever, leave.Because he has to think I’m perfectly fine.Even though I am so not.That’s a me problem, though.Not something Theo can ever know.
The Mexican place is just off Golden Gate Park up near Haight and Ashbury, so I’m at least in my element.I grew up here, hanging out in the park and scouring the vintage shops in this area.The restaurant itself is new, though it looks old and has a no-frills vibe that makes hipsters happy.I get the enchiladas verde because Redov raved about them, and they don’t disappoint.
We’re at two picnic-style tables, and I’m wedged between Callan and Redov with Theo across from me next to their back-up goalie, Micheals.He’s a grumpy fuck, and I know Grady and Landon don’t like him much.I’m not sure why he came out tonight because no one really talks to him.Not like I’m talking much either.I listen to the guys banter about hockey and enjoy my enchiladas.I’m also making sure my face shows zero emotion unless it’s happy, so I smile like a cheerleader on crack at every dumb joke Redov makes, and the Russian makes a lot of dumb jokes.
