“Casco, you should bring your sister on more road trips,” Redov announces as everyone is finishing their food.“She’s much more fun than you.”
“I didn’t bring her.Landon did,” Callan clarifies, grumpy as ever.“And if it wasn’t for our niece, she wouldn’t be here.Lola hates hockey.”
“No.I hate hockey players,” I correct, and Redov covers his chest with his hands like his heart just broke.“Sorry.You guys seem delightful.Most of you, anyway.”
My eyes dart to Theo, who is staring at me like he’s never seen me before.Weird considering he’s seen all of me.Redov drops his head onto my shoulder, and I turn my gaze back to him.He’s absurdly tall and thick with bright green eyes and messy dark hair.Not an unpleasant sight at all and definitely charismatic.“Lola Casco, I’m gonna make it my personal mission to make you like hockey players.At least this one.”
He winks, and I roll my eyes and reach for my Dos Equis.As my lips wrap around the bottle and find Theo.His eyes are narrowed on me, like he’s angry.Weird reaction for a dude who trotted his hook-up out in front of me.
“How many days are you tagging along on this road trip?”Theo asks, and everyone looks at him because his voice is deep and dark, like he’s angry.
“I’m just here for this game.Then Randie and I will fly back to Maine,” I say and take another sip of beer.I don’t miss how his eyes move to watch my mouth.
Redov stands up.“Are we all done?Time for dessert?”
“What’s for dessert?”Micheals asks.
“Tequila shots!”Redov yells, and everyone laughs.
“And I’m out.”Theo stands up.Pulling cash out of his wallet, he tosses it onto the table.“You guys have a great night.”
I watch as he literally walks out of the restaurant.He never even looks back.
I stand.Callan glares at me.“Lo.”
“What?I’m not allowed to pee?”I ask, and he shakes his head.
I ignore him and walk toward the bathroom, which thankfully is in the same direction as the front door.So when I peel off and march right out the door instead of left to the restrooms, no one will notice.Hopefully.Theo is on the sidewalk, staring at his phone.“Uber or asking your hook-up to come back for round two?”
“What?”
“I mean, I know you like two rounds.”I shrug as he looks over his shoulder at me.“So it wouldn’t surprise me if you’re calling her back to the hotel.”
“Who?”He’s a really good actor.He looks genuinely confused.He glances around, I’m assuming to make sure none of his teammates have followed us, and then he steps right into my space.So close his coat, which is hanging open on his wide frame, brushes against me.“I left because I’m not going to watch you get drunk and even more flirty with Redov.”
“I wasn’t flirty.”
“He was flirting, and you didn’t seem to mind.”
“But you do?”I ask, tilting my head like the idea is absurd, because it is.“You who let your booty call trot right by me back at the hotel?You get to tell me who I fuck next?”
“My…” His mouth falls open, and his eyes widen.“Harlow isnotmy booty call.She’s my sister.”
Her image flashes through my head, and suddenly it’s obvious.Same glossy dark hair.Same eyes, the color of coffee with just a splash of cream.Same strong jaw and… “Why is your sister here?”
“She’s skating at nationals, and they’re being held here this weekend,” Theo replies.“She came to tell me.I had no idea she was back into skating and trying to qualify for the Olympics.”
“She… is?”I blink.I know little to nothing about his family.I mean, I know who his dad is and that he’s not related to Grady, but he's related to Grady’s cousins.But for all I know, he has 12 sisters who skate, are acrobats, or something.“I missed Thanksgiving, so how would I know you have a sister?”
“Right.Well, I do.Just the one.And she used to be an incredible figure skater,” Theo explains.“She quit years ago but has picked up ice dancing recently, and well, she’s working on qualifying for the Olympics.I guess she hasn’t told anyone in the family until now.Probably because everyone was busy worrying about me.”
His voice gets thicker, like it’s choked with guilt as he finishes that thought.“Well, it’s cool she’s back at something she loves, right?”
“Sure.Yeah.It’s great.Harlow deserves the best,” Theo says and then clears his throat before changing he subject.“You thought I was hooking up with her?”
“I mean, I didn’t get a good look at her, so I didn’t see a resemblance, and when a hot chick wanders out of your hotel room, why would I think anything else?”I ask, feeling stupid.
“Because I deleted the hook-up app,” he informs me and leans down, so his head is closer to my ear, “and unlike you, I wasn’t ready to move on.”
