“I haven’t seen you in forever! How are you?” Lisa asks, pulling him into a hug.
“I’ve been busy,” Julian replies shyly. “How are you? What are you doing in Chicago?”
“I moved back,” Lisa says, her excitement returning. “We should grab lunch sometime,” she suggests, and Julian nods. He glances around the room, and the moment he spots Leo walking toward us, his expression shifts.
“I have to go, sorry,” he says quickly, backing away and heading to the other side of the room. He leans in to whisper something to Rex, and the two of them leave shortly after.
“That was weird,” Lisa comments, watching them go. “Is Julian ok?” she asks Leo.
“I’m not entirely sure,” Leo replies calmly. “Rex is a bad influence. I hope he’s alright.”
“I thought you guys might want another round of drinks,” Jake interrupts.
Tess and I exchange shocked looks before turning back to him. Did Lisa really turn him into our personal waiter with one comment?
“You didn’t have to,” Lisa says with a smile as she takes the drinks and hands them out to each of us. “Now let’s go dancing, girls.”
Tess quickly kisses Leo, and then we both follow Lisa onto the dance floor.
Chapter 14
Zane
“You’re welcome,” I say as I hand the girl back a team jersey. I’ve never understood how fans get into parties like these. I’ve been here for maybe two hours, and I’ve already had to sign four shirts.
“Your girl is having fun,” Blake comments, looking out at the dance floor. Gwen is dancing with Tess and Lisa, all of them wearing huge smiles. Gwen subtly moves her hips, but it drives me wild.
“She sure is,” I say with a proud smile.
“I checked, and Rex is really gone. I keep thinking about Julian, I’m worried about him,” Leo says as he joins Blake and me.
“Should we invite him over for a drink or something? Try to talk to him? Maybe see what’s going on?” I suggest, and Leo agrees immediately.
“He seems avoidant of you two,” Blake points out, and he has a point. “What if I invite him, and you can have your little intervention at my place?”
“That should work,” Leo concludes. We turn and watch the dance floor again when a blonde and a brunette approach me.
“You’re cute,” the blonde says, and from the way she speaks, I can tell she’s had too much to drink.
“Thanks,” I reply, stepping slightly away from them.
“Holt is my brother,” the brunette adds. “He said pretty much every guy on the team is available… Well, that’s not exactly what he said, but that’s how I took it,” she says as she walks over to Blake and places her hand on his chest.
He covers her hand with his and gently removes it from his body.
“Why don’t you two get some water or something?” he suggests.
“Want to come with us?” the blonde asks, but Blake shakes his head. In my mind, he’s the kind of guy who would’ve said yes instantly. He keeps surprising me.
“Is it true you’re with the fat girl?” the brunette asks. Her words are slurred, but I can make out enough to feel the anger rise immediately.
“That’s it,” Leo says, stepping in. “Leave. Now.” His tone is firm enough to startle the blonde, who takes a few steps back, but the brunette doesn’t move.
“I’ve always wanted to be with a hockey player,” she says, and this time she places her hand on my chest.
Just then, Gwen, Tess, and Lisa return from the dance floor. Gwen notices her right away, her eyes widening in shock, hurt, and confusion.
Lisa is in mid-conversation with Tess, but as soon as she catches Tess’s shocked expression directed at me, she turns her attention my way.
