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I laugh.

He brushes his hand across my lower back.

“Mercers here somewhere. So, Avery should be around, too. You gonna be okay for a bit?”

“I think I can survive an hour without you.”

“Debatable.”

I give him a look.

He grins, then bends close enough that his next words are just for me.

“Save me a dance, beautiful.”

Before I can answer, he presses a quick kiss to my temple and disappears toward the other players. I stand there for a second, watching him go. Well. That's new.

“Laney!”

I turn to see Avery making her way through the crowd in a corseted emerald green dress that looks gorgeous against her honey-blond hair. She looks like she could be on the cover of a magazine.

“You look incredible!” she says, catching both my hands.

“So do you.”

She steps back and gives my dress an appreciative once-over.

“Okay, yes. This was absolutely the right one.”

“I'm starting to think you were right.”

“I'm always right.”

I laugh. “Where's Mercer?”

“Being forced into manual labor.” She gestures toward the players.

Nolan Mercer stands beside Bishop, both wearing black aprons with the Phoenix Foundation logo over white dress shirts and tuxedo pants.

They are joined by a few other Phoenixes I recognize: Jax Marrow, Lincoln Slade, Rory Kincade, Harrington Whylde, Easton Jackson, Tony Hutchsion, Beau Beaulieu, and Pavel Domachev. He wasn’t kidding when he said the whole team would be here; it’s a handsome lineup. But I haven’t seen my buddy Tallis Deacon yet.

“Some of the guys look like maybe they need a drink before they serve drinks.” I laugh.

Mercer's bow tie is already undone, hanging loosely around his collar. He looks deeply unimpressed with the entire arrangement. Rory is wearing his normal scowl. Bishop, on the other hand, is grinning at something one of the guests says as he offers a tray of champagne.

“Mercer hates formal events,” Avery explains.

“I gathered.”

“He told me the only reason he's here is that it's for a good cause.”

“I’m so glad you came with him.”

She takes a sip of her drink and looks around.

“He didn’t give me much choice. Apparently he decided I needed to get out more.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Interesting.”