From Fling to Ring: A Hockey Romance (The San Francisco Aftershocks)

Chapter 31

TYLER

“Hey,you gonna show up at the game today, like you didn’t at yesterday’s practice?” Jonas asks.

“Yeah, yeah. Funny guy,” I say, taking my seat at the private table the restaurant prepared just for us.

I order a scotch and sit back, happy in my post-orgasmic state, ignoring Rake’s and Jonas’s chatter while I think about Lucy sitting back on the sofa with her thighs spread wide open, just for me.

“… look at him. I mean, just look at him,” Jonas says quietly.

My attention snaps back to the room, and I realize they’re talking about me.

“Guys, I know I am fascinating, but really, do you have to talk about me, right in front of me?”

Rake nods. “I see what you are up to. You’re having fun with Lucy, but when you meet that ninety-day mark, you know you’ll be giving her the old heave-ho.”

The scotch burns going down, and for a moment I wonder if it’s going to come back up.

“If he reaches the ninety-day mark. Which is still questionable, if you ask me,” Jonas adds.

Ugh. They had to spoil the evening with this bullshit.

I cross my arms over my chest. I am so not in the mood for this. I’m doing a fine job tormenting myself over the predicament I walked into without them adding to it. “You’re right. I am having fun with her,” I say. “In fact, we were just finishing phone sex when you guys so rudely interrupted us with your big mouths, shouting about ‘ninety days’ through my door.”

Jonas’s eyes widen. “Oh shit. Do you think she heard us?”

Our steaks are served and I’m hoping this means Rake and Jonas will get busy eating instead of poking around in my business.

Jonas waits for my answer before picking up his knife and fork.

“I don’t think she heard you. But maybe next time you can keep your mouth shut,” I snap.

I don’t know who’s more surprised at my tone, the guys or me. I’m usually the easy-going one out of the three of us, taking in stride the constant teasing we throw each other’s way. But tonight, I am seriously on edge. I take a couple bites of my steak, and don’t even enjoy it, that’s how riled up they’ve gotten me.

It’s a dick move to blame the guys, though. I got myself into this predicament. Nobody forced me into it. And I have to get my ass out of it.

What the hell am I supposed to do about Lucy? I have every intention of dating her for the full ninety-days, but what will I do when she finds out about the bet when the guys lose, because I’m pretty damn sure they will?

The Tyler I was a few weeks ago is sure not the Tyler I am today. And that feels… strange. Uncomfortable. Creepy. Like my skin is crawling.

“You haven’t said anything to your wife, have you?” I ask Rake.

His eyes widen. “Oh hell no. She’d have my balls. As it is, when she finds out about all this, she’ll probably be pissed as hell we pulled one of her friends into it.” Rake looks down at his food. “Yeah. Not looking forward to that.”

“Hard left, we have some lovelies in the house,” Jonas says, craning his neck to see around me.

I can’t blame the man for being on the prowl. With his little ones, he doesn’t get out of the house much except for when we’re traveling. Being a widower is not easy. I know from having watched my dad all my life.

Jonas shows me his teeth. “Am I clear?”

“Yeah. You’re good,” I say. I consider fucking with him like I often do and sending him chasing after an imaginary speck of spinach between his teeth. I just don’t have it in me tonight, though. “You know, you always could go to the men’s room to check like normal people do.”

“Okay, miss priss. I’ll remember that for next time. So let’s go chat them up. Rake is no use to us anymore with his married ass.”

Rake shrugs. “What can I say? I found someone who took me off the streets.”

I could go talk to the women Jonas is checking out, if for no other reason than to prove to myself I’ve still got game. Might help me put a little distance between Lucy and myself. Or should I say, Lucy and my feelings?

Yeah, I’m liking her. A lot. More than I want to, and more than I care to admit. Normally, I never get emotionally involved with any woman, even when we’re incredibly sexually compatible like Lucy and I am.

Attachments never lead to anything good. Just look at my father, all these years after my mom’s passing and he’s still missing her, cooking her favorite dishes so he feels closer to her. He’s never even looked at another woman all these years. Says there was only one love for him, and he’s lucky he had her for as long as he did.

Rake excuses himself and heads to his room, probably to have phone sex with his wife like I just did with Lucy. Jonas gets to his feet and tucks his shirt into his jeans while glancing over his shoulder several times.

Jesus, is that how I used to be? Prowling around like I’m stalking prey or something?

“No, man. I’m out.”

“What?” Jonas snaps.

I toss my napkin on the table as soon as the bill is paid. “See you tomorrow.”

I leave Jonas with his mouth hanging open, not feeling even a little badly for leaving him to fly solo. Aside from tomorrow’s game, I have one thing on my mind.

Her name is Lucy.

But when she texts me right before I fall asleep, I don’t respond back to her.