36. The Vibe Is Slutty Chic
36
THE VIBE IS SLUTTY CHIC
RORY
S kating for the Belles tonight was nothing like what I expected it to be. I’m grinning from ear to ear when we finally make it back to our locker room after the game. High on an adrenaline rush from the crowd, the performance, the win—everything.
The Breakers entered the third period with a 3-1 lead, but a couple of unnecessary penalties and bad plays allowed the Falcons to tie up the game 3-3.
Aidan O’Rourke came out for blood in the third, earning his reputation—and time in the penalty box for a major penalty—after charging the Falcons’ #25 Logan Pierce five minutes in and starting a fight.
The most rabid Breakers fans cheered while the rest of us watched in apprehensive fascination as Aidan punched the grin right off of Pierce’s face. Logan’s blood dripping all over the ice, leading to an unexpected break in play while the officials cleaned it up.
Not usually a fan of this violent side of the sport, I had to hide my grin. Pierce deserved it, especially after what he tried during the period break.
Unfortunately for me, the Irish Devil’s spot in the penalty box put him right next to the platform the Belles dance on throughout the game. By that point, I’m sure he’d noticed me and whatever his feelings were on it, I didn’t want to know. Throughout his entire sentence in the box, I could feel the heavy weight of his gaze on me, but I refused to acknowledge it, keeping my eyes fixed firmly on the game.
That part aside, cheering and skating with the Belles tonight had turned out to be way more fun than I ever could have expected. I wasn’t about to let Aidan O’Rourke ruin it.
In the end, #19 made up for it by sinking a buzzer-beating goal just out of reach of the Falcons’ goalie to secure the win and avoid overtime.
“Rory,” Liv’s voice pulls me out of my head as I slip off my last skate and shove it into my bag. I notice most of the team looking my way. “You down?”
My eyes dart around the small room, hoping to pick up some context clues, but I come up with nothing. “Down for what?” My cheeks heat slightly.
Elle elbows me in the side teasingly, “The team’s all going out to Last Call tonight to celebrate the first win. It’s a sports bar close to the rink. You in?”
I catch the little side look she gives me. She might not know the reason, but she knows it can be… difficult for me to go out and do things like normal twenty-year-olds do, with how strict my security detail can be.
I nod, knowing full well agreeing to go out with the team means sneaking out of the mansion tonight… I’m sure Niko’s already pacing the halls of the family area. He hates hockey. It was work enough to talk him into allowing me to do the games at all. There's no way he’d be down for an after party… Engaged Bratva princesses have no business being in clubs.
“Yeah, I just need to run home first, shower and change...”
“Okay, great. Text me your address and we’ll pick you up in like an hour?” Liv calls on her way out of the locker room, bag already slung over her shoulder.
“The vibe is slutty chic ,” Grace, another girl from the team, laughs from across the room.
“Sounds good.” I’m still riding high on the adrenaline shot this game gave me. And I use it to fuel my confidence to even attempt going out tonight. It might be a risk, but knowing my father pushed up the marriage timeline with Matteo, it might be one of my last chances for a girls night out.
And I have just the outfit in mind.
Niko is more than happy to drop me off at the mansion after the game. Like I suspected, he’s eager to be free of me. But as I’m exiting his car, I stop, turning back around and making eye contact with my brother.
“Move it along, brat.” He taps the steering wheel impatiently, making what I’m about to say even harder.
Niko didn’t have to agree to this. I could still be confined in the house right now—or worse—dealing with Petr or another one of my dad’s guys, who would absolutely not be willing to wait around the rink for hours.
Hesitating, I bite my lip, losing my nerve after seeing the sharpness in his icy eyes.
“I don’t have all night, Aurora . What is it?”
“Thanks for tonight, Niko.” My words come out in a bit of a mumbled mess, but by the way he stiffens, I know he got the gist. “I know you have better things to do, but tonight was a lot of fun and, well… thanks for making it happen.”
My brother’s mouth tightens, but he doesn’t say anything. I shut the door before he has a chance to ruin it and head for the house. By the time I reach the steps, his Audi is long gone.
Just over an hour later, I’m clean and squeezed into my slutty-chic outfit of choice. Honestly, it’s more clothing than I’ve had on all night, but somehow feels ten times as scandalous. If I get caught out in this outfit, I might not need to worry about my future at all.
Elle lent it to me the last time we tried to go out, but I never made it. My father ended up dragging me to a never-ending dinner with a couple of insufferable politicians he had in his pocket. Both of whom made me feel incredibly uncomfortable all night with their wandering eyes.
The structured black shirt caps on my shoulders and clings tightly to my upper body, leaving the tiniest sliver of skin above the short gold sequined mini skirt. I left the holographic green shamrock Liv painted on earlier this evening visible. She sealed it with like eight coats of clear coat and, even after hours of skating and a shower, the thing hasn’t budged.
The three-inch thigh high black suede boots give my legs the illusion of length. I leave my hair down. I refrained from washing it in the shower and the now loose curls from being shaken out all night cascade in a ‘messy sexy’ way down my back. In a rush, I add a quick,bold red lip and dark eye makeup to complete the look.
Not wanting to leave anything to chance, I escape the house with the maid’s three level step stool. Bypassing the gate entirely and climbing over the side wall instead.
It’s no trouble at all escaping the house tonight. Both Niko and my father are out, and security seems lighter than usual—if that were even possible. Which is good for me, since I’m already running late. Liv and Elle texted me they were here at least ten minutes ago.
I’d given my teammates the address for the house a block over. With explicit instructions to wait for me in the car.
I’m flushed by the time I burst from the yard belonging to our neighbors behind us. The crisp night air prevents me from sweating, but I’m breathing hard by the time I slide into the back of Liv’s Highlander.
“You good, Collins?” Sadie arches a brow, a concerned look on her face from the seat beside me.
“Yep,” I push out, breathless from both nerves and excitement, but grinning. “Let’s do this.”