Chapter 33 #2
A chorus of greetings followed, all too loud, all too eager. Lila smiled politely, but I felt her grip tighten on my hand.
“Lila!” Hunter popped up and pulled out a chair for her like she was visiting royalty. “Great to see you again. We saved you a seat. Do you want a drink? Wine? They have wine, right?”
Lila’s mouth twitched. “A white wine would be great, thanks.”
“I’ll get it,” three voices volunteered at once. Roman, Brody, and Dex all half-stood, then blinked at each other like they’d just realized they were doing the same weird thing.
“I’ve got it.” I let my hand linger at her back a moment longer, then headed to the bar.
When I returned with her drink, the scene at the table had devolved into painfully awkward overcompensation. Cade was loudly discussing the weather. The fucking weather. Dex nodded solemnly, like the weather was a strategic update. Roman sat rigid, as if any sudden movement might spook her.
“So,” Sawyer started, flashing Lila his easy smile, “Mason tells us you’re in interior design?”
Her shoulders loosened a fraction at the safe topic. “Yes, I’m a design assistant, but I’m beginning to handle some clients on my own.”
“That’s so cool,” Dex blurted with aggressive enthusiasm. “I have… walls. In my apartment. Many walls.”
I fought the urge to cover my face as Lila blinked at him.
“We all have walls, rookie,” Sawyer deadpanned.
“What Dex means,” Brody cut in smoothly, “is that his walls are empty. You should see his place. Zero style.”
“Hey!” Dex protested. “I have that nice… thing. The one with the… you know.”
“The beanbag chair you found on the curb?” Cade offered.
“It adds character,” Dex insisted.
Hunter, meanwhile, launched into a full speech about his admiration for interior design. “I’ve always thought throw pillows don’t get the respect they deserve. They really tie a room together. And curtains. Don’t get me started on the transformative power of the right curtains.”
Lila’s eyes met mine, confusion and amusement mixing in the blue.
“Kovalenko,” Sawyer interrupted, “you don’t own curtains. You have sheets thumbtacked to your windows.”
“I’m speaking hypothetically,” Hunter defended, cheeks going pink.
Lila laughed, a real sound that eased some of the tightness in her posture. “Well, if any of you ever need help making your places feel more like homes and less like… ‘things with walls,’ I’d be happy to offer suggestions.”
For the first time all night, I stopped bracing for impact.
The conversation loosened after that, the guys settling into something closer to normal.
Not their full-strength crude. More like the PG-13 cut.
I kept my arm hooked over the back of Lila’s chair, watching my teammates shift from awkwardly polite strangers into something else entirely. Protective. Like she was one of us.
When a guy at the bar clearly recognized her and nudged his friend, lifting his phone like he was about to record, Roman and Hunter repositioned without a word. Just a casual shuffle. Suddenly there was a wall of hockey players between Lila and a guy chasing clicks.
Lila didn’t even notice. She was too busy listening to them roast me. I did, though. I saw my team close ranks around her like it was instinct.
I’d been worried for nothing.
Things were going great until Dex, determined to keep the vibe light, blurted, “You should’ve seen Mason when he first joined the team. Talk about epic fail!”
The table went so quiet it felt like the whole bar had paused to listen.
My jaw locked. Dex went pale the second he realized what he’d said.
“I mean, not like… I didn’t mean…” He flailed for a save, panic all over his face.
Then Lila surprised everyone by laughing. “It’s okay. I was wondering how long you all could pretend you hadn’t seen me flash my lucky spanx to the entire internet.”
The guys traded guilty looks.
“We weren’t supposed to mention it,” Cade started.
“We just didn’t want to upset you,” King admitted.
“Mason said it bothers you,” Hunter added, earnest as hell.
“It does.” Lila’s gaze slid to mine, gratitude softening her expression. “But I’m trying to get over it. Tonight’s been great. I feel like I have my own personal bodyguards.”
Sawyer’s grin turned cocky. He gestured at the table like they were a private security detail. “We’re at your service, Lila. Anytime.”
I let the moment land. The ease in her shoulders. The steadier smile. The fact that she’d shown up at all.
Tonight was a win, and I wanted to end it that way. Just the two of us.
I leaned in closer, voice low. “How about we call it a night?”
“Really? We don’t have to.” She bit her lip and glanced back at the table.
I squeezed her hand and stood, tugging her up with me. “All right, fellas. Early practice tomorrow. Lila and I are heading out.”
The goodbyes were quick, but every second felt too long. I was already impatient to have her to myself.
Once we were in the car, I didn’t start the engine. I just sat there, taking her in. The look in her eyes lit something primal in me. Something that had been simmering since she walked into the bar.
“It was brave of you to come out.” I let the words hang. “I know it wasn’t easy.”
She turned toward me, neon from the bar sign tinting her skin. “It was actually… good. Like exposure therapy.” Her hand landed on my thigh, light but deliberate. “And your teammates are sweet. In a strange kind of way.”
“They were trying really hard,” I admitted.
“I noticed.” She leaned in and kissed the corner of my mouth. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For making me feel comfortable.” She held my gaze. “I feel safe with you.” Then her mouth quirked. “Thanks for sticking around even after you found out your girlfriend is internet-famous for showing her banana underpants to the world.”
I huffed a laugh. “As internet claims to fame go, it’s pretty cute.”
“You did not just call my epic humiliation cute,” she gasped in mock outrage.
“I called your banana spanx cute,” I corrected, pulling her closer. “The rest was bad luck and terrible timing.”
“Mason Callahan,” she teased, her hand gliding higher on my thigh, “you might be the best defender in hockey, but you defend me from the world.” Her voice dropped, turning wicked. “And trust me, I know exactly how to show my gratitude.”
I fumbled the keys, suddenly in a hurry. “Yeah. We’re leaving. Now.”