Chapter 2
Two
River
Carter winks, and oh, how my heart picks up speed.
Not because he winked . . . who do you think I am?
Ugh. Okay, fine. But that’s not the only reason.
It’s just that . . . he’s so close, and his hand is lingering on my back a little longer than necessary as he helps me onto the empty barstool.
Generally, I don’t like to be touched. But lately, when Carter touches me, it hasn’t really bothered me so much. Which is really confusing.
Nate, one of Cal’s buddies from college, who also happens to be his and Carter’s agent, sits across the table, straightening his tie as he gives me a leisurely once-over.
And by that, I mean he’s blatantly checking me out in front of everyone.
The man’s hot in that dark and mysterious type of way.
I definitely wouldn’t want to be left alone with him, but that doesn’t mean I’m not gonna find every opportunity I can to use him to fuck with Carter.
A lock of Nate’s thick, black hair slips onto his forehead as he turns his focus back to Carter.
His piercing blue eyes gleam with mischief, and his lips spread into a smile, showing off his straight white teeth.
“It’s only a few blocks over if you want to check it out,” he says, casually steering the conversation back to where they were before I interrupted.
“What’s a few blocks over?” I ask, looking between them.
Nate lifts his glass and takes a slow sip of an amber liquid I assume is whiskey. As he lowers his drink, ice clinks along the edges, and his tongue darts out to catch a lingering drop from his bottom lip. His amused gaze flickers to mine.
“My club.”
Throwing out a hand, I cast a glance toward Aspen. “Well, hell, why aren’t we there instead?”
Before she can open her mouth to answer, Nate leans forward, resting his elbows on the table with his drink cradled between both hands. “Because my club caters to a . . . particular crowd. Didn’t think your sister and Cal’s party needed whips and safe words to go along with the drink menu.”
“Oh.” My brows knit together as I process his words.
Ohhh.
Wait! He just invited Carter. My eyes lift and lock with Nate’s, and he raises one brow with a smirk.
Carter in that kind of club, having sex with other women?
The thought nearly punches the air right out of my lungs.
It makes me sick. My stomach drops and nostrils flare.
I’m jealous. I don’t like this feeling. I have no right to be jealous.
Trying to mask my emotions, I sass, “Well, I don’t know about y’all, but that sounds like a damn good time to me.”
“Kitten . . .” Carter growls under his breath in warning.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Don’t you Kitten me. And what did I say about calling me that?”
Nate tilts his head back and barks out a laugh, then brings his focus back to me. “Feisty. I like it. You know, River . . . I happen to be an exceptional brat tamer.”
I roll my eyes, not giving him the satisfaction of a verbal response.
He points his index finger at me, eyes gleaming. “That . . . that right there would land you a nice hard spanking.”
“Enough!” Carter snaps.
Nate laughs and tosses me a playful wink as Aiden approaches our table, limping slightly, with Sean Mac trailing behind.
Sean Mac is Carter’s friend from college and our new goalie now that Ivan retired. He moved to New York at the beginning of July, and since then, he and Aiden have been inseparable.
“Sorry we’re late. I had a bit of a situation to handle.” Aiden says, his voice a little strained as he winces.
Sean lets out a silent laugh, shaking his head and clapping Aiden on the back. “That’s one way of putting it.”
“What the fuck happened to you?” Cal asks.
Aiden groans and immediately cuts his eyes to Carter before lifting a finger, pointing in his direction. “I don’t know if I should say anything . . . This one’s going to give me so much shit.”
“Oh, I’m definitely giving you shit,” Carter says, lifting his drink toward Aiden in a mock toast. “Especially if it’s earned.”
Aiden hesitates, eyes shifting around the table as if he’s calculating whether the embarrassment is truly worth telling the story of what I can guess is a wild night. Finally, he sighs. “Okay. Fine. I almost broke my dick last night.”
Wait! What?!
His delivery comes right as I take a sip of my drink.
My fruity cocktail shoots from my mouth in a graceless spray, hitting the table and my lap. I slap the back of my hand to my mouth in a futile attempt to wipe the mess from my chin. My lungs seize as a coughing fit racks my body.
Carter rubs slow circles between my shoulder blades. “You okay there?”
Butterflies erupt in my stomach from his touch, but I ignore them and nod, then address Aiden, “Proceed, please,” I choke out as I cough and wave my hand for him to continue. “Don’t let my dry drowning stop you.”
Aiden snorts a laugh, shaking his head. “So, I met this hot girl in the casino last night. And when I say hot, I mean I practically needed an oven mitt to fondle her. Long dark hair, tan skin, and her tits? Fucking huge! Goddamn, those legs—”
“Okay, buddy. We get it . . . now spit it out,” Sean reels him back in.
“Anyway,” Aiden continues. “We hit it off, and one thing led to another. The next thing I know, we’re back at her house trying out this new sex position called the pterodactyl.”
Drew barks out a laugh while pulling his phone out of his pocket. “Dude, that isn’t even real. I’m Googling it.”
“You won’t find it on Google,” Aiden says. “I created it.”
The entire table goes silent, blinking at him in disbelief, then bursts of laughter ring out in all directions.
“You created a sex position and named it the pterodactyl?” I ask as I roll my glass back and forth between my hands.
Cal laughs, big, full-bellied laughs that shake his shoulders. “Y-you . . . you created . . . oh, God . . . whew. This is too good, man,” He wheezes between words.
Ivan tries to suppress his own laughter with a fist over his mouth, his face turning a bright shade of red, and eyes crinkling at the corners. “I . . . I’m trying to picture it, and I can’t.”
“I don’t even know where to start. I can’t either.” Carter shakes his head in disbelief.
Aiden picks up Cal’s beer from the table and downs it. Liquid courage, I guess. He leans forward, slamming the empty bottle back down on the table where he found it.
Holding up one finger on each hand in a two-finger pose in front of his face, he demonstrates.
“Well, it’s like this . . . two people run at each other, and when they’re within inches from one another, the woman jumps in the air, wraps her legs around the man’s waist, then he slides in—”
“Wait! Hold the damn phone . . . he slides in?” Drew asks.
“Yeah . . . just listen, will you? He slides in, jumps, does a one-eighty in the air with her attached, then hits the bed.”
Dissolving into a fit of laughter, I clutch my stomach. “Wait! Did you screech when you did it?”
“Of course I did,” he deadpans. “Wouldn’t be the pterodactyl without the screech.”
We all stare at one another for a few seconds, assessing each other’s reactions before the table explodes into laughter again.
Evie cuts in, still giggling. “I have questions. So many damn questions.”
“Yeah. I have one too. What kind of woman agrees to do this kind of shit with you?” Aspen asks.
Aiden rubs his lower lip with his thumb, as questions and comments are flung in every direction.
Hannah leans in. “Was her hole that big, or are you that small? Aiden, come on! It would have to be like tossing a hotdog down a hallway for anyone with half a brain to even try it.”
I snort a laugh, while tears spring to my eyes. “What if it doesn’t go where it’s supposed to go?”
“How do you think I almost broke my dick? The alignment was off.” Aiden throws a hand in my direction.
I laugh so hard that my sides ache. This can’t be real, but it’s Aiden we’re talking about. Only he would do something so stupid.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Carter watching me, his lips spread into a perfect smile.
I turn my head, and our eyes lock. Electricity buzzes between us.
His stare intensifies. My laughter dies down.
It’s as if he can look into my eyes and see every secret I’ve ever kept hidden.
And that scares me. My knee bounces nervously, and his hand clamps down on my thigh, holding my leg in place.
For the second time tonight, his touch doesn’t cause me to flinch, and I don’t quite know what to do with that.
Before I can spiral deeper, Aspen’s voice breaks the connection. “While we would love to continue this conversation about Aiden’s broken member, now that everyone’s here, it’s time for Bingo.”
Cal stands and addresses the group. “Everyone, meet us outside and we’ll go over the rules.”
Most of us follow directions, trailing out of the club and onto Fremont Street behind Aspen and Cal, but there are a couple of stragglers, Sean Mac and Aiden, who needed a drink.
With two fingers in his mouth, Cal lets out a loud whistle. “Listen up!” he booms over the music, laughter, and loud conversations. “First, my bride and I want to thank all of you for coming all this way to celebrate us. We wouldn’t have been able to throw this together without each of you.”
A round of “awws” rings out from everyone.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Second . . . before anyone bitches about who they’re teamed up with. Don’t!” he says, focusing his attention on me.
My eyes shoot daggers at Aspen as she gives me two thumbs up with the biggest grin.
Fucking traitor! I already see where this is going.
“The rules are simple. I’m going to give your group a bingo card.
Each item you mark off must be accompanied by a picture or video, or it didn’t happen.
When your group completes a task, find the nearest bar and everyone take a shot before moving on to the next item on your card.
The first group back here with the most bingos will be declared the winner.
I know I don’t need to tell you, but I will anyway .
. . watch out for each other, and don’t land yourselves in jail the night before my wedding.
I’m not bailing your asses out on my wedding day.
Okay, on team one: Sean Mac, Hannah, and Aiden.
Team two: Ivan, Evie, and Drew. Team three: Me and my beautiful bride.
” He drops a kiss to her lips. “And on team four: Nate, River, and Carter.”
Nate and Carter give each other a handshake and a clap on the back as Cal passes out the bingo cards.
Hannah takes a card from Cal and turns to me. “I need food if I’m drinking more.”
“Same,” I agree. “I wonder if the guys would be okay with me grabbing something first.”
“I’ll take you wherever you want to go,” Carter says, popping up right behind me.
I spin to face him with a devilish grin, clapping my hands together and bouncing on the balls of my feet. “Oh, goodie. I can’t wait to see Nate’s club.” I turn to Nate. “Is there a place I can grab a snack near your club?”
“Sweetheart, there are all kinds of snacks at my club.”
Carter’s expression instantly hardens and his jaw ticks. “We’re not going to Nate’s club.”
“I dare you to stop me.”
“Be careful what you ask for, Kitten.”
“Okay children,” Aspen interjects. “Everyone, have fun.”
Cal chuckles as his fingers intertwine with hers, pulling her away.
“A hundred dollars says they head straight to their hotel room.” I overhear Aiden say as our friends begin to scatter, one after the other, heading off to go God knows where.
Now, it’s just the three of us.
Great!