Chapter 4
Four
Gianna
As I walk into Rookie’s with Jeremiah and Kevin-Keegan by my side, I’m shocked by the number of people swarming the space around us. It’s Friday night, but this bar is as packed as it is during the Hudson Huskies game nights.
Jere is on my left, gesturing wildly about something I stopped paying attention to ten minutes ago.
Kevin-Keegan is on my right, scrolling through his phone like he's too cool to be here.
Which, honestly, he probably is. Jere comes here all the time with me and Griffin, who has told my bestie on more than one occasion that his brother hates this place.
“I'm just saying,” Jake shouts over the music that is way too loud. “If you're going to graduate in a month, you need to live a little. Stop being so responsible.”
I laugh at his ridiculous suggestion. "Jere, I literally went home with a stranger on New Year's Eve and have been using his credit card for Ubers ever since. What part of that screams responsible?”
“Fair point.” He grins before leaning over to order drinks for all of us. When he turns back to me, he lifts a brow suggestively. “You're a terrible influence and I love it.”
Kevin-Keegan looks up from his phone. “Wait, you're still using some random guy's card you met several months ago?”
“He's not technically random,” I say defensively. “He's something, but I’m not sure what he is to me.”
“He's your sugar daddy,” Jere squeals before grabbing our drinks from the bartender.
“He's not a sugar daddy. He just left me his card so I could get home safe.” I take a sip of the Jameson and Ginger Jere just handed me, and I smile when the sweet and smokey taste hits my tongue.
“And you've been milking it ever since.” Jeremiah clinks his glass to mine.
“I've been using it responsibly,” I correct him. “ I only use it for rides home when it’s late. I’ve never used it for anything else.”
“You're still insane,” Kevin-Keegan adds, shaking his head.
“Thank you.” My response is dripping with sarcasm, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
I take another sip of my drink and scan the bar.
Normally when I come here, the place is packed with people decked out in Huskies gear.
However, I don’t see any of the usual purple, black, and gray attire that I’ve become accustomed to.
Instead, all I see is dark blue and a light blueish green color.
I point to the crowd and ask the guys, “What team are those colors for?”
Jeremiah shrugs and takes another sip of his fruity, red cocktail. I should have known he would be no help to me.
Turning to Kevin-Keegan, I wait for him to look at the people around us, like this is the first time he’s noticed them. “They are dressed for the basketball game.”
My brows pull together. “Hudson has a basketball team?”
“No,” he laughs, shaking his head. He points to the television above the bar. “Those are the Boston Harborhawks. They are also in the playoffs.”
I nod, taking in what he’s saying. Before I can respond, something on the other side of the bar catches my eyes. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of him.
Daemon Lucero is here.
He's in a corner booth with a group of guys who appear to be just as tall and broad as he is. My best guess is that he’s out with some of his teammates, but I can’t see any of their faces to be sure.
He has a tumbler full of whiskey in his hand and he's listening to one of them talk, but his expression remains unreadable.
He looks exactly like he did on New Year's Eve, and I can’t stop my smile.
His dark hair, sharp jawline, salt and pepper facial hair, that quiet intensity that makes my stomach flip.
Before my brain can make sense of what I’m doing, I start moving in the direction of his table.
“Where are you going?” Jere calls after me, but I'm already weaving through the crowd.
My heart thunders in my chest with each step forward.
Daemon is the last person I expected to see at the bar tonight, but I’m choosing to believe that this is fate working in her mysterious ways.
How else can you explain the two of us ending up at this specific bar out of all the options in Hudson.
It’s a college town after all, and the entire city easily has two dozen bars.
I reach the booth and plant my hands on the table, leaning forward so he has no choice but to look at me.
“This is perfect,” I say, grinning. “I don't have to use your card to get home tonight. You can take me home with you instead.”
Daemon's eyes widen to the size of saucers, and I have to bite my lip to stop the laugh from bubbling out of me. His shock only lasts for a second before his expression shifts into something unreadable. If I were to guess, I’d say he almost looks annoyed at my sudden appearance.
Internally, I have to fight the hurt I feel. The instant my eyes landed on him, it was like the universe had finally given me what I wanted. However, his tense jaw and drawn brows don’t show the same excitement I felt.
“Gianna.” He dips his head in greeting.
“You remember my name.” My heart gallops back to life, but I force my expression to remain unphased by this revelation. “I wasn't sure you would.”
“It’s hard to forget someone who's been charging Ubers to my card for four months.” A hint of a smile plays on his full lips.
“You noticed?” My lips turn up into a flirty smirk. “I was starting to think you didn't care.”
One of the guys at the table laughs, “Oh, he noticed.” When I look at the guy to my left, I instantly recognize him as Holden Wright, the captain of the Hudson Huskies.
Another dark-haired and smirking man leans forward. “You're the chaos girl.” He looks me up and down before nodding. “Yeah, that tracks. You’re hot.”
“Truett,” Daemon scolds the man on his right, but it’s only half-hearted. Truett Vale is the goalie on the team, and he’s an openly gay athlete. Him calling me hot doesn’t mean anything other than him being able to appreciate an attractive person.
“Chaos girl?” I repeat, delighted to know that Daemon has been talking about me. “I love that. That will officially be my new nickname.”
Daemon rubs his temples like I'm giving him a headache. “What are you doing here?”
“I came here to have a few drinks and a good time.” I gesture toward Jere and Kevin-Keegan who are now headed this way. “I'm here with friends. What are you doing here?”
“Gianna?” Before Daemon can answer my question, Maxton walks over to the table. There is a disapproving look in his dark eyes.
“Hey, Maxton…” I smile and wave awkwardly at him as he returns to his seat across Daemon.
Max looks from me to his teammate and back again. “What are you doing here, Gi?”
I lift my hand to my mouth and start chewing on my cuticles. It’s a bad habit, but I can’t help myself sometimes.
“Gianna…” The sound of Jeremiah’s voice saves me from having to explain anything to Maxton. We all turn as Jere and Kevin-Keegan approach the table.
“Oh shit,” Holden hisses before his eyes dart to Truett.
“Motherfucker,” Truett hisses, climbing out of the booth.
“Is that fucking Keegan?” The other guy at the table, Kai Owens, says a second before all the guys jump up from the table.
I smile to myself because I was right about his name. It’s just Keegan.
My excitement is extinguished quickly when I notice the way Truett and Keegan are shooting daggers at each other. What the hell is going on?
“Truett,” Keegan says, his voice flat.
“Keegan,” the Hudson’s goalie shoots back at one of my companions for the night.
They're standing toe to toe now. Their chests are only inches apart, and I swear they are both growing taller with every passing second. The energy in this corner of the bar is so tense that the sound of the other patrons are drowned out by their stand off.
“You've got a lot of nerve showing your face here,” Truett spits at him.
“The last time I checked, this is a free country,” Keegan volleys back.
“Not for Boston trash.” Truett’s smile is lethal and menacing.
It all clicks into place for me. I knew that Keegan played hockey, but I had no idea that he was a player for the other professional team in Massachusetts. He’s on the Boston Bears, and there is a decade long feud between them and the Hudson Huskies.
“Say that again. I fucking dare you,” Keegan grits out.
Truett doesn't back down. “You are Boston trash. Did you hear me that time, or do you need me to dumb it down for you?”
“Fight, fight, fight!” I chant, pumping my fist in the air.
Daemon's head whips in my direction. “Gianna. What the fuck.”
“What? This is exciting!” I shrug, looking up at his annoyed face.
“This is not exciting. This is a problem.” Daemon gestures to the two peacocking men in front of us.
“It's only a problem if someone throws a punch,” I point out. “Right now it's just two guys having a very intense conversation.”
A second later, Truett shoves Keegan, and he goes flying into the high top table behind him. I wince at the sound of the shattering glass. Keegan regains his footing quickly and charges at Truett, body slamming him to the floor of the bar.
“Okay, now it's a problem,” I admit, grimacing as Keegan slams a fist into Truett’s face and blood splatters everywhere.
Daemon moves closer to me, shielding me from the fight with his body. Looking at me over his shoulder, he barks orders at me. “Stay here. Do not move from this spot.”
“Why would I go anywhere else? This is the most interesting thing that's happened all week.” My eyes return to the fight just as Truett headbutts Keegan, gaining the upperhand.
Daemon looks down at me, and there's something in his eyes that I can only describe as a mixture of exasperation and amusement. “You are pure chaos.”
I grin up at him, batting my lashes. “You say that like it's a bad thing.”
“It is a bad thing… for me.” The way he whispers the last words sends a chill down my spine and heat to my core.
“No,” I disagree, stepping closer. “I think I might be exactly what you need.”
For a second, he just stares at me. And then the corner of his mouth twitches. If I hadn’t been watching him so intently, I might have missed it, but I saw that hint of a smirk. I have Daemon Lucero right where I want him, where I’ve needed him for months.
“Chaos,” he mouths to me, shaking his head.
I’ve never been more proud to be called wild than I am right now. For some reason, Daemon can’t seem to be upset with my crazy side, and it only makes me want more of him.