26. Zack
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
zack
She’s so fucking beautiful.
My feet stop moving as my heavy limbs are cemented to the floor.
I watch Evvy throw her head back in laughter as one of the new rookies animatedly tells a story.
Soft pendant lights dangle from the restaurant ceiling, illuminating her silky brown hair as it dances over her shoulder each time she laughs.
Sensing my gaze, her head whips in my direction and she flashes me a gorgeous smile before dropping her chin to her chest and giving her head a little shake.
My dream girl is here in New York, and it’s blowing my fucking mind.
Evvy’s been back in my life for over a month, but it’s still surreal.
After all these years, she still stops me in my tracks every time I lay eyes on her.
I missed her with every fiber of my being when we were apart.
Not only did my heart ache for her, but I was fucking starving for her.
Now, the one person I couldn’t have, the one person my body craved, sits less than fifty feet away and is setting my nerves on fire.
Something smashes into me from behind, and I jolt forward, nearly taking out the hostess stand.
“Did you forget how to walk, buddy?” Brent grabs my jacket in his fist and yanks me back to standing position with a chuckle.
Evvy looks our way again, lips pulling into a bashful smile when she sees that both Brent and I are watching her.
“You’re losing your ability to walk when you’re around her?
You’re so fucked, my friend. So very fucked.
And I mean that with so much love. I’m happy for you.
” He pats my back, sporting a huge grin.
“Josie and I don’t have any couple friends, so I’m happy for us too. Now you just need to propose.”
“Who’s proposing?” Bax appears behind us, giving me a jump scare.
He’s like one of those characters in Evvy’s horror movies that pops up when you least expect it.
Thankfully, I don’t scream. I’ve already caused a scene.
A group of pro hockey players out in the wild attracts enough attention as it is.
“No one is proposing. Hey, look, there’s a seat open next to Marsh.” I point toward where our star defenseman is sitting. He’s going to kill me for this, but it’s worth it.
“Gotta run! Good luck not proposing!” Bax claps me on the back before taking off toward the empty seat.
“Thanks for that. Now that rumor’s gonna spread like wildfire. Fuck, the rookie’ll probably stand on the table and make a toast.”
Brent grins. “If that happens, you might as well propose right on the spot. Maybe Bax should do it and force you to speed this up. It only took you thirteen years to get back together.”
“That’s the thing…technically, we’re not together.
We haven’t even had that conversation and here you are suggesting I fucking propose.
Evvy would run for the hills faster than the words could leave my mouth.
” She looks over at us again, probably wondering why the hell we’re still standing here.
“Enough. No proposing. No talk of proposing. No talk of couple friends and dating. Give me a chance to talk to her before you all scare the poor woman away.”
“You realize I’m just kidding, right? I kinda love seeing you all worked up like this.” Brent throws up his hands in surrender when my eyes throw daggers. “Easy, buddy.”
“I can’t fuck this up. It happened once and I still don’t know why. I can’t let it happen again.”
* * *
“Are you going to finish that?” Bax eyes the slice of pepperoni pizza sitting on Evvy’s plate. He’s taken down at least six slices already but apparently has room for more.
Evvy slides her plate across the table. “It’s all yours. I’m stuffed.”
Bax swiftly swipes the slice off her plate as though he’s afraid someone else will steal it. “That’s why you’re my favorite.”
“I thought Marsh was your favorite?” I glance at Marsh who’s sitting to Bax’s right and his eyes narrow at me. “What? He is your new daddy.” A dinner roll comes hurling in my direction, but I’m able to duck down and it sails clear over my head, hitting the back wall.
Evvy shifts in her seat after watching the one-sided food fight. “You’re lucky that didn’t hit me, Zack. You seem to have a thing for ducking out of the way around me.”
With my arm draped across the back of her chair, I lean in so close my lips graze the shell of her ear. I whisper, “Only when it gets you wet.” Evvy gasps, nearly spitting out her water.
Moving my arm from the chair to her shoulders, I feel her body lean into my touch.
It’s almost imperceptible, but nothing gets by me when it comes to Evvy.
To everyone else, it looks like she’s listening intently to my teammates, but I notice how her lips part ever so slightly as my fingertips graze over her shoulder and down her arm, dancing over her bare skin.
I notice her toying with the sleeve of her shirt as I discreetly run my fingers through her gorgeous hair.
I watch her breaths grow faster as my hand slides between her and the chair, settling on her lower back.
Feeling daring, my finger trails lower, slipping just below her waistline.
Evvy’s breath catches and her legs part.
Her eyes shut for a moment, crinkling at the corners, as she runs her hands over her thighs.
“Time for dessert!” Bax declares as he surveys our teammates. “Maybe we just order a bunch of everything for the table?”
Marsh stands. “Can’t. I have plans.” He pushes his chair in and pulls out his phone, staring at the screen with a crooked smile.
“Plans?” Nate raises a brow. “You mean a date?”
Marsh slides his phone into his pocket. “You know I don’t date.”
“Then what do you call this?” Brent waves his hand in Marsh’s general direction, looking amused. “Seems like you’re going on a date.”
“A casual, yet beneficial hangout session.” Marsh cocks his head and his lips pull into a smirk. “Very beneficial if you catch my drift.”
Josie drops her forehead, holding it in the palm of her hand. “Ewww! Gross, Marsh. We don’t need details. And neither does the rest of the world! Stay out of the tabloids! I don’t need any extra work tomorrow.”
“I thought I was the teacher’s pet?” He places both hands on the back of the chair, leaning toward Josie with a giant grin. “You’d miss me if I didn’t get called into the office every day.”
Josie glares at him from behind her wine glass. “Teacher’s pet? More like a growth I need removed.”
Marsh lets out a low chuckle. “I love you too. Hope you all have as fantastic of a night as I’m about to have. Don’t wait up, Brent.” He winks, flashing a cocky smile. “See ya on the plane tomorrow.”
“Wait!” Bax jumps up from his seat. “Can I come?”
Nate shakes his head. “On his date?”
“Not a date!” Marsh grumbles. “And no fucking way.”
“You need a wingman!” Bax pleads as he holds his hands up, begging.
“This is a solo mission.”
“Does she have a friend? Come on, man.” Bax stares at the ceiling, trying to come up with something to convince Marsh to change his mind.
“Nope. No rookies. No wingmen. No friends. No dates. No numbers. No strings. I’m out. See ya!” Marsh turns and swaggers toward the door.
“And no headlines!” Josie yells, sending the team into a fit of laughter. Brent kisses her on the cheek after she takes a long sip of wine and then pulls her into his side.
A smile spreads across Evvy’s face as she watches our friends.
Our friends.
Completely unfazed, Bax looks over the rest of the group. “I’m ordering dessert for the table. I’m gonna go track down our waiter.” And he’s off before giving anyone a chance to respond.
“Guess we’re having dessert.” I sigh, dropping my hand from the back of Evvy’s chair to my thigh.
“I don’t mind. It’s still early.” Evvy leans back in her chair, eyes surveying my teammates. “And they’re pretty entertaining.”
“Is that what you’d call it?”
“Brent, why don’t you stay with Josie tonight, and I’ll crash with Marsh since he’ll be out all night anyway?” Nate’s talking to Brent but staring at me. We always share a hotel room, so I’m grateful he’s willing to move for a night.
“And break curfew?” Josie teases in a high-pitched voice. “What if the team finds out?”
Nate takes a long swig of his beer before tipping the bottle toward Josie. “Last I checked, you are the team.”
Brent squeezes his wife, planting a kiss on top of her head. “The man has a good point, honey.”
Josie looks at Evvy, biting her lip. “Do you mind? It kind of started as a girls trip but…”
Evvy gives her a reassuring smile. “Not at all. Go be with your husband.”
“You’re the best! Now where the hell is West? I want dessert.” She looks over her shoulder just as he arrives back at the table with a waiter carrying a huge tray of desserts.
Evvy’s hand covers mine in my lap. She drags her fingers over my knuckles, causing my cock to tent my pants. Forget food. There’s only one kind of dessert I want tonight and she’s staring at me with a sinful smile. Fuck.