4. Drew #2
When I was traded back to the Titans three years ago, I started a hockey summer camp for kids from low-income families. I’m planning on retiring as a Titan so it made sense to start it now.
Under the table, Ford kicks me and I ignore him.
“Yeah, that’ll be great,” I say. I can feel Ford glaring at me.
Ethel, the head of PR, is a force to be reckoned with, but for some reason, she’s never liked me so her interest in the summer camp has always been minimal. I’m hoping with Sage here, that will change, even though Ethel is her boss.
“What else have you planned for press?” Reese asks, looking mildly interested.
“There’s a charitable organization that buys sports equipment for under-privileged children and Holden has agreed to the bachelor auction,” Sage says.
“You didn’t ask me?” Reese looks offended, his mouth turning down at the corners.
“You’re going to be in New Jersey!”
“I would have come for this,” Reese says.
“It’s not too late for me to add your name,” Sage replies.
“Let’s talk.” Since he still has his arm around her shoulders, Sage has no choice other than to follow him.
I watch him lead her to the back where the dart board is and catch sight of Jules, in jeans that hug her body and a red top that displays her golden, suntanned skin.
She throws a dart and it lands smack dab in the center of the board.
Jules throws her arms up, dancing in victory, her ass swaying from side to side.
“How do you keep doing that?” Kai asks, taking the dart out of the board.
“What, like it’s hard?” Jules replies, cheekily.
As she turns to Sage, I look away before she catches me staring. My eyes land on Ford, who’s glaring at me with his arms crossed.
“Do you want the knife you stabbed in my back or can I have it as a keepsake?”
I shrug. “You can keep it. I have more at home.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want you to run out. I’m sure there are other friends you’d like to stab in the back,” Ford grumbles.
I roll my eyes and sip my beer. I’m almost done with it, which means I’m almost free from this hell. My rule is always one drink after a game, doesn’t matter if we’re commiserating or celebrating.
“I’m not stopping you from asking her out if you want,” I say.
Ford looks like he’s swallowed a swarm of bees.
Damn, he must really like Sage. We’ve been playing together since our rookie years and I’ve never once known him to be afraid of asking anyone out or taking them back to his place.
It wasn’t unusual for him to leave our celebrations with a woman, or two.
“I wouldn’t want to stand between you and true love,” Ford says, still making that face.
“Jesus Christ, I’m not going to ask out Sage,” I say. “If I’d wanted to, I would have done it a long time ago. I’m not going to give up the opportunity for good press for the Titans or the camp.”
Since Ford and Holden are local, they’ve always volunteered at the camp over the summer.
“Hey! There you are!” Lavinia pops up at the table with a grin on her face that has me immediately on alert. I look around in an effort to fob her off on her husband and find him standing by at the bar, talking to his cousin, Elena, and Mr. Archer, Holden’s father.
Roman turns around, his eyes landing on Lavinia like she has a gravitational pull he can’t ignore. He excuses himself from the conversation before making a beeline to Lavinia, his arm going around her waist.
There’s an instant change in both of their expressions, like they’re finally relieved to be right where they belong. Lavinia turns her cheek up for a kiss and Roman easily obliges.
“Did you catch the game?” Roman asks.
“That was some assist you did,” Lavinia replies.
I ignore them while they give each other looks that I shouldn’t see for my mental well being. No wonder Lavinia thinks setting me up with someone will make me happy.
I finally look at her when I feel her settle down next to me. Roman’s sitting across from us, next to Ford.
“How you doing?” Lavinia asks, smiling at me.
“Fine,” I say, hesitantly.
“I went to Pilates today and I think I met someone—”
“Does Roman know this?” I interrupt, glancing at him.
“—who will be perfect for you,” Lavinia finishes. Holding up her hand, she says, “Before you freak out, I haven’t told her anything about you, or asked for her number, or set you two up on a date.”
“Good. Leave it that way.”
“Vin, leave it,” Roman says with a laugh.
With a sigh, Lavinia looks at Ford for assistance. I look at him pointedly before glancing at Sage. I might have no intentions of doing anything, but I’m not above using her to stop Ford from agreeing with me and not Lavinia.
“Leave him alone, Vin. He has no joy,” Ford says.
“Now that, I can agree with,” Lavinia says, heaving a sigh.
“We can all agree with that,” Roman says.
I down the last dregs of my beer and set the bottle back on the table. “And now it’s time for me to call it a night.”
I wave at Vin to get out of the booth.
“Don’t leave right now,” Vin says. “I promise I won’t talk about your love life.”
“Nah, I’ve already finished my beer.”
“You don’t have to be so boring,” Vin grumbles as she gets out of the booth.
Both Roman and Ford cough a laugh, hiding behind their drinks.
I ignore them as I kiss the top of Lavinia’s head so she knows I’m not upset with her. She means well, even if she’s interfering in my life because she can’t see beyond her happiness. And honestly, she shouldn’t. She deserves every bit of the wonder and joy Roman adds to her life.
I turn without thought and collide against someone.
Without thought, I reach out and grab their upper arms as they stumble.
I lower my head, my eyes meeting soft, cornflower blue ones.
Her skin beneath my hands is supple and warm.
It takes my mind a second to connect all the dots and I remove my hands quickly, like I’ve been burned.
“Juliet.”
She blinks once, taking a step back. “Andrew.”
We nod at each other in acknowledgment, like two acquaintances. Which is exactly what we are, if you think about it. Jules and I are nothing more than two people stuck together on this carousel of life, whether we want to be or not.
I step around her and she takes my seat next to Lavinia, her laughter mingling with theirs, but somehow seeming the loudest.