Page 69 of You Had Me at Hockey

I second that. Because all three guys are tall, big, freshly showered, and dressed in suits and ties. I let out a happy sigh. I mean, I’m mostly looking at Josh, but the other two men are definitely noticeable.

Josh spots us and lifts a hand as he strides toward us. “Hey,” he greets me with a tiny smile.

“Hi.” I hug him. “Sorry you lost. You should have won.”

He makes a face.

“Josh, this is my friend Kaylee. Kaylee, Josh.”

Josh then introduces his teammates Brandon and Nate. “Some others are going to Bobby’s,” Josh says. “Want to go there and join them?”

“Sure!”

We all head out onto the dark street. It’s a mild evening, with low clouds and damp air. Brandon and Nate lead the way, zigzagging a few blocks over to Bobby’s Bar and Grill.

It looks like a tiny place from the entrance, every seat at the long bar full. But as we make our way past the bar, I can see how far back the room goes. Someone waves to Brandon and Nate, and we keep going toward the group, passing people sitting at wooden tables and stools, old brick walls, and chalkboards with drink and food specials.

As we draw closer, the first person I notice is Lilly. Well, of course she would be here.

Kaylee grabs my arm. “Layla’s here. Omigod.”

I nudge her, grinning. “Chill. Remember, I’m famous too.”

She snorts. Way to keep me grounded.

There are loud greetings. Josh takes my and Kaylee’s jackets and hangs them on a nearby coatrack. Everyone else already has drinks, but a waitress is waiting to take our orders. I ask for the same beer as Josh and soon have a nice cold glass in my hand. Josh finds stools for Kaylee and me, but they’re in short supply, so he stands near us.

“You played twenty-two minutes in that game, Hellsy,” Brandon says.

Hellsy. I shoot him an amused glance.

“Yeah.” Josh rubs his forehead. “That was a lot.”

“Coach likes you.”

Josh grins. “Of course he does.”

“Teacher’s pet?” I ask.

He laughs. “As if.”

“You seriously did play a lot,” I say. “Even I noticed.”

“It’s good,” he replies.

I pull his head down to my level and say into his ear, “Is that Easton Millar over there? With Lilly?”

He stiffens. “How do you know Lilly?”

“We met in the elevator on Wednesday when I was at your place.”

“Ah.” He glances their way, his face tight. “Yeah, that’s Easton.”

“Just trying to put faces to names.”

He nods and straightens. “So how’s your trip to New York been, Kaylee?”

“Great!” She babbles on about the things we’ve done and I jump in here and there.

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