Page 11 of Empty Net

Ah, there she is.

I step toward her to hug her, and she steps back. I laugh. “Please never change, Rory.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she says dryly, lifting her glass to her lips in that slightly annoyed, slightly amused way only she can.

I’d never tell her this—mostly because I’m pretty sure she’d roast me until the end of time with her being so anti-feelings and mushiness—but even though we clash a lot, she’s one of my favorite people ever.

“You said Lilah here had a thing for Fox,” Auden provides.

“Oh, right. I did say that.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Because you have a thing for Fox.”

“I do not!” I argue, possibly a little too loudly, several people looking our way.

Auden smiles and waves at them before turning back to us.

“I don’t! I don’t know whysomebody”—I cut Rory a glare—“thinks otherwise.”

“Because you were all blushy with him when those morons came to the bar and tried to convince Auden to go after Hutch.”

That was a year ago! She thinks I’ve been crushing on him this whole time?

“First of all, you’re dating one of those morons now,” I point out.

“Don’t remind me.” She rolls her eyes, but there’s no denying the smile pulling at her lips, no doubt thinking of her golden retriever boyfriend, Lawson. I don’t understand how they work together considering they’re complete opposites, but they do.

“Second of all, he called mesugarin that Southern accent. I’m fairly certain that would make any woman blush.”

“Not me.”

“Your boyfriend calls you Wednesday because you’re Wednesday Addams incarnate. You don’t count,” I snap at Rory, who—predictably—looks unbothered by my words. “And Idon’thave a crush on him, so stop spreading that rumor.”

“Look, all I’m saying is I wouldn’t blame you if you do. He’s so…polite. So…well, Fox. Has that charm that’s completely irresistible, you know? It makes sense you’d be into him—anyone would.”

“Again, I wouldn’t.”

Auden ignores her sister, turning her hazel eyes on me. “So, do you?”

“No!” I say adamantly.

It’s true. I absolutely do not have a crush on Fox. Do I find him ridiculously attractive? Yes. But a crush? Not a chance.

Auden nods. “Well, if you change your mind, let me know. Maybe I can?—”

“I’m so sorry to cut in, ladies.” We all turn to find Hutch behind us, the new coach of the Seattle Serpents beside him with his beautiful redheaded partner. “Could I borrow you for a moment, sweetheart?”

Hutch wraps his arm around Auden’s waist, tugging her close as she beams up at him, and Lawson slides in beside us, pulling Rory to him, leaving me as the odd one out. There are three beautiful couples, then me. I’m smart enough to know when I don’t belong.

“I’ll just…” I say to no one because nobody is paying me any attention at this point, and I don’t blame them. I’d also be sidetracked if I had a tall, hot-as-hell hockey player showering me with love and affection.

I slip through the crowd that’s grown exponentially, searching for a familiar face in a place where I know next to nobody. Normally, that wouldn’t bother me, but tonight…tonight I could use familiar, something to distract me from my mother’s words replaying in my mind.

If she came out of the gate swinging with Inspector Doug, I’m terrified to even think about the other prospects she has lined up. I need to find a date for my dad’s birthday party and fast before I’m forced to confess I lied and find myself walking into the event arm in arm with a grown man in suspenders and a mustache I want to shave off.

I place my empty champagne glass on one of the trays the waitstaff is holding, immediately replacing it with a fresh one and chugging half of it to drown out my mother’s voice in my head.

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