Page 13 of Empty Net

“So, I’m not going out there and embarrassing myself in front of all these people.”

“Why not? They’re my teammates, not yours. Who cares what they think, sugar?”

There it is again—sugar. It should be such a cheesy nickname, and I’m ninety-nine percent certain I’d hate it coming from anyone else. Yet, with Fox…the only thing I hate is that it makes me blush. Again.

He lifts his brows at me in a silent,Well?

Maybe it’s the booze running through my veins, or maybe it’s just that in a room full of people, he’s the only one paying me any attention right now, but I place my hand in his and let Fox lead me to the dance floor.

CHAPTER 3

FOX

I don’t know why I asked Lilah to dance. I just know something in her eyes made me sad, and I felt she needed comfort.

Perhaps it was how her shoulders hunched inward when she mentioned her mother, or maybe it was how she guzzled down that glass of champagne, clutching it like a lifeline. I guess it could have just been that she looks gorgeous tonight, I’ve had too many drinks already, and I want to do something other than stand around and rehash how the season is going. She could clearly use a distraction, and so could I.

We reach the empty dance floor, and I sweep her into my arms like it’s a practiced routine, settling my hand on her hip and leaving an appropriate distance between us. The deejay plays something soft and slow from the ’90s as we box-step around the floor.

Lilah peeks up at me through her lashes, her blue eyes glassy from the champagne that’s flowing freely. “You dance so…”

“Professionally?”

“Stiffly.”

She laughs when my eyebrows rise in surprise, as no one has ever said that to me before, especially not my dance teacher from when I was eleven. Lilah inches closer until we’re pressedtogether, her body curved against mine as we continue to move in sync.

“Much better,” she says, so close now I can smell her perfume, something light and floral that I don’t mind one bit. “Where’d you learn to dance?”

“If you can believe it—and you might not be able to with your criticisms—I took lessons when I was younger.”

“Oh, I believe it, Southern boy. You dance like you’re at a church event, not a party with a bunch of depraved hockey players in attendance.”

“We aren’t depraved.”

She arches a dark brow at me. “I’ve met your teammates, remember?”

I laugh lightly. “Fair enough. Notallof us are depraved.”

“It’s okay to be depraved in some ways.” She grins mischievously, her fingers playing at the collar of my suit.

I’m all too aware of what she means by her words, just like I’m all too aware of how good her body feels pressed against mine…how close my hand is to the curve of her ass, how my fingertips keep justbarelybrushing against the soft skin poking through the cutouts of her dress.

I ignore it all, instead focusing on moving us to the rhythm of the music. Another couple joins us, then another, and it’s like once the gates have opened, here comes the flood as more people filter in beside us. Auden drags over a reluctant Hutch, and Hayes and Quinn pass by us, looking like two heart-eye emojis come to life. Lawson is literally on his knees, begging Rory to dance, but she’s shaking her head adamantly while Keller chirps him like we’re on the bench. I laugh at that, and Lilah turns her attention to them, too.

“She loves messing with him,” she remarks.

“I think he might love it too.”

“Probably.” She shakes her head. “It’s funny. I remember when Rory swore up and down there was no way she would ever fall in love. Auden too, actually. Now look at them both—completely smitten with no hope.” She snorts. “Fools.”

“Fools?” I ask, surprised she has such an outlook about her friends.

She turns her attention back to me. “Don’t get me wrong—I’m happy for them. Truly. I just think the whole concept of love and relationships is…well, frankly, it’s bullshit.”

I nod. “Ah.”

She bristles, our steps faltering as she goes rigid in my grasp. “Ah?What’s that supposed to mean?”

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