Page 11 of The Wingman

I nod. “Or you have seven years of bad sex.”

Hayden adopts a stricken expression. “We can’t take the risk.”

Hazel laughs.

I especially can’t risk it, with how dull my sex life has been in recent years.

Beside me, Hayden rests his arm on the top of the booth, accidentally brushing my shoulder, and tingles run down my spine. “There’s something very important that we need to talk about, Darce.”

“What?” My eyes widen.

His expression is so serious. “Your birthday.”

A laugh slips out of me. “Oh. That.”

“Yeah. That.” His eyes spark with interest. “What are we doing?”

My birthday isn’t until April, months away. “Nothing. Playoffs start around then; I don’t want to do a big thing when you’ll need to focus.”

“We might not make playoffs.”

I roll my eyes, thinking about his speed and agility on the ice earlier tonight. “With the way you play? You will.”

His grin hitches a little higher. “Don’t try to distract me.We need to have a party. It’s the first year since school that we’ll spend it together.”

I make a noncommittal noise. Back in university, my birthday coincided with the end of exams, and we’d have big raging parties and invite everyone we knew. Since we graduated, though, my birthdays have become a much quieter occasion. At the idea of turning a year older, my stomach knots with dread.

Right. This feeling. This is why I don’t have big parties anymore. I hate turning a year older when my life feels so stagnant and misaligned. Like I’m on the wrong train track, going in the wrong direction.

Things are changing, though. Hayden’s going to teach me how to be a player, and I’m going to have all those fun dating experiences I missed out on.

“What did Ward want to talk about after the game?” I ask, changing the subject.

He hesitates. “He’s putting me on offense.”

The guys look over at this, interested.

“Really.” Rory watches Hayden with curiosity, his mouth tipping up by the second. “Interesting.”

Hayden shrugs and glances at Alexei. “Yeah. He’s letting the team know tomorrow.”

Alexei makes a low noise of acknowledgment, folding his arms over his chest and frowning at the table. The media has speculated about his impending retirement for years. He’s still a strong player, but the sport is brutal on these guys’ bodies. He took a hard hit tonight, and just walking to the bar, he favored his left side.

“I think it’s a smart move.” Rory’s usual roguish, playful grin is replaced with something thoughtful and supportive. The captain, I realize. Rory Miller pretends to be cocky and showy, but he loves his team and he wants the best for his players.

“He brought up the League Classic,” Hayden adds.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking of.” Rory nods, leaning in. “It worked, Owens, and I think Ward noticed, too.”

Hayden just shrugs, and I take a moment to picture him in the new position.

He’s easy-going, friendly, and relaxed. He wants everyone to feel included; he’s always been like that, even back in university when he’d invite everyone on our floor to parties, even the weird kid who never came out of his room. It’s what I love about him, that he’s so open-hearted and loving. He never pushes his way to the front like some guys. Maybe that’s why he’s done so well in defense.

Sometimes I wonder, though, if he thinks he doesn’t deserve to be the star, and what it would be like if he pushed his way to the front. Defensemen protect the goalie, but forwards score goals and get the glory. I picture Hayden on the ice, going after what he wants with predatory focus. My mind switches the scenario, and he’s pursuing a woman, his gaze steady on her with that handsome, confident grin of his, caging her in with his body and making her heart beat faster.

Making it clear he wants her.

A shiver rolls through me, landing between my legs, and I clear my throat.

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