Page 45 of One Shot

“Suz told me to tell you she’ll meet you at the bar,” Bren informs me. “You know she never waits.”

Typical Suz, she would never be caught waiting around for the team.

“Congrats again, Captain,” Laur says, beaming at me. Her eyes are still a little puffy, but there isn’t redness in them anymore. Good, she hasn’t been crying again.

“Thanks, good luck charm. Are you going to come to the bar for a drink? Everyone is. You have to join in.”

She looks at Bren, and Bren confirms she’s going. Liam and Tyler are waiting for us, hair wet from post-game showers.

“I guess I have to support my team,” she says, flirting as she twirls one of her curls around her finger. “See you there.”

She turns to follow Bren, Liam, and Tyler. Does she spend a lot of time with Tyler? I like Tyler. He’s a great guy and one of my good friends, but it doesn’t mean I’m not jealous of how close they are. I’m jealous of any guy who gets to spend time with her.

“Hey, Rizzo,” I say to Connor as he walks out of the locker room, “You driving or you need a ride to Haee’s?”

Since Connor moved in with Liam, he’s tagged along with us. He’s driven and determined just like I am. He’s also the only one who likes sushi, so we snag some at least once a month now. He’s hopingto make it to the NHL after graduation this year. I owe it to him to be the best captain I can be and push the team harder to show him off to scouts.

Walking into the sports bar, I spot Laur right away. Her dark brown hair cascades in thick waves down her back instead of her usual half up style she had at the rink. She must have stopped home to change before coming to the bar. My eyes linger on her ass longer than they should. She’s wearing jeans that hug her curves perfectly. I’m not used to seeing her without yoga pants on.

I start to head over to her but notice she’s already talking to someone: Tyler, of course. She throws her hands around, very animated, and enthralled in their conversation. She gasps, giggling and grabbing onto Tyler’s arm. I need to know more of the story between the two of them.

She mentioned they grew up together? Did she have a crush on him back then? Is she into him now? I’m getting ahead of myself. She already yelled at me once for my jealousy during the photoshoot. I have to keep a level head; it’s a standard I want to always uphold for myself in front of my team. She’s a part of that team now.

I notice she doesn’t have a drink yet. I meander over to the bar to grab one for her and one for myself too. Suz and a girl I’ve never seen before come up to me at the bar.

“Hey, you,” Suz coos, giving me a hug.

Suz and I have been good friends since my freshman year. She decided to take me under her wing. My ex-girlfriend hated it. I assured her I was not interested in Suz. She’s a gorgeous blonde bombshell, but she is not my type at all. I am positive I am not hers either.

“Congrats on your second win this season! This is my friend Shay. I convinced her and a few other friends to come to the game tonight. She was pretty impressed with your skills, Captain. She begged me to introduce you to her,” Suz says dramatically.

The shorter girl with hazel eyes, Shay, blushes. What is Suz doing? She knows I’m not interested in dating typically, especially anyone thatshe’s friends with. Plus she has to know I’m interested in Laur. She can’t be that blind.

“Nice to meet you,” I murmur while taking a sip of my beer.

Suz and Shay keep talking to me, but I’m zoned out of the conversation, scanning the room for Laur. She’s still with Tyler, but Connor’s joined them too. Her back is to me. I can’t help but stare at her scrumptious ass again, the one I grabbed fistfuls of in my dream. She is a dream. I would be lucky to be hers.

I need to stop fucking around and talk to her already. I don’t care if she’s sworn off love. I don’t care if I don’t date. She’s changed that for me. Maybe I can change her thoughts on dating too.

“Hey,” I cut off Shay. “Sorry. Suz, you work with Laur a lot. Do you know why she is so against dating and why she claims she’s content being single?” I ask.

Suz snorts. “No, Lucas, I don’t, but she seems pretty focused on Tyler anyways.”

Does she really? I was hoping I imagined it. I turn my attention to Suz and Shay, trying to distract myself from Lauren.

“Sorry, Shay, that was rude of me to cut you off. What were you saying?”

I’m trying to focus on the conversation now. Suz says she has to leave to meet her date—she seems to mysteriously slip away for dates—which leaves me with her friend, Shay. She’s very pretty, tall, with full lips and beautiful hazel eyes. She could have any guy in this room, but she doesn’t hold my interest. Shay is telling me about her nursing major stemming from growing up with her dad in the Navy. She seems like a sweet girl.

“Hey, you are beautiful, and any guy would be lucky to have you," I begin. Shay cuts me off.

“Suz said you don’t date, but I couldn’t help myself. You are dreamy.”

Shay looks at me longingly. Even if I had never met Lauren, I wouldn’t be interested in this girl or really any girls. I need to focus onmy team, this season, and my future playing hockey. Pretty girls were just a distraction I didn’t need.

I sigh, “Thank you. I just . . . I need to focus on hockey.” She nods her head.

“Actually, I think I’m falling in love with a girl over there, and honestly, I don’t want to be. I know she doesn’t want to date anyone. She’s focused on herself too.”

---