Page 23 of No Rhyme or Roughing
I wasn’t sure.
Becoming a fool for the public eye wasn’t easy, even if that public would eventually love him for it.
Ryder had hardly looked at me in the twenty-four hours since our excursion to the beach, but I could still feel his lips on mine. God, I wanted him. His lips, his powerful arms, that serious face of his. Which was why I was here, drinking alone at a bar near the arena.
I normally didn’t drink much, despite the kinds of people my job put into my orbit. But tonight felt like an exception.
My phone buzzed, but I ignored it, knowing who itwould be. Jameson had been trying to call me all day, and I wasn’t sure why. We hadn’t spoken since I left him in that studio. Maybe it was a good thing. I’d been trying so hard to forget everything that happened between us—maybe even using Ryder to do it.
Damn, Iwantedto use him. To let him use me.
My gin and tonic sat on the bar in front of me, not my first but still inviting. With each sip, I could forget. Forget that I hadn’t spoken to Mom or Dad since coming back here. Forget that I was a screw-up with a tendency to sleep with bosses or say the wrong thing—or nothing at all. It was why I hadn’t checked my email or looked at the job offers still coming in.
“This seat taken?”
I turned to see Shai. Behind her stood one of Teddy’s coaches—Frankie, if I remembered right.
“I’m not great company right now,” I said, hoping they’d take the hint.
“Good thing golden retrievers excel at cheering people up.” Shai grinned, sliding onto the stool next to me. Frankie took the seat beside her, offering a softer smile.
I couldn’t help but laugh at Shai’s reference to her job as the team mascot. “It’s, um, an interesting mascot choice.”
“Don’t diss the doggy,” she said, crossing her arms, though her tone was playful.
Frankie laughed, the sound unexpectedly gentle for someone who probably yelled at giant men for a living. She held out a hand. “Frankie Holloway. You’re Teddy’s sister, right?”
I shook her hand, nodding. “Not that I like to admit it.”
Frankie smiled. “Your brother is?—”
“Infuriating?”
“That. Definitely that.”
“Try growing up with him.”
Though, I hadn’t really. Teddy left town when I was ten, returning only for holidays. But he was still my person, the only one in our family who cared about me.
They ordered drinks, and I watched them, waiting for them to go back to whatever table they’d come from. I wasn’t great at talking to people, never had been. It had left me with a lot of lonely years and very few real friends.
Shai exchanged a look with Frankie before turning to me. “I was just telling Frankie I don’t know how she works around all those fine-ass men and doesn’t?—”
“I’m their coach,” Frankie cut in.
I shrugged. “And?”
Frankie sighed. “Do you know how many female coaches there are in the AHL or NHL?”
“No.”
“Three. I’m a rare breed. I can’t mess this up. I can’t prove to the boys’ club that they were right to keep us out.”
Shai nudged me. “What about you? You’re living with two of the finest—Ryder and Rowan.”
My insides clenched at the mention of Ryder. I pictured him waist-deep in the ocean, trusting me enough to let go. And then, he’d kissed me, ruining my peace.
“They’re my brother’s friends,” I said, scrunching mynose. “Totally off-limits. Plus, I’ve known Ryder and Sullivan Cassidy since I could walk.”
