Page 141 of Hockey Halloween
“It’s a vast place, matey. And everyone’s in disguise,” I reply.
He turns to me. “Do you think I’m nuts to keep thinking about someone who has already shot me down?”
“Well...” Sinc’s a good guy, so I don’t want to trample all over his feelings. But hey, he was naked when he met Andy, so if that sight didn’t impress her, what will? “I don’t believe in love at first sight—but you seem to.”
Of course, that’s not quite true. Once upon a time, I was a sucker who didn’t understand that first impressions can be totally wrong.
Our conversation is interrupted by our teammates, who happily greet us and show off their costumes. Our captain, Vik Zelenko, is a vampire. I admire the way he’s gone full-out with pale makeup and scary fangs.
“If you need a blood donor,” offers a woman dressed as a sexy nurse, tilting her neck and ample cleavage towards him. Big Z isverypopular with the women.
A hand lands on my shoulder. “Swanny, I need you.”
Bergy is behind me with an excited expression on his face which can only mean one thing—a potential hookup. “I met someone, but she’s got a friend she can’t ditch, so I need a wingman.”
I sigh. Nothing like getting saddled with someone I have zero interest in. “Okay. But you owe me.”
Bergy grins and steers me towards the kitchen. “No way. You’re going to owe me. Her friend ishot—I think so, anyway.”
“How can you not know?” I ask.
He’s busy looking over his shoulder at our captain. “How come Big Z scores all the women?”
“He’s the best player on the team,” I offer, not bothering to mention that he’s also good-looking, charming, and well-dressed. Even his vampire suit looks tailor-made. Then I return to the more important subject. “Is the wench hot or not?”
“Well, she’s got snakes all over her head, so I didn’t look too closely. I fucking hate snakes,” he explains.
“Aye, she’s Medusa.” That’s actually a good sign. A woman who likes Greek mythology is going to be more interesting than another sexy whatever.
Bergy nods. “Yeah, maybe that’s what she said she was. I was too creeped out to pay attention. There they are.” He gestures towards two women. The Medusa one has her back to us, and the blonde is dressed as a warrior princess. She beams at Bergy as we approach.
But there’s something about the tilt of Medusa’s head that strikes me as familiar, and not in a good way. My feet drag, like I’m putting on the brakes. But Bergy shoves me forward.
“Hey ladies, I’m back. And here’s my best friend?—”
The snakes swing out as Medusa turns. Her eyes widen, and her lips part.
“Karl?” she gasps.
“Maya,” I reply flatly.
“Wait, you guys know each other?” Bergy says.
“Unfortunately, yes,” I reply. Because Maya Gordon is the one person on the planet that I never wanted to see again.
Maya
Oh boy. The only time I get to see Karl Swanson’s handsome face is when I’m dreaming. In my dreams, he’s smiling and joking around like we used to do at our high school drama rehearsals. In real life, he’s acting like I’m the snake in his Garden of Eden.
Also, he’s a pirate. While I’ve had many role-play fantasies about Karl, this is a first. Except for the sneer on his face, Pirate Karl looks very hot. His white shirt is unbuttoned to reveal a smooth and muscled torso that’s redefiningtreasure chest. He could shiver my timbers anytime.
Eden and Tyler are both staring. Right, because they just asked us a question. I shake away my ravished-by-the-pirate-captain daydreams.
“Yeah. We went to the same high school,” I admit, since Karl has decided that glaring at me with a curled lip is the best way to participate in this conversation.Jerk. Well, hot jerk anyway.
“Oh, that’s a crazy coincidence,” Tyler says. “Have you guys run into each other before?”
“No. I don’t go here,” I explain. Is that a look of relief on Karl’s face? Seriously? What have I done to deserve that? If anyone hasthe right to be angry, it’s me. He’s the one who acted like a complete heel the last time I saw him.
