Page 21 of Common Goal
She poked his arm. “You know, Rafael is going to be at my parents’ today. I think he’s still single.”
“Uh huh. Is he still exclusively into bears?”
Her brows pinched. “Raf is into bears?”
“Yes. Remember the last time you tried to set me up with him? Was it your dad’s birthday party? He let me down easy, but I amnotgoing to be trying that again.” It was too bad. Maria’s cousin was hot.
“Okay. So not Raf. But maybe Raf has a friend who—”
“Stop. Please. Thanksgiving is not a time for seduction anyway. It’s a time to eat a ridiculous amount of food and then collapse on the couch.”
Maria snapped her waistband. “I’ve got my stretchiest pants on. I’m ready.”
“Hot.”
A new episode ofGuy’s Grocery Gameshad started. They watched in silence for a moment, and then Maria said, “Oh no.”
“What?”
“I watched a minute of this episode.”
Kyle grinned, realizing the problem. “Well, we’re invested now.”
“Yep. Gotta watch the whole thing.” She leaned against him, curling her legs on the couch.
“Should I get snacks?”
“No! It’s Thanksgiving. You can’t pregame Thanksgiving!”
Kyle laughed, and decided to be thankful for the family he’d found in New York, rather than dwell on the shame and anger he felt whenever he talked to his parents. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“I’m having a party.”
Eric’s announcement was met by stunned silence. He had expected as much, so he hurried to explain. “It’s my birthday on Thursday, we have Friday off and I want to have a party. At my house. On Thursday night.”
The idea had struck him when he’d woken up that morning. He, Eric Bennett, would celebrate his forty-first birthday—his final birthday as an NHL player—with a big, fun party. Because if not now, when? He had a house to himself, he had friends who he loved like family, and he had, frankly, a bit of a crush on someone. Someone who might enjoy a fun party.
The Admirals locker room remained silent for another few seconds, and then Carter clapped his hands and said, “Party at Benny’s! Come on, boys, it’s his ninetieth birthday. Let’s go hard.”
The room erupted into laughter, cheering, and teasing.
“All right, Benny!”
“You still going to be alive next week?”
“What time is the party? Five until seven?”
“BYO chocolate milk?”
Eric pretended to be annoyed, but he couldn’t hide his smile. “Regular party time, you assholes. And I’ll have a fully stocked bar. Bring your partner, bring your friends.” Then, for whatever ridiculous reason, he added, “Bring your partner’s friends.”
There was whooping and hollering. This team loved a good party.
“So what’s this all about?” Scott asked in a low voice as he removed his skates.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve known you a long time, and I don’t think you’ve ever hosted a party. You barely evengoto parties.”
