Page 39 of Cross Check My Heart
I stick my phone back in my pocket and join in on a conversation with Reid and Grey.
A few hours later, I head toward the bar with the two empty pitchers of beer to refill. Landon ordered a few baskets of wings for everyone to share before it got too busy. Not that half the guys noticed as more teammates showed up. The bar still isn’t overly packed, but there’s a good crowd. A few couples have made their way to the dance floor, and a security guard has pulled out a stool to post up by the entrance. As I approach the bar, I nod to some of the guys at the end. The team has slowly started to spread out, claiming the whole left half of the bar for the Bobcats.
When we do go out, I don’t take notice of who the guys flirt with. I definitely do not entertain any of the bunnies who tend to show up wherever we go. Greyson is usually the perfect one to keep me company when all the guys start drooling over women. Since his scowl is the perfect deterrent.
For some reason though, my attention is drawn to the two women that a few of my teammates are attempting to pick up tonight. My heart stalls in my chest and ice runs through my veins.
At the middle of the bar, three of my teammates stand in front of Lilly and Paige. I try to calm myself down, taking in a deep breath and forcing my gaze away from Lilly. Setting the empty pitchers down, I pull out my phone to open the message she had sent in response not long after mine.
Lilly:
It was good. Revelations of unknown mommy issues weren’t though. Lol will explain later.
Lilly:
Going out to the bar next door with Paige, needed cheering up in the form of alcohol and dancing.
Well, shit.
Had I checked my phone earlier, I would have kept an eye out for her. Considering some of the guys met her back at the arena, I wouldn’t have been able to do much though. I glance around, trying to find the five others who met Lilly earlier to see if they noticed her. Landon and Greyson have their backs to me as they listen to Dean. Reid and Carter are sitting in the booth behind them, talking with a couple other guys. None of them seem interested in the women here.
After asking the bartender to fill the pitchers up with a new seasonal beer, I try to keep myself calm as I head over toward Lilly. While I might not be able to actually make it known that she’s with me, I sure as hell can make it known that she’s Coach’s daughter.
We agreed to not see other people, so I’m not worried about her hooking up with any of these guys. But just as I start to wonder if interrupting them is a dick move, Paige notices me over the shoulder of the guy closest to Lilly, and smirks. She elbows Lilly, who was barely even paying attention to the guy, Cory.
No. She was too busy swaying to the beat of the music in her seat as she sipped whatever cocktail she ordered. Most likely something with tequila.
Her eyes widen for a quick moment when she notices me, but quickly recovers with a polite smile. Not that it does anything to hide the excitement shining in her eyes as she takes me in. I place my hand on Cory’s shoulder and insert myself into the small gathering around the girls with a smile. My chest tightens with an emotion I try to not focus on as Lilly checks me out overher drink. She’s breathtaking. Her curly hair is in a bun on the top of her head and some curls have come loose to frame her face.
“Fancy seeing you twice in one day.” I leave the ball in Lilly’s court though. She smiles in response, a small blush forming on her cheeks, but she picks up on the opening I gave her. Before she responds though, Cory turns to me with a raised brow.
“You guys know each other?”
I nod, resisting the urge to scowl at him for not even giving Lilly a chance to answer. Lilly and Paige are watching me closely though, probably to make sure we both keep our cool and not give anything away. So, I smile at her, slightly nodding to let her answer. Clearing her throat, she only gives Cory a quick glance before looking back at me.
“I met him today when I stopped by the arena to meet my dad for lunch. But we also live in the same building, so I’m sure we’ve passed each other at some point without realizing.” When Cory frowns, I have to fight the urge to laugh.
“Your dad works at the arena? Like…the Heartsarena?” Paige leans back in her chair, watching the scene in front of her with pure amusement on her face. As much as I would love to continue watching Lilly, I don’t want to miss his expression when she lets him knowwhoher dad is.
Nodding, she gives him a small smile.
“Yeah! He’s worked there for like…” She glances over at Paige, and I can tell that Lilly is having fun dragging this out. “Eight years?”
Paige, of course, plays right along without missing a beat.
“No, I think nine.” Paige nods her head, snapping her fingers in revelation. “Yeah, definitely nine years, because that was about the time of that fucking epic homecoming party.” I quirk an eyebrow, definitely filing that bit of information away toask about later. Lilly nods enthusiastically, turning back to face Cory.
“She’s right. Nine years. His name is James Matthews. Do you work at the arena too?” Lilly bats her eyelashes innocently, as if she can’t tell that he’s very clearly on the team. It’s almost comical watching Cory’s face pale as he takes a not-so-subtle step back. The movement alone tells me that he was definitely flirting, and one hundred percent thinking he was going to get lucky tonight. He clears his throat before taking a sip of his drink. After a moment, he finally answers.
“Uh, yeah. I’m…uh…on the team.” I elbow him lightly in the ribs.
“He’s one of our defensemen. Fucking fast on the ice.” Cory nods at my statement and clears his throat. Now that he and the other guys know who Lilly is related to, they know to keep away. I don’t think they even realize that all three of them had gravitated toward Paige.
Which is something she doesn’t miss either as Paige smiles at them. Lilly has talked about her so much that I feel like even I can tell her smile means nothing but trouble. Cory turns his full attention to her and starts talking before anyone else can. I’ve got to give the man props for trying wherever he can.
I turn my attention back to Lilly, but before I can even say anything, someone throws an arm over my shoulder, pushing me aside a bit. I fight to hold back a groan as I see who joined us. Dean smiles brightly at Lilly, who is very clearly holding back her laugh.
“Lilly!” She smiles brightly up at him, and I find myself clenching my fist to avoid reaching out and pulling her to me. Glancing over my shoulder, I see the guys who met Lilly earlier all watching. They’re also very clearly filling in the rest of the team about who Lilly is. I’m grateful that everyone willknowthat she is off limits. Yet there is a part of me that wishes she wasstill unknown. That way, if I talk to her, I could do it without eyes on us.
