Page 82 of Jilted Jock
Foster was the exception to that, of course. For as obnoxious as he could be making jokes and living life with this wild and carefree personality, he knew exactly who and what to be at the right moment. He was a bit of a chameleon like that.
But even he couldn’t make the moment Cindy and Martins joined our circle any less awful. My grip on Adele tightened causing her to look up and when she spotted Cindy, it was clear she knew my ex by sight.
“Hi guys,” Cindy said to the group.
No one spoke at first until Foster found manners for the lot of us. “Hey, Cindy. You look nice.”
“You too, Foster.” She looked to me. “Finn.”
I nodded as politely as I could manage.
I really had no intention of introducing them, but Cindy stepped forward and extended a hand. “Hi, I’m Cindy.”
“Adele.” She took Cindy’s hand looking as bad ass and beautiful as I’d ever seen her. I wanted to kiss her for rolling with it and not hunkering under Cindy’s intrusive gaze. She was just so… everything.
I wrapped a protective arm around her and then it was time to eat so we all sat down. Thank God for small miracles, Cindy and Martins were at a different table. Once we were situated with our drinks and food, my nerves eased up.
The food was delicious and the company even better. I draped an arm around the back of her chair and traced circles on her shoulder. The need to touch her and get closer was unreal.
Foster was carrying most of the conversation seeing as how I was too love-dumb to focus on anything else. I was starting to feel bad for the way I’d judged Lauren for being so into Foster. Guess neither of us could help it.
“Adele, are you coming to the games next week?” Foster asked Adele.
“Where are they?” She looked to me.
“New York. Wednesday and Saturday. I finally have a legit excuse to fly to see you.”
“I’d love to come.”
After dinner was dessert, though most of us passed. We had an entire evening ahead of us still, so we enjoyed the chill environment a little longer before someone from our media office announced it was time to head to the party area.
“Now the fun begins,” Foster joked and stood and helped Lauren to her feet.
“I’m gonna go to the ladies’ room,” Adele said.
Lauren dropped Foster’s hand. “Oooh, good idea. I’ll come with you.”
“Hurry back,” I told Adele with a wink.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m just going to pee.”
I followed Foster and the rest of the team out to the main room. As often happened at these events, I got caught up talking to the media and posing for a few photos. The atmosphere was pretty lax, but I kept an eye out for Adele just in case she got lost in the crowd.
When Lauren returned without her, I raised a brow. “Where’s Adele?”
“She said she wasn’t feeling well. She stepped out to get some air.”
Foster and I shared a worried glance. “Everything okay?” he asked.
Lauren gave a rueful smile and then twisted her lips in a guilty expression. “I offered her a bump and she got all weird.”
“A bump?” I asked.
Foster’s eyes went big. “You offered her coke?”
She shrugged. “I was just trying to be friendly.”
Bile rose in my throat. “Which way did she go?”
