Page 103 of Wildcat
I wake up to the sound of his phone ringing. Leo answers, eyes closed. He pinches the bridge of his nose as he murmurs one-word replies.
He hangs up and rolls over, eyes finally opening. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Time to leave our happy cocoon?”
“Yeah, I promised Daria I’d go for at least an hour.”
We’d made plans to attend together, but now I’m not sure. “Do you still want me to come?”
“Of course I do.” He rolls on top of me. “We can skip the grand entrance if you want.”
My pride stings. Another event where I’m hidden. I’m so tired of being hidden.
“No, I can handle it.”
He searches my face. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” I kiss away his hesitation.
The event is at a local brewery. There is really no avoiding making an entrance at this place because everyone is jammed into one large lounge area for the tasting. Leo doesn’t drop my hand as we make our way through the crowd to where some of his teammates are standing around a tall table.
A server brings us each a flight of beers, and I try to relax as Leo falls into conversation with Jack and Declan. He hasn’t mentioned last night’s game or the fight I now know he got into with Seattle’s captain. It was all over the sports highlights today.
I see Lindsey among the photographers milling about and wave when she gets close.
“Hey, it’s so good to see you.” She hugs me, holding her camera in one hand. “I’ve missed you at the arena.”
“It’s good to see you too. I didn’t know you were working the event.”
“My boyfriend owns the brewery.” She grins and points to a guy at the bar with red hair and a trendy beard. “I’m free labor.”
She steps back and aims her camera toward our table. “Everyone crowd together a little.”
We smile as she takes a few. Leo presses me to his side.
I feel more at ease after that. The Wildcats aren’t the only local celebrities in attendance, but our table is a constant hub of activity with people coming up to say hello or ask for a picture.
Leo gets pulled into a ton of photos with the guys, and I hang back, admiring how handsome he is and how lucky I am to be here with him. He winks from where he stands, posing between Jack and Declan.
I head off to the bathroom and, on my way out, get stopped by a guy that smiles and waves tentatively.
“Hi,” I say and keep walking.
“You’re Scarlett Miller, right?”
I freeze. “Umm… yes.”
“I thought so. I’m Antonio, Sam’s friend. I think we met at a party a couple of months back.”
“Oh my gosh. Yes.” My shoulders relax as I place him. Jade tried to hook us up the same week I got back from London as a way for me to get over Rhyse.
“Are you here with someone?” He looks past me.
“Yeah.” I wave a hand in the general direction of Leo. He’s chatting in a group of guys that I think includes some Twins players.
“You?”
“One of my buddies is a bartender tonight. You know him too, I think. Lawrence. We were both pledge brothers with Sam.” He tips his head in that direction. “Come say hi.”
