Page 34 of Rookie Move
“Because she’s from the South,” he said, as if that explained it. “Cotillion. Everyone had to.”
“That is bizarre.”
“Not where she’s from.”
“That’s what I mean...” She had to pause because Silas lifted her hand above her head, and Georgia knewshe was supposed to turn. “What’s bizarre is that a southern gentleman like you became a hockey player.”
“True,” he said. “But my mama likes dancing and white gloves, and my daddy likes violence. So it’s all there.”
Georgia smiled at him again, and was happy for the distraction, however brief.
NINE
“So tell me,” Amy said to Bayer’s girlfriend. “How does the wives and girlfriends’ club work?”
The low hum of a headache that had troubled Leo since they stepped into the room rose in pitch to a dull throb. It had been a mistake to invite Amy. She’d been busy trying to worm her way into his life—and his pants—since the moment he and Silas had joined her in the limo.
Silas was clearly the smarter of the two residents of apartment 407. He hadn’t brought a date. (“I don’t date,” he’d said with a shrug when Leo had asked.) And now? The young goalie was dancing with Georgia. Leo knew he shouldn’t watch, and he shouldn’t care. But his eyes kept drifting over to the two of them. They both looked about a hundred times more relaxed than he felt right now.
And since his attention had drifted, Amy was getting her hooks in, absorbing all of the other women’s attention and advice. “Meet us for cocktails on the road!” one of them was saying. “We’re good at sneaking into the hotel after curfew. It’s a blast.”
That’s it. He couldn’t let this go on. “Amy?” He took her hand. “Let’s dance. I want to talk to you.”
She sort of slithered into his arms, smiling up at him. “I’m all yours.”
Oh hell.
He led her a short distance away, where they could chat privately. Then he took her hand and met her eyes. “I’m really glad you could come out tonight. This event is pretty crazy, and I thought you’d find it fun.”
“It’s amazing,” she agreed. “I got a picture with O’Doul and his cute little date.” She slid her free hand into his jacket and over his abs. “And I got to reacquaint myself withyou. Almost.” She grinned. “When can we go home?”
He caught her wandering hand. “Amy, we’re not going home together tonight. I told you that.”
“I know you need your sleep.” She took a step forward until her tits met his chest. “But it’s early. We could get started now.”
Leo held back his sigh. He’d said it nicely a dozen times already, but Amy had selective hearing. So now he was going to have to be a little less subtle. “We’re not going home together. Not tonight, and not another time. We were finished after college, Amy. That was your choice, anyway.”
She looked up at him with wide eyes. “But you moved to the Midwest. And even so, it was a bad decision. I’ve regretted it ever since.”
Ever since last Friday, she probably meant.
“I’ve moved on,” he said as gently as possible.
“Really?” She took a half step backward. “Where is your invisible girlfriend, then?”
“I just mean...”Fuck. “We’re over. It was good while it lasted, but we’re not getting back together. I’m sorry. There’s too much going on in my life.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I was going to surprise you on the road. In Montreal. When have you not wanted a quick hotel fuck, Trevi?”
Trevi. He’d always been a name on the back of a hockey jersey to her. That used to be fine with him, too. It wasn’t anymore, though. Maybe this wasn’t all Amy’s fault. But he was allowed to change his mind, right?
“I’m sorry,” he said slowly. “I don’t want to argue. But I didn’t mean to start something up with you.”
“Fine,” she snapped, her eyes dampening. “So you were okay using me for sex in college, but not anymore.”
“Amy,” he whispered. “I was good to you in college.” If anyone had been used, he was pretty sure it was mutual. And once they’d gone exclusive senior year, he’d never looked at another girl. Even though she’d been awfully high maintenance, he’d put up with all her antics with a smile.
“But you neverlovedme,” she spat. “I can’tbelieveI wasted so much time on you.”
