Page 89 of Wallflower
“Hayden Shore’s not interested in the exquisite woman Davenport brought with him tonight?” Cook’s smirk pulls at one cheek, and though he’s talking to Shore, his eyes keep sliding my way. “When did you become a monk?”
I ball my fists at my sides while Cook tugs at his cuffs like he doesn’t have a worry in the world. Like he’s got all the answers. Like he knows I’m not going to risk laying a hand on him, and he snickers to himself as he shakes his head.
“You’re more stupid than you look, Shore. That girl would be the easiest lay you’ve ever had.” Cook’s focus returns to me. “Every player in the league knows the best way to land a woman like that is to make sure she screwed this asshole first.They leave his bed and go hunting for better just to erase the disappointment.”
He’s goading me, and I’m too old to be goaded, but fuck it. I want to take the bait. I lurch forward, but Hayden’s too fast, and he blocks my shot. Cook chortles, then lifts his chin and smirks at something behind me. I glance back as West, Jake, Theo, and Breaker file through the doors. With their expensive tuxes, flashy watches, and perfect hair, they’re a well-dressed wall ofdon’t fuck with us.
Cook raises his eyebrows, cocks his head. “Aw. How sweet. The whole gang’s here.” He puts up his fists and throws a few punches in the air. “You here to fight me? Teach me a lesson?”
Theo runs a palm down the front of his tux. “I’d love to, man, but not tonight. I look too fucking good to get your blood on this suit.”
Breaker moves up beside Hayden, blocking Cook with a wide-legged stance like he’s guarding the net. “And I just don’t want to waste the twelve seconds it would take to beat the shit out of you.”
Spencer scoffs with an infuriating lift to his mouth. “Davenport’s got himself a bodyguard. Cute.”
“Don’t worry, asshole,” Jake threatens in a low voice. “It’ll happen eventually, but we’ll do it on the ice. Like gentlemen.”
Spencer narrows his eyes at Jake as West sets a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s go.”
“Sure,” I agree, pretending to turn around, but as soon as I’ve got a clear shot, I spin and land a fist in Spencer Cook’s stomach. He doubles over with a grunt, and I shake my hand with a sense of pained satisfaction.
“Dude,” Breaker moans as his head falls back.
“He had it coming,” Theo argues.
Spencer tries to straighten, hands planted on his knees, but he’s pale and winded, so I give him a hand and drag him upby his collar. “Say one more thing about the woman I love,” I demand in his face. “Go on. I dare you.”
He groans and tries to glare at me. “You’re going to pay for this, Davenport.”
“Good,” West says behind me. “Send the bill to the fucking San Francisco Fury.”
I flex my fingers and recall Cook’s peaked, pained face with satisfaction as I follow the guys back into the ballroom. They make a line straight for the bar, where Theo signals to the server and orders a round of beers.
“You guys didn’t have to do that,” I say as I accept the glass Theo thrusts at me.
“Uh, yeah, we did,” Theo replies, one elbow resting on the bar as he looks out over the room. “That douche has been asking to get his ass kicked for years.”
“Can’t wait for the season to start,” Jake adds, cracking his knuckles to make it obvious what he means.
I take a shallow swallow of my beer while looking around the room for Violet. For the first time in a long time, I wouldn’t mind sharing a drink with my team, but I’m desperate to find my girl, so I stop at the first sip and set the glass on the counter.
“I have to bail,” I announce, offering my hand to Breaker. He takes it and pulls me in for a hug.
“We’ll see you at your place next week for training,” West says, giving me a couple of thumps on my back.
“Sure.” I glance at my barely touched beer. “And why don’t you guys stick around afterward? We can try this again at the bar in Aster Springs.”
“Don’t have to ask me twice,” Theo says as the other boys mutter their agreement.
Hayden’s the last to say goodbye, taking me aside and muttering under his breath without the other guys hearing him.
“So… are we cool?”
He looks nervous, and I kind of hate myself for being the reason he feels that way.
“We’re cool.” I shake his hand, then roll my eyes when he grins like a fucking kid. “I’ll see you at the ranch on Friday.”
I ask a server for the location of the bathrooms, then make my way around the outside of the room and successfully avoid conversation. I loiter outside the women’s bathroom door for a few minutes, but I can’t be certain Violet is inside, so I move up the corridor a little, pulling out my phone and preparing a text.
