“Me too. I can’t wait tomeether.”
“Meet who?” Karla asked, making her way into the large master suite with a tray of wine glasses filled withbubbly.
“Griffin is bringing a chick to the game tonight,” Ianswered.
“Oh, just come on in and pour drinks without saying hi?” Myla raised an eyebrow as Karla set the tray on the end ofthebed.
Karla smiled. “Don’t worry, yours only has sparkling water in it. And you gave me a key for a reason, didn’t you?” Myla nodded in agreement while Karla handed us our beverages, holding hers high in the air. “To love and for all of us to find it andkeepit.”
Karla and I polished off the bottle of prosecco while waiting for our car to drive us to the game. I loved going with players’ wives because of the awesome VIP treatment we always received. I mean, I always got amazing treatment since I was friends with the players, but these girls pulled out all of thestops.
* * *
Havinga box was nothing short of amazing. We had a fully stocked bar, tons of appetizer-style finger foods, plush seats, and TVs so we wouldn’t miss one second of the game. Even though it was nice to be pampered, it didn’t really feel like being at the game. I missed the loudness of the other fans, the beer lines, the hotdog vendors walking up and down the stairs. Being in a box felt like sitting in my living room, but who was I to complain with the company I had? No matter where we were, we’d have a fantastic timetogether.
I was impressed with the crowd we had gathered together for the game. Sean and Jessica got there right after the three of us, followed closely by Simon Abramson, who skipped in decked out in full Otters gear from headtotoe.
“Excited for the game, Simon?” I asked while making him acosmopolitan.
He took the pink drink form me, beaming. “I just love these guys so much. Practicing with them the other day wassofun.”
“They really are a greatgroup.”
Griffin, Gavin’s little brother, snuck in discretely, and I nearly jumped out of my skin when he came up behind me and said, “HeyBates.”
I spun on my heels to see him nervously rubbing the back of his head. “Well, look who the cat dragged in.Excited?”
Shoving his hand into his pocket to grab his phone, he pursed his lips. “I’d be less nervous if I knew when she was going tobehere.”
Sean came over to talk with Griff as I made my way over to Karla, who was sitting in front of one of the TV screens, watching the stats for all of theplayers.
We made small talk about the team and random crap while we eavesdropped. Griffin’s girl and her friend were the last to show up, and though we were all on edge to meet her, we tried to play it as cool aspossible.
Karla shoved my arm then pointed to the door. “Let the games begin,” shewhispered.
“She’s really pretty,” I remarked, eyeing the newcomer up and down. “Do we knowhername?”
In a low voice, Karla answered, “It’s some type of food—Olive, Ithink.”
After they made their rounds and took seats to get ready for the faceoff, I sat down right next to Griffin and his friend. I introduced myself to her. She was in fact named Olive and was sweet and excited to be at her firsthockeygame.
Even Griffin was on thetease Jordan about Crosbytrain. “Wearing your beau’s jersey, I see,” he said, badgering me while jabbing me lightly in the ribs. I knew he thought it was all in good fun, but I was getting sick of people remarking on my lack of romance with the one guy I trulywanted.
“Hush, Griff. Don’t think I won’t kick your ass like I did when you were a punk kid.” Isneered.
Griff threw his hands in the air. “I was eleven and you were sixteen—talk about an unfair fight,andyou’re a girl. Iheldback.”
Olive leaned over to get into our conversation. “Have all of you known each other your wholelives?”
I jumped right into the long explanation of the tangled web of how we were all connected in this crazy group. “I went to high school with Gavin and Sean.” I pointed to Sean, who raised his mixed drink in the air at the mention of his name. “Myla is Brayden Cox’s sister and Gavin’s wife, and Karla is Brayden’s wife. Jessica is Sean’s wife, and they were actually partners on the force before their relationship blossomed into a love affair. Oh, and Simon is Myla’s bossturnedGBF.”
“GBF?” Olive questioned, looking over to Simon, who was walking over to us while holding Olive’sfriend’shand.
“Gay best friend,” heexplained.
“Hey Shaw, you’re my GBF!” Olive smiled over at her guy friend, who was turning all shadesofred.
“They’re the best, aren’t they?” Myla asked Olive, and they both dove into a conversation as to why it is better to have a gay guy as a best friend thananythingelse.