“But?” I could sense that there was more to it than that, and I yearned to keep her talking as long as humanlypossible.
She handed me another beer, popping the tab for me out of habit. “I don’t know. Work is allIdo.”
“Be careful, you don’t want to burn yourself out.” I had never had a real job in my fucking life. I went from playing hockey or playing hockey to playing more hockey. I had no idea what it was like for her to have to work a blue-collar job, and I had never felt more like a prick in my entire damn life than I did in that very moment. An overwhelming desire to steal her away so she never had to work another late night again consumed me. I was about to get up the nerve to grab her hand and pull her into a dark corner to talk more privately but I missed myopportunity.
“Whistler! McBee!” Jordan yelled, diverting her attention to Sean and his wife as they walked through thelivingroom.
Jessica’s face lit up as she bee-lined it for Jordan. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy seeing Sean and Jess, they were freaking awesome people – two of the coolest cops in New York City. I just hated that I kept missing my opportunities with Jordan. Maybe it was a sign – who the fuckknows.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise! The newlyweds are gracing us with their presence,” I joked before congratulating Gavin’s best friend and his new bride. Sean, Jessica, Jordan, and I made small talk for a few minutes as we made our way out onto the wooden deck out back. I knew I couldn’t be selfish and take all of Jordan’s time, but I sure fucking wanted to with every damn fiber of mybeing.
Jordan
“You knowhe is crazy about you right?” Karla whispered in my ear as Crosby glanced at me from across thepatio.
Jessica walked over with cheeseburgers for me and Karla. “Who’s crazyaboutyou?”
I shook my head. “We’re justfriends.”
“Oh, Will and Jordan.” Jess took the seat across the table from us. “Sure, whatever you say.” Her pursed lips and eye roll made my entire body prickle with embarrassment.Am I really thattransparent?
Fidgeting with the hem at the bottom of my dress, I turned to her. “Seriously, have you seen the women he has been with? His ex-wife, supermodel. His last two girlfriends, supermodel and professional tennis player. Guys like him don’t slum it with chicks like me.” I hated thinking about the other women that Crosby had been with. They were all airheads that I was forced to play nice with whenever he would bring them around. They were usually short lived romances – but still, theyirkedme.
Karla cocked her head to the side, narrowing her eyes at me. “They are all exes for a reason, my dear. Don’t you think Brayden and Gavin have supermodels and professional athletes as notches on their belts? And look atthemnow.”
“I think Gavin’s ex-fiancée, that crazy one…what the hell was her name?” Jessica was racking her brain for the wickedwitch’sname.
“Marsheila,” I answered. I hated even thinking about how terrible that day was for Gavin and the rest of us. Picking up those pieces was horrible for Seanandme.
“Yeah, her. That cunt is an A-listactress.”
“Touché.” I took another sip of my tequila slammer and I was about to continue my argument as to why Will Crosby didn’t think of me as more than just his teammate’s childhood friend but right as I opened my mouth, he walked uptous.
I froze as his dark green eyes narrowed and locked onto me. His husky build towered over us as I ogled his muscles, trying to notdrool.
“Karla, Jess, do you mind if I steal Ms. Bates for a second?” Crosby held his hand out to me and my heart skippedabeat.
“She’s all yours, Will. I need to go check on the kids anyway.” Karla got up to make her way into the house to check that all the children weren’t driving the nanny up a wall. Jessica followed her inside and I was whisked over to a gaggle of broad-chested hockey players. I recognized all of them as players on the team, but the only one I knew well enough to feel comfortable around was ChaseHarding.
“What can I do you for?” I giggled a little and wanted to slap myself for how silly I had justsounded.
Crosby wrapped his arm around my shoulders nonchalantly before stating, “I need you to settle a little debate we’rehaving.”
“Oh yeah?What’sthat?”
In his think French accent, Felix Beaulieu explained, “We are debating on the actual recipe for a Horsefeather. I had one the other night for the first time and it wasmagnifique!”
“It’s made with rye whiskey, ginger beer, and bitters, with a lemon wedge as a garnish. I haven’t made one of those in ages.” Leave it to Will to use me to settle a debate – typical. I was happy to help but a little sad that all he needed me for was the treasure trove of drink recipes I had stored in mybrain.
“See, I told you it was ginger beer, not ginger ale!” Crosby pointed down to me. “This chick is the best damnbartenderever.”
My face got hot as I glanced up at him—his strong stubble-ridden jaw, his dark green eyes, his perfectly styled hair, the black button-down perfectly hugging his chest and biceps. I was a melting puddle of girl-jello onthespot.
“Eh, I don’t know about best ever, but I do know my way around a barquitewell.”
It wasn’t enough that I had the biggest crush on Crosby; being surrounded by all of his incredibly talented and hot teammates made it that much worse. I had grown up around the Otters since Gavin and I met when we were in elementary school so it wasn’t like I was a gushy fangirl or anything, but I was still in aweofthem.
Myla popped over to me, grabbed my arm, and pulled me out of my hunk-induced daze just in time to save me from swooning a little too much. I hated that she was taking my attention away from Crosby, but her smiling giddiness was adorable as she sweetly asked, “Are you working on Sunday?” She askedquickly.