Page 13 of Home for the Holidays

“Logan can give you a ride home,” MacGregor offers, clapping our single teammate on the shoulder.

The man in question winces. “Yeah, totally.”

Oh, good, so I’m not the only one who’s noticed him staring wistfully at MacGregor’s sister. That is a recipe for disaster.

“I can hang out for a little bit,” Viv says, shaking her head. “Thanks, though.”

Easton laughs. “You guys have fun. We’re headed out.”

“See you,” MacGregor says, lifting a hand to wave. “Hailes, you ready?” He wraps his arm around his little sister’s shoulder.

She nods, looking between us and Logan, then to Rachel and Viv. “You’ll take care of them?”

I meet her eyes. “We’re good.”

Satisfied, she lets her brother lead her over to their car. I hook my thumb over my shoulder. “I parked that way.”

“See you there,” Logan announces, a defeated expression on his face. He tucks his hands into his pockets and walks toward his car.

I want to fix this. I want to make it better for him. But even I know that trying to ask out his teammate’s little sister is a bad idea.

My car is a “basic” black SUV—a luxury SUV, that is. Some guys go for the Porsche or Maserati. I’m more than happy with a plain, black Mercedes with all the tech bells and whistles. I’m not a car guy, I just need to get from Point A to Point B. Josh is the one into cars and motors.

I think that’s why I’ve always stayed away from it. Not because I didn’t want to take it away from him—I’d love to take away his toys. More because he’s such a territorial asshole, it wasn’t worth the fight.

And cars are boring to me, to top it off. If I were actually interested, it would be different. Where it counts, I hold my ground.

Rachel slides into the front seat beside me. Her sweet perfume fills the car cabin, settling that itch inside my soul that never really seems to go away. She’s so close—I could just reach across and grab her hand, or set my hand on her knee.

But that would be weird. So I don’t.

Even though I want to.

After we get out of the parking structure, we’re dumped straight into traffic. You’d think an hour after the game, it would have dissipated some. Instead, it seems to have gotten worse.

Once we’re out of the thick of it, it’s a quick ten minute drive to the bar. It’s loud and raucous, and the bouncer lets the three of us in without a second glance. Setting my hand on the smalls of their backs, I lead Rachel and Viv up to the VIP section where we hang out.

“You made it!” Vanessa exclaims when she catches sight of us. She’s wrapped around Larsson, who looks blissfully happy. He was a sad sack when they were fighting earlier this year. I’m glad they’ve patched things up.

To my surprise, Rachel and Viv both give her hugs.

“You… know each other?” I ask cautiously.

“We’re in the same book club,” Rachel explains.

“Imagine my surprise when you added them to the VIP list,” Vanessa teases.

“Another friend, Sadie, her boyfriend works for the team, too,” Viv adds. “And then Ceci… Well, let’s just say, we’re big fans of the team.”

“And yet you didn’t know I played for the team,” I grin at Rachel.

She flushes. “I didn’t realize it was you. It’s a common name.”

“There is another Lewis in the league, he plays for Edmonton,” I tell her. “I get it. You’re, like, totally obsessed with me.”

Rachel snorts out a laugh. “Yeah, okay. Glad to see your ego is still enormous.”

“Among other things.” I waggle my eyebrows at her, and she giggles.