Page 31 of He Has Game (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
As the cheering winds down and the crowd streams out while we watch the team file off the ice, Grace says, “What now?”
“Now we wait for Finn. Then we go out and celebrate with the team. This will be test number two for the night.”
“You mean test number three. First there was the Jumbotron announcement, then there was Ms. Bitch’s assault. And now we have the congratulations of the entire team to look forward to.” She laughs.
“We? I thought you disliked hockey players?”
“I despise them. The jerks. But Finn is a hunk and I don’t mind letting a few of his also hunky teammates buy me some beers.”
“Not too many of them,” I say. “Remember, loose lips sink ships.”
“Who the hell says that?” She laughs. “Let’s go.”
“I’m not in a hurry. Sherry will be in the friends and family room.”
“Then let’s not go there. I’ve already seen it. Let’s hang outside the locker room. Maybe we’ll catch some skin.”
I swat her arm because she expects my outrage, not because Iamoutraged, and I take her arm as we make our way down to the behind-the-scenes area of the Garden. It doesn’t take long for Finn to emerge from the dressing room, much to Grace’s disappointment because she hasn’t been able to catch any glimpses inside, though she tries each time the doors open.
We’ve managed to stay under the radar of the media lurking until Finn heads straight for us. This is the point where I pray my pacemaker holds out with the strain as my heart flips around. Because the instant our eyes meet, pleasure runs through me at his wide grin and appreciative once-over.
He reaches me and, in spite of the trail of media including cameras of all kinds, he takes me into his arms and gives me ayou’re minekiss. Deep and convincing and short. Of course he’s doing it for the cameras, playing up the couple-in-love angle. I withstand the cold reality alongside the hot kiss and the cameras.
Keeping me wrapped in one arm, the way I’ve become accustomed to, he says, “And you must be Grace Lombardi, my girl’s best friend.” He reaches out to shake her hand and I hold my breath until Grace accepts his hand.
“Call me Lombo,” she says. Her smile is friendly, but I’m not fooled.
“We’re going out with some of the guys. You’re welcome to come along.”
“Sounds great,” Grace says. I’ve sworn her to secrecy, but if she drinks all bets are off. It’s not that I don’t want Finn to know that I’ve spilled our secret—well I don’t, but that’s not why I don’t want Grace to say anything—it’s that I need to tell him myself. Later. When we’re alone. Because I’ll need to explain things.
And maybe, just maybe, I’ll need to make up for it.If my naughty side wins out.
“I’m glad you’re coming with us,” I say, because I don’t know the other women and I certainly don’t know the guys. The last thing I want to do is admit that I’m nervous, but I know I need to deal with it. It’s part of my job now. Not that I can tell my best friend that. But Finn knows.
He leans in and mock whispers to Grace, “I think Vivvie could use the moral support. For some reason I’m not enough for her. At some point she’ll need to spend a few minutes without me—because I refuse to bring her to the men’s room with me.”
Grace laughs in that bawdy way she has and doesn’t call him on the fake relationship, thank the almighty. As my face warms because he always knows the right thing to say to melt me, I roll my eyes. Maybe I’m getting used to him teasing me because I recover from my warm blush quickly.
“My treat. Let’s go,” he says.
We walk to The Fours in spite of Grace’s whining about the cold. Finn resolves her complaint by holding her against his other side and we walk into the place, with both of us in his arms.
Whistles and shouts immediately ensue along with cell phone cameras rising to catch photos. Nudging Finn, I say, “Let go of Grace before people get the wrong idea.” He immediately drops his arm from her and wraps me in both arms. I know what’s coming next and I steel myself, trying to block out the crowd of people staring and cheering as he lowers his mouth to mine for a devastating kiss that claims me, heats me, drives a response from me that I have no control over. I give into it, into the pleasure, my pulse jumping and my body all his.
The hoots are deafening, but I don’t notice until he lifts his mouth from mine. His eyes are intense and I can see the desire, but then Grace nudges us and he winks at me. Aiden walks in and heads for us. Within five minutes I lose count of how many people slap his back and wish me luck.
“It’s wild in here,” Grace shouts. “But at least this isn’t the kind of place we’re likely to run into evil Sherry.”
Brady Mack shouts over the din, handing Finn and me each a beer, “We got the back room.”
The noise is off the charts until we reach the back room where it’s still loud, but we can talk without shouting. Finn introduces Lombo around to his teammates and the two women who are with them, Angela and Chelsea. The other guys look at Grace with interest.
She’s very attractive and I suddenly realize she might do some damage, without meaning to.
“Finn.” I nudge him, “Don’t let any of them make a move on her.”
“Sure. Lombo is off-limits.” He glances at the attention she’s getting. “Any particular reason why not? She looks like she’s having a good time.”
