Page 59 of Shootout
“Hey, that’s cool.” On that long road trip, I’d been so wrapped up in my own performance and trying to make a good impression on my teammates I hadn’t noticed Ice never drank alcohol, but now that I thought back, I couldn’t recall seeing him with a beer or any other form of liquor.
“Good to see you here tonight,” Ice said, waiting for me to get my drink order.
“I hadn’t planned on coming, but here I am.”
“Yeah, these aren’t my idea of fun, but Avery wanted to come. We’re at the horse table.”
“The horse table?” I frowned, searching my data banks for what that might be slang for. I came up with nothing.
Ice snorted at my puzzled expression. “Yeah, Avery, Blaire, and Tia are professional horsewomen who ride at the same barn. Have you ever been around female horse lovers?”
“Can’t say I have. City boy here.”
“Yeah, me too. Let me tell you, they talk about horses more than we talk about hockey.”
“That’s not possible.”
“I wish that were true.” Ice laughed and waved at me as he headed for his table. I’d just discovered something I hadn’t known. I glanced in his direction, curious who Tia and Blaire belonged to. Bryce and Cave sat at the table with two beautiful women. While I expected Bryce to be with a classy, beautiful woman, Cave’s date was a little more shocking. She was the epitome of elegant beauty with the confidence of someone who attended galas as part of their weekly routine, while Cave looked like Cave. Even in an expensive tux, he managed to look messy. I’d have to ask one of the guys what the story was there. I expected him to be with someone similar to Wild’s date.
I sat down next to Jessie with our drinks, and she beamed at me. Tonight was going to be epic. Already the pressure of worrying about doing too little or too much dissipated. Jessie was mine for the night, and I loved that idea more than I should’ve, but tonight wasn’t about examining feelings, it was about having a fucking good time. And hopefully, all the way to the fucking part. That’d be up to Jessie.
Jessie was engaged in a lively conversation with Geneva and Cin, along with Caroline, Easton’s wife. Kaden and Delaney rounded out the table. Easton and Caroline had kids and didn’t go out much, so I didn’t know either of them other than from the road trip and in the locker room. I knew Axel the best as a linemate.
The dinner spread was incredible. The Parkers knew their hockey players, and buffet tables were continually replenished throughout the night. None of us would starve, and the food would absorb some of the free-flowing alcohol. I noted Cin and Geneva drank water for the first hour until they’d sobered up. Smart women.
When the band struck up their first dance, I stood and held my hand out to Jessie. “Let’s dance.”
“I’m an awful dancer.”
“So am I. I’ll try not to step on your toes if you do the same.”
“I make no promises.” She rose gracefully and took my hand. We slid through the growing crowd until we found room on the dance floor. The band played mostly classical music, which made sense considering the age of the majority of the guests, excluding the hockey players. I pulled Jessie into my arms, and soon we were shuffling around the dance floor. Over her shoulder, I surveyed my teammates doing their own version of dancing, some very good and others like me. One thing I’d say, for hockey players, we cleaned up surprisingly well.
I lowered my gaze to Jessie. She glowed with joyful exuberance. Her face was flushed and her eyes bright. She was beautiful all sweaty in hockey gear, but she was stunning in this gold-sparkled dress with her hair done up. I especially enjoyed the cleavage and how the material hugged her body and her ass.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” I said one more time.
“I know.” She giggled and winked at me. “We’re not the best dancers out here, but we’re not klutzes.”
“Look at Ice and Avery.” I turned us so we could both watch them. “Who’d have guessed Ice could dance like that?”
“Not me. He’s such a powerful defenseman, it’s hard to picture him as a graceful dance partner, but I’m seeing it with my own eyes.”
“Me too. Pretty shocking. Maybe we should take some ballroom dancing lessons one night a week or something so we’ll be ready to wow them next time.”
Jessie’s gaze clouded over, and I instantly realized my mistake. We wouldn’t last long enough to take dance lessons. That wasn’t what we were about. I changed the subject quickly before shit became awkward.
“Your brother is getting some tonight.” Wild and his date were plastered to each other and barely moving around the dance floor. One of Wild’s hands was splayed across her ass, and she was grinding into him.
“My brother is a horndog.”
I laughed. “Like most single hockey players.”
“Someone needs to remind him this is a gala, not a club.”
Right on cue, Steele and Cin danced next to them. Steele said something to Wild, who scowled but slid his hand upward and off the blonde’s ass.
“Leave it to Steele to call him out. He’s like the mother hen of the group.”
