Page 33 of For Crosby

Forester didn’t reciprocate, looking to me instead. “You need me to get rid of him?”

I didn’t know what to say. I’d witnessed a scary version of Jeremy and it unsettled me to see how quickly it appeared then disappeared.

“I don’t know what she told you,” Jeremy said to Forester. “But you’ve got it all wrong.”

“No, dude,” Caden said, purposely pushing between Jeremy and me as he stepped back to the table balancing multiple shots and our round of beers in his hands. “You’ve got it all wrong. She doesn’t want to be bothered tonight. She’s out with friends.”

Jeremy glanced to me.

I spun my stool away from him and grabbed a shot, downing it like the rock star I was. Or, at least, the rock star I told myself I was.

“What’s his deal?” Forester asked once Jeremy walked away.

“We went out once, then he pulled a jerk move and sent me to the room of a guy he hates.”

“Crosby’s room,” Finlay interjected.

“Who’s Crosby?” Forester asked.

I grabbed another shot and downed it, wincing at the potency of its after bite.

“Tree boy,” Caden said.

“She calls him Mr. Hockey,” Finlay added. “And he calls her Ice Queen. It’s adorable.”

“So, tree boy plays hockey?” Forester asked, trying to make sense of the information being thrown at him.

I nodded, gradually feeling the warming effects of the shots. “He’s actually pretty good.”

“He’s going pro,” Finlay added.

My eyes shot to hers. “How do you know that?”

“He told me.”

Forester’s phone buzzed on the table. His face lit up as he stepped off his stool and excused himself to take the call outside where he’d be able to hear who I assumed to be his girlfriend Marin on the other end.

“Someone’s whipped,” Caden said.

Finlay knocked her shoulder into his. “I think it’s cute.”

“I think you’re cute,” Caden said.

I rolled my eyes at their corniness, but deep down I knew how great they were together. And if anyone deserved to be happy, it was Finlay. It had taken her a long time to join the land of the living again after her brother died. Now she had an awesome boyfriend who adored her and a friend like me who was simply amazing.

“Why aren’t you dancing?” a familiar voice asked me.

I didn’t even need to look this time. I knew it was Crosby. And I knew the underlying challenge in his voice. “Finlay, did you say something?” I asked.

Her eyes stayed on Crosby who stood beside me as she shook her head, stifling a smile.

Caden laughed. “Sorry, Sabrina. It wasn’t me neither.”

Though I hadn’t looked over, I could feel Crosby’s nearness and smell his woodsy scent. “Well, I only have the stomach for football players tonight. If I see another hockey player, I may be inclined to show my claws.”

Crosby leaned closer, speaking into my ear. “Looks like we’ve got a problem then. Because I’d love to see your claws.”

“You want me to get rid of him,” Caden asked, suddenly acting all tough and protective.

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