Page 27 of The Love You Win

The slightest smile twitches on her lips. I’ve got her.

“Okay, yeah. If you’re sure. That would be fun.”

twelve

ISLA

Of all the ways this day could have gone, I never would have guessed it would end with me sandwiched in a booth with Maddox Graves on my left, his teammate Griffin on my right, and two other giant hockey players named Sebastian and Logan around us. And I definitely wouldn’t have thought Maddox would come to my rescue and save me from some creep who seems to know way too much about me after seeing my photo on my best friend’s desk.

The world’s gone topsy-turvy.

“So, Isla,” Griffin says with a twinkle in his hazel eyes. That one’s going to be trouble, I just know it. “Heard you had a lovely date with our friend Graves last week.”

I arch one eyebrow. “Is that what he told you? Because the way I remember it, the loveliest part of my evening was going home.”

All three of Maddox’s teammates laugh loudly while he rubs at the back of his neck. “Yeah, I deserve that. I’m sorry. I really am. And I’ll keep apologizing.” He looks genuine, but I don’t know what to believe right now or which way is up. I’m not even sure how I got here.

“I’m teasing. I forgive you. After all, you did just save me from having to find a way to ditch that creep.” I take a sip of the beer I ordered after we all sat down at the corner booth. It’s not as yummy as a mixed drink, but it’s got a lower alcohol content, and I want to keep my wits about me. “Though I guess I should say I forgive you as long as you’re not stalking me or something. You’re not, are you?”

Griffin laughs again, but it’s Logan that speaks up. “Nah, coming here tonight was my idea. Just a happy coincidence.”

“Okay, then I forgive you.” Grinning, I playfully elbow Maddox in his side. “So, you guys are all on the Rogues?”

They nod, and Maddox goes down the line, telling me how long they’ve been on the team and explaining what positions they play, even though he might as well be speaking in tongues. It’s all gobbledygook to me.

“Your eyes just glazed over,” Maddox teases.

“Yeah, sorry. None of that means anything to me.”

Sebastian smirks, the corners of his lips tugging up just slightly. He seems to be the most serious one in the group. “Did you grow up around here?”

I nod. “Yep. Minneapolis born and raised.”

“And you’ve never seen a hockey game? How is that even possible?” He sounds more curious than judgmental, so I answer him honestly.

“My dad’s never really been a sports guy. He’s an English Lit professor, so he’d rather spend his evenings reading than watching a game. My mom likes baseball, but not enough to sit around and watch it.” It’s not that I couldn’t learn to enjoy hockey or any other sport, it’s just that I was never exposed to it. And even though there are tons of badass female athletes, sports are still very much a testosterone-fest. I never found it all that appealing.

It probably didn’t help that there were a few guys on our high school football team who harassed me endlessly. Their constant inquiries about whether the carpet matched the drapes, and the way they’d dry hump the air every time I walked past them kind of put me off of jocks.

“You should come to one of our matches when the season starts,” Sebastian offers. “Even if you don’t end up enjoying the game, the atmosphere is like nothing else. It’s electric. We can get you seats in the family and friends box.”

“Maybe,” I say noncommittally. He chuckles, obviously catching the brushoff.

Griffin takes a swig of his beer, stretching his arm out behind my back on the top of the booth. “We’ll convince you, eventually.”

He says it like it’s a foregone conclusion. Like we’re friends now, and he’s got no doubt in his mind I’ll give in. It makes my heart feel funny. And when Maddox swats Griffin’s arm away from my back, my ticker feels even funnier.

I don’t know what to make of them. Of him. If I wasn’t so painfully certain that Maddox Graves is not interested in me and I’m definitely not his type, I’d wonder if he’s flirting. But the hug and the compliments and the arm around my waist were just part of his assist, as he’d called it. And this? Hanging out with him and his friends? That’s just guilt for the way he treated me last weekend. Or maybe it’s his way of continuing to help keep Blake away.

Whatever it is, I can’t read anything into it.

Besides, I’m done with men, I remind myself. Especially rich, cocky ones. They’re bad news, and the ambush by Blake only further confirmed it. I may enjoy this time with Maddox and his teammates, but I don’t miss the way his friends scan every woman in the bar. I don’t miss the flirtatious smiles they give to the more beautiful ones, or the way they track those women like predators stalking their prey.

These guys are players. Both on and off the ice. I’d do well to remember that.

As if confirming my thoughts, Griffin says, “So, d’you have any hot teacher friends? Maybe some real kinky ones who are all buttoned up at work, then you take them home and find out they’re a total freak in the sheets?”

Maddox stretches his arm behind me and smacks Griffin upside the head. Then he leaves it there. Resting behind me. “Don’t be gross.”

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