Page 61 of A Whole New Play

“I still can’t believe you two ended up running into each other in the real world and she works for you now,” Megan continues. “Honestly, the fact you two could put aside your vacation rendezvous and not act weird is impressive.”

If Megan is sincere and not acting, then Valerie hasn’t told her about us.

I can’t tell if I’m thankful or frustrated. “Um… thanks?”

“You’re welcome.” She bobs her head to the beat of the music. I get the impression this isn’t her first glass of wine. “Honestly, ever since Val told me who you are, I don’t know how neither of us recognized you on the beach. I’m convinced you wore some sort of nose prosthetic or something to disguise yourself.”

I chuckle. “Sorry, but no. Maybe you guys were just one too many margaritas deep.”

I’m relieved when Megan laughs at my joke. I realized a second too late it could come off as judgy.

But she’s just as easygoing as her best friend. “That’s a very real possibility.”

I laugh along with her. My phone vibrates in my pocket.

“Excuse me,” I tell Megan. “I need to take this.” It could be Laura reaching out about the twins. It’s been months since they’ve spent the night with her. I anticipated she might need help.

“No worries.” She waves an unbothered hand. “I see someone I need to greet anyway. Enjoy the night! We’ll talk later.” With an energetic bounce, she skips away to rejoin the party.

I look at my phone and see a text from Dane.

Do my eyes deceive me or is Carter Jones at a CLUB?

I lift my head and scan the room, searching for the hockey player. A tall form separates from the oak bar on the other side of the room. The blond grins mischievously as he walks towards me. I step out of the VIP section and meet him halfway.

“Hey, man.” I catch his hand in a firm shake.

“What the hell are you doing here, Jones?” He shouts over the music. “This isn’t your scene.”

“No, it isn’t.” My eyes trail over to Valerie. She’s stopped dancing. Now, she and her friend are talking with two guys from the group that’d been watching them dance. I can’t stop the jolt of jealousy that pierces my chest.

“Shit. Is that your nanny?” Dane chuckles. “Small world.”

I force my eyes back to my friend, fighting the urge to walk over there and interrupt whatever asinine pickup lines the men are using on Valerie. “Not really. I’m here for her birthday party.”

“You’re joking.”

“I’m not. Isn’t that why you’re here?” After receiving his text just now, I assumed Megan had invited him to the party as well.

She and Dane didn’t hook up at the resort, but they did spend the evening hanging out while Val and I were on our date. I took it as a sign that my relationship-avoiding friend might’ve actually met a woman he’d be willing to date, but he assured me after our trip that wasn’t going to happen.

Dane shakes his head. “No. I’m here with a teammate.” He hikes a thumb over his shoulder. I look across the room and see Cam Lehman leaning against the oak bar where Dane left him. But he doesn’t look lonely.

The goalie is chatting up a woman wearing a tight red dress that accentuates her curves. Her back is to me, hiding her face, but from the way the well-known womanizer is eyeing her up, I assume she’s attractive.

A growl draws my attention back to Dane and I see my normally easygoing friend glaring at his teammate.

“Everything okay, Larson?”

Dane clenches his jaw. “Everything’s fine.”

I smirk. Something tells me Lehman might be swooping in on my friend’s girl. “I need to get back to the party. You good?”

“Yeah, I’m good.” Dane spares me a glance and shakes my hand again, clapping his other hand against my back in a brief brotherly hug. “See you later.”

Before I can reply, he stomps across the room. Women turn and smile at him as he passes, but he pays them no mind. His focus is on Cam and the mysterious woman at the bar.

Smiling to myself, I look back at Valerie, debating if I should go over there and say hello or if I should wait for her to return to the VIP section. The sight of one of the men reaching out and tucking a strand of hair behind her ears makes the decision for me.

---