Page 27 of The Hat Trick

“Sometimes someone has to.”

With that, I head to the showers. I just want to go back to the hotel, go to sleep, and forget about this entire day. Tomorrow morning, we fly to Pennsylvania, and I can only hope the change of scenery will help everyone.

The bus brings us back to the hotel, and I’m so happy once I’m out because the bus felt like it was so stuffy with tension, as it usually is after a loss. I’m heading toward the elevator when a hand lands on my shoulder.

“Let’s get a drink,” Dumont suggests, steering me in the direction of the hotel bar.

“No, I’m good man, I should head to bed, I’m exhausted.”

“Come on, you’re allowed one drink after a loss.”

Maybe this will be a good way to clear the air, because even though he’s seemed fine I’m still feeling the aftereffects of lusting after his girl.

“Fine, just one,” I concede.

We head over to the bar, and I see the curvy brunette sitting at a high-top table already. I narrow my eyes at my teammate, feeling like this was some sort of set up. But I don’t get why. Why does he want to share her? If it were me, I’d want to keep her all to myself, and wouldn’t want anyone else even looking at her, let alone touching her.

“Chandler, you know Brent,” Dumont smirks, placing a light kiss on her cheek.

She meets my eyes, and her skin flushes a light pink. I bet that shade of pink covers more of her body when she’s coming. I also bet her ass would turn a beautiful red after my hand hits it. And—What the fuck am I doing right now?

“Collee, you know Chandler.” The asshole is still smirking.

“What are you doing?” I ask him. Chandler takes a large gulp from her drink.

“Just having a drink, what would you like?”

“Uh, just a beer. I don’t care what kind.” I’ll be downing it immediately so I can leave.

“Do you want a refill, baby?” he asks Chandler. She nods.

Then, he leaves us alone. I don’t know if Chandler knew about this, but it’s even more awkward with it just being the two of us. Does she know that I know? With the way she’s avoiding eye contact, and not talking, I think so. Or he was wrong and she’s not interested in me.

“Did you have fun at the game?” I finally ask.

“Yeah, you guys played well, it sucks you didn’t win.”

I shrug like it’s no big deal. “It’s a part of the game, we can’t win them all.”

“Okay, look, I know this is awkward and I just wanted you to know I feel weird about it too,” she confesses.

“I’m glad you said something, obviously you’re extremely beautiful, but I don’t know what Vince is thinking.”

She chuckles, “Yeah, me either.”

Dumont comes back with drinks in his hands, and he looks between us like he’s expecting us to already be fucking or something.

“We both agree that you’re crazy,” Chandler says sweetly.

“What? What did I do?”

“You are pushing this weird situation, and it’s not going to happen.” I take a sip of my beer he brought over.

He seems to sigh in defeat, placing himself in the seat next to Chandler, and draping his arm around her shoulders. It’s like the weird tension we walked in with fades as we continue to have a normal conversation, devoid of anyone bringing up Chandler and me sleeping together.

One drink has now turned into three, and for some reason the peace I thought we had fades when Dumont whispers to Chandler and she looks at me with a hooded gaze. I think she might be on more than her third drink, but when she stands up, comes over and sits on my lap, I stop thinking.

“What’s happening?” I ask, resting one hand around her waist, and the other on her thigh.

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