Page 82 of The Hat Trick

The guys lost.They put up a good fight, which surprisingly included Mattnotgetting in a fight, though he did get a penalty for cross checking which he was not too thrilled about.

Em and her family ended up leaving a little before the game ended because the kids were clearly tired and cranky. The older one, Josie, said how she wanted to see “Uncle Vinny” after the game and then promptly threw a fit when Em told her she would need to see him another day.

The three of us lingered behind while the rest of the significant others took the elevator down to see the guys. We finally head that way when there isn’t a chance to be stuck in the small box with someone who might take it upon themselves to say shit to any of us. I tried not to think about it for the rest of the game, but it’s difficult to not feel out of place in a situation like this. I won’t ever show that it bothers me, but it kind of did.

Of course, Brynn and Audrey were both great to me, and I really think Brynn did become friends with Audrey and I by the end of it. I know she lives in California which is really too bad because it would be cool to hang out with her more.

When we get down to the tunnel the guys aren’t out yet. I know their coach tends to talk to them afterward and is probably reaming into them tonight. Then, some have interviews, and they all need to shower and change before they get to go home.

I see Grant’s wife sticking with the group she was with the entirety of the game. I catch her and the others looking over at us a couple times, but I end up turning my back to ignore them while we all wait for the guys. Luckily, it won’t be weird for both Vince and Brent to come over to us afterward since Brynn is with us. I have no idea what Matt will want to do, I see some other women down here that are fans, and probably hoping to be one of the ones he takes home tonight.

And despite what happened the other night, and what he said, I can’t help but wonder if he might.

Some of the players start coming out, including the one Audrey has become somewhat obsessed with as of recently, number thirty-six Charlie Mann. I nudge her when I see him, but she freezes and doesn’t even raise her hand to wave.

“Hey Charlie,” I call out as she grabs my arm.

He turns and gives us a small wave before leaving.

“You know, for someone who talks to thousands of guys online every day you suck at talking to one in person,” I tell her, peeling her death grip from my arm.

“This is different, and you know it,” she says, regaining her composure.

I have mentioned in passing about her interest in him to Vince, but I should try to push a little harder. I know the man is single and Audrey is gorgeous and amazing so he would be dumb to not be interested in her.

There’s laughter coming from behind me, and I watch Brynn and Audrey’s eyes shoot over to the group I’ve been actively ignoring. I feel like this is some cliquey high school bullshit and not grown adults. Despite me wanting to be the bigger person the temptation to shut them up is becoming harder and harder to ignore.

“Do I even want to know?” I ask.

Brynn shrugs. “Probably not, but I bet we could take them if we wanted to.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. Then, I see someone come out of the locker room, his brown disheveled curls come into view right before his blue eyes lock on mine. And without thinking much about it I just say,fuck it.

Vince was already walking toward us, but I make a beeline straight toward him before launching myself into his arms. He catches me easily right before our mouths crash together. He doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t question it, just kisses me back with the same intensity, if not more. He deepens the kiss almost instantly, sliding his tongue against mine in a display I know is not appropriate for the public, but I can’t bring myself to care. He keeps me molded to his body while ravaging my mouth with his own.

When I finally am able to pull away from him, we are both breathless, and the smile on those perfectly shaped lips makes me weak. Luckily, he’s still holding me up or I would fall.

“Not that I’m complaining, but what was that?” he asks against my lips.

“Can I tell you later?”

“Sure.” His deep laugh radiates through me as he presses one more searing kiss to my mouth before setting me on my feet, but keeping one arm wrapped around my back to hold me against his side while we walk back over to Audrey and Brynn.

I steal a glance over at the other group where I see Rose, or Rosie, slack jawed before she turns back to the group. I briefly wonder if this was a mistake to show such a public display of affection with him. I try to shake the thoughts away, but I can’t help the nagging in the back of my mind that says this is going to bite me in the ass.

Brynn and Audrey clearly don’t have the same thought as they are both giving me a smug look as we approach.

“Good game,” Brynn tells Vince who just shrugs.

“Could’ve been better, I think too many of the guys were still hungover from New Year’s.”

“At least it wasn’t a shut out,” Audrey says.

“Did my sister come?” Vince asks us.

“Yeah, so did her husband and their kids, but they left because the kids were getting antsy,” I answer.

“I’m not surprised, these seven PM games are hard on them, but they like to come.”

---