Page 83 of The Hat Trick

“They really wanted to see their Uncle Vinny.” I smile up at him, emphasizing the name they have for him.

He laughs just as Brent approaches us, joining the group. I see him look at Vince’s arm still wrapped around me; he smirks which is the only giveaway that he has any thoughts on it. He doesn’t look mad, but he does look like he wants to grab me as well.

“What was that, bro?” Brynn teases Brent, a stark difference to how she was to Vince, and it makes me laugh.

“You want to give it a try sometime? Be my guest, I’ll put you out on the ice in my place and see how long you last,” he jokes back, and it makes me smile. Brent is so controlled and level at all times that it’s refreshing to see him joking with his sister, letting his humor shine through.

“How about we play, just you and me, one-on-one, let’s go,” she challenges.

He wraps his arm around her head, putting her in a loose chokehold while she screeches, pushing him away. The rest of us laugh at the show, but it doesn’t last long before Brynn pushes him away and promptly fixes her hair he messed up.

“You’re an asshole,” she mumbles.

Suddenly we are joined by another person, and my eyes widen when it’s Matt who comes up to our group, his normal cocky grin on his face while he looks me up and down. Clearly, the loss has not hindered the desire I see in his eyes as he takes in Vince’s arm around me. I see his fists clench, but the look he gives me makes me believe it’s not due to anger. It’s because he’s stopping himself from reaching out to touch me himself.

“What are we doing now?” Matt asks. He’s calm, casual, and the exact opposite from everything I know him to be. Especially after a loss.

“Uh,” I look up at everyone else because I don’t know what to say. It’s pretty late and I don’t know what everyone else was planning because I thought I would just be going home.

Vince’s arm around me tightens, and he speaks loud enough I know the group with Rosie whatever in it can hear. “Well, I was going to take my girl here home and have amazing sex all night before we leave tomorrow.”

My cheeks heat, and I smack his chest with the back of my hand. Clearly, he could tell something is up but that might have been a bit too far. Of course, Audrey and Brynn are muffling their laughter while Brent and Matt look like they both want to punch Vince and take me for themselves.

“On that note, I’m going to leave,” I announce, doing my best to hide my humiliation.

“I’ll take you home,” Vince says quickly.

I shake my head. “Audrey and I rode here together and I’m a good friend.”

“No, a good friend would go with the hot hockey player,” Audrey immediately argues.

I didn’t realize Matt had gotten so close to me until he’s leaning down to speak into my ear, “If that’s the case then it sounds like you’re coming with me.”

I gasp, looking around to make sure no one else heard him since we have just made it very public that I’m seeing a different Dragons player. With the look I’m getting from Audrey I think it’s safe to say she didn’t notice. Brent and Brynn are too busy talking about something unrelated so they aren’t paying attention to anything else.

“Come on, did you park where I told you to?” Vince asks, and I nod. There’s an underground parking lot where the players and staff all park which he told me our passes give us access to as well.

“You two coming with?” Matt asks Brent and Brynn as we all start walking out.

Vince keeps his arm around me while we walk past the other group, including Rosie and who I assume is her husband. I send a wide smile in her direction as we walk by. We don’t stick around long enough to see the reaction she gives, but I can hope that the display will make it so they mind their business from here on out.

Once we are in the parking garage Matt takes me from Vince’s grasp and starts pulling me toward his car.

“What the hell?” I demand.

“You put on that display with him for everyone else to see, that means that now I get to have you in private.”

“That’s not how this works,” I snap just as we reach his blacked-out sports car.

He presses me against the passenger door with his hips, effectively shielding me from anyone who may see us like this. “It’s not?” he asks sarcastically. “Then please, Little Bunny, explain to me how this works.”

I try to stand up a little straighter, but all it does is make me rub myself against him. I try my best to hide my reaction, but the smirk on his lips makes me think I didn’t do such a good job.

“I choose who I want to be seen with in publicandwho I go home with in private.” I place my hands on his chest, fully intending to push him away from me, purely so I can try to catch my breath, but I end up just resting them there.

“And that was going to be Dumont?OnlyDumont?” He raises an eyebrow.

I shrug. “I don’t know, maybe Collee was going to join. I haven't decided yet.”

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