Page 107 of Breaking Away

I LIKE YOU. BE MY CLOSE FRIEND, PLEASE.

“Nah.” Quinn shakes his head. “She’s got rehearsal. And this is pretty intimate. Her hatred of hockey players can know no limits and I—” Quinn’s smile is wry. “—don’t want anyone to hate me. Especially when our captain here loves to test himself on her.”

Does anyone else notice the subtle drop in Hughes’ shoulders? I don’t think so.

He shrugs. “She knows I’m not serious.”

He turns to adjust the grill knobs which makes Dmitri knock his hand away. They busy themselves, arguing about settings.

Quinn and I move away from them. “It doesn’t bother you?” I ask. “The way your sister and… Hughes…”

Hate-flirt? Is that the right word? Mostly hate.

Quinn shrugs. “I’m her older brother, but she’s a grown woman. We’ve been through a lot.”

“Sonya takes care of herself,” he adds. “And there’s not a chance in hell that she falls for Adrian.” We look at the blonde man poking Lokhov for fun. “Don’t get me wrong. I love the guy and women love him, but Adrian is the type of man who loves the chase and hates the commitment. And Sonya hates both with a passion.” He points to the keg. “Anyway, can I get you a drink?”

“Sure.”

Inside the apartment, appetizers are demolished. Everyone comes out to mingle on the terrace. Suddenly, it’s crowded.

I edge away. This is Dmitri’s chance to bond with the team. I should keep busy in a corner. No one wants to talk to?—

A hand touches my shoulder. It’s Matt. “Kavi. Some rookies want to meet you. Is that okay?”

I’m so surprised I can barely nod.

“This is Jai and Raghr,” introduces Matt.

Jai is dark-skinned and boyish. Raghr is light-skinned with blonde hair growing to his shoulders. We chat for a bit until I get another tap on my shoulder. Quinn is here with my drink—and a plate.

“Some of the appetizers Lokhov told me to save for you,” he says.

“Oh. You didn’t have to.”

“Anything for our new social media manager,” he declares.

My cheeks flush. “I’m not…”

“How is that going?” someone asks me.

“Is that what you always wanted to do?” another player wonders.

Curious eyes gather on me, causing goosebumps to slide along my back. I’m not invisible but there also isn’t this clawing need to run away. It’s because..damn it… everyone is so nice.

“I never imagined myself taking official photos at the game,” I answer honestly. “It was lucky, that’s it. I got lucky.”

“That’s like me,” shares Jai. “I never thought I’d make it in hockey.”

Matt elbows him. “Then you got signed.”

“Mylucky day.” Jai rubs at his brow. “Sometimes I still don’t believe it.”

That’s exactly how I feel.

I can’t believe the pictures I took at the game, and the fact I posted them online on an account followed by thousandsof people. I don’t believe it so much that I’ve been afraid of checking out the response on the Wings’ social media. To see what the comments are like, if there are any.

“Thanks for having us by the way,” says Raghr.

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