Page 32 of Mr. Broody

“You look gorgeous.” Alara sits where Kyleigh was, blowing on her coffee. “Did she make you try on the one she wants first?” Alara rolls her eyes. “First dress rule,” she says in a voice pretending to be Kyleigh.

I’m trying not to concentrate on the fact that Henry has rounded the chairs and is sliding into the one next to me. “I would have brought you a coffee had I known you were here.”

I beg my body not to react to his closeness, but it doesn’t listen.

“Eloise, getting married, huh?” he asks her.

She smirks at him through the mirror. “Henry, adopted a son, huh?”

He laughs and shakes his head. “I guess I did do things a little backward.” His gaze shifts to me and back to Eloise. “He’s a lucky guy. You look beautiful.”

She nods. “Thanks.”

She stares into the mirror, her hands running down the sides of her dress. I’m sure it’s a big decision, and she’s just nervous. Plus, she’s always been one to second-guess her decisions. The whole people-pleaser thing has always been in full effect.

“Why are you two here?” Alara asks. “I thought you were in season?”

Henry chuckles. “We have a game on Monday.” He looks over his shoulder. “And do you even have to ask? They’re attached at the hip. We were getting snacks to watch the football game, but we had to detour here.”

“Football?” Eloise asks with no small amount of disgust in her voice.

“Minnesota.” Henry looks at me, and my stomach somersaults. Our alma mater.

“Oh my god. I can’t believe I didn’t clue in!” Alara points at me. “It’s you.”

I frown. “What?”

“I was there that night at Peeper’s. Left almost right after you arrived, but you’re the girl who stunned a room full of hockey players into silence.” Her head rocks back. “How did it take me this long to figure it out? But now, seeing the two of you together, I remember.” Her finger shifts between Henry and me. “God, you like the hockey guys too?”

“I’m going to get out of this dress.” Eloise steps down from the platform, almost as if she’s having an allergic reaction to the fabric.

“I’ll help you.” I put my coffee on the table and stand.

“I’m fine,” Eloise murmurs, dashing into the hallway.

Henry grabs my wrist before I can leave.

“And that’s my cue.” Alara gets up and walks away.

“Watch the game with us,” he says.

My shoulders slump. “Henry.”

“Bodhi is at my grandparents’ for a few hours. And I just really want to… I don’t know. But the way we keep running into one another has to mean something, right?”

“Only that Chicago is smaller than we thought.”

He shakes his head. “Please, Jade. One afternoon. And we’ll have the distraction of football, and the guys and Kyleigh will be there, I’m sure.” He turns toward them. “Ky, you watching the game with us today?”

“Of course, I love it when you guys yell and scream at the TV as if you’re on the field.” She goes back to talking to Rowan.

“So that’s a yes.” Henry stares me down.

“I don’t know. Let me check on what Eloise is doing, okay?” I slide my wrist out of his grip and walk into the back hallway.

The dress lies in a puddle on the floor, and she’s half dressed, throwing her sweater over herself when I slip inside the changing room.

She looks at me, rushing to get her clothes on. “Hey, I’m really sorry, but I have to go. You good? You can get home, right?”

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