Page 33 of Back On Ice

He’s wearing a gray button-up shirt with the top two buttons undone, and his sleeves are rolled up, showing off his corded forearms. Deliciously snug black jeans hug his muscular thighs, and his black hair is styled like he just rolled out of bed, and holy fuck, I want to run my fingers through it.

Before I can get my hormones under control, my eyes fall to his, and find that he’s already looking right at me. Shit. I totally just got caught eye-fucking my ex.

But damn if he isn’t returning the favor. His attention is on the way the dress clings to my curves. My cheeks heat under his gaze, and when his eyes finally meet mine, there’s a darkness and intensity that tells me my original plan for tonight of not thinking a single thought about Carter Williams just went out the window.

Chapter Fourteen

SOPHIE

Carter’sblue eyes pierce mine from across the room, and before I can blink, he’s moving. Shit. He’s coming over here, walking straight towards me and?—

“Sophie, Abbie. The two of you look beautiful tonight.” Carter’s smile is all charm.

“Hey, Carter,” Abbie says lightly, and when I don’t immediately say something, she elbows me.

I can’t help it. He looks so fucking delicious, and if I open my mouth at this very second, I might end up inviting him back to my bed here and now.

“Do you guys want to come over and have a couple of drinks with us? My treat.”

My eyes dart behind him to see Jake rooted to his spot at their table, his eyes locked on Abbie. She notices his stare and bites her lower lip, looking him up and down. I can’t blame her, he looks almost as good as Carter with his tight black shirt that shows off his muscles. She used to tell me how much she wished she could run her hands through his mess of brown hair. He’snot as broad as Carter, but is still as toned as any player in the NHL.

Abbie always had a huge crush on Jake all throughout high school, but she was shy and he was popular. Carter, Jake, Abbie, and I would often hang out in a group setting though, along with my friend Gwen, who moved away after graduation.

Abbie had come out of her shell with him around the end of senior year, but then he left for college after graduation and so did she.

“That sounds great.” Abbie turns her attention back to Carter and loops her arm through mine. Although having drinks with two NHL hotties we already know seems counterproductive to the whole idea of going out to meetnewguys. It looks like Abbie won’t back down from this one. I’ll just have to keep my cool andnotclimb Carter like a damn tree.

“Danny!” Carter calls over our heads, “whatever these two want tonight, put it on my tab!”

I turn just in time to catch Danny’s curt nod. He glances at me and raises his eyebrows in question, and I only shrug in response. The corner of his mouth tilts up ever so slightly, and that’s as close to a smile anyone will ever get out of him.

Tom thinks that getting to a first name basis with Danny is the height of friendship with the surly bartender, and maybe he’s right because that little mouth quirk took me four years and a couple of drunken tirades about my love life.

Embarrassing? Yes.

Worth the look of surprise in Carter’s eyes when I turn back to face him? Also yes.

My own smirk teases my lips as Abbie and I follow Carter back to the table where Jake is waiting, still slightly slack jawed and staring at Abbie.

“Hey, Jake!” I smile, pulling him into a hug and breaking his one sided staring contest. I sense Carter bristle at my familiaritywith Jake, especially considering I haven’t offeredhima hug since he’s been back. “You remember Abbie, right?”

“I remember the Abbie we used to hang out with, but damn.” He makes no attempt to hide the way his eyes look her up and down. “I’m feeling like an idiot right now.”

“Oh, yeah?” Her tone is flirty. “Why’s that?”

“I must have been an idiot or an asshole to not realize how absolutelystunningyou are.”

“Maybe it’s both,” she says coyly, her eyes sparkling, and he barks out a laugh.

“It might be,” he concedes right as a waitress comes by and drops a tray of drinks in front of us. Eight shots of tequila, two margaritas, and two whisky-looking drinks.

Dannydoesalways know what we need.

Abbie immediately grabs two of the shots and shoves them at Carter and Jake before taking two more and handing one to me. We all look around our little group before downing the shots. The tequila burns as it goes down, but warmth immediately fills my chest, causing me to relax a little bit.

We slam our glasses back down on the table, and Abbie turns towards Jake. “So, hotshot, what are you doing back in town?”

Jake grins in a way that I’m sure has all the puck bunnies dropping their panties. “I just thought I’d come back for a visit when I heard my buddy was back in town.” He claps Carter on the shoulder. “Though now I’m kicking myself for not coming back sooner.” Abbie’s cheeks flush slightly under Jake’s gaze. “Didn’t you go away for college as well? What are you doing now?”

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