Page 41 of Why Not Us?

“Everyone, this is Adalie,” Nate says. “She’s a friend.”

Doug snickers but doesn’t say any more as his wife leads him away. She calls over her shoulder, “It’s nice to meet you, Adalie. I’ll see you inside.”

We all start making our way into the building, me and Nate taking up the rear.

“Do Raine and Patricia play?”

“No. But they usually come to the games. They’re pretty close.”

I grab a fistful of my skirt, twisting it in my hand. “Should I sit with them?”

“If you want to. I told them you’d be here so they know you might.” He holds the door open for me.

It’s silly to be nervous meeting Nate’s friends, but here I am. “These are the guys you usually play with?”

“Them and a few others. The other guys are here already. If you want, I can introduce you after.”

“Sure. Good luck out there.”

He smiles down at me, and I blink, stunned by just how sexy he is when he smiles.

“I don’t need luck, princess, but thanks. See you after.”

He heads off into the locker room and I go to the bleachers where Patricia and Raine are already sitting. They have a thermos with them and are pouring something that steams into a couple of cups.

“Adalie,” Patricia says with a smile. “Come join us. Did you want a drink? Coffee and Baileys.”

I sit down next to the women. “Oh. No thank you. I don’t actually like coffee.”

“What do you drink in the morning?” Raine says, aghast.

I laugh. “Tea, usually. But I’m kind of a morning person. So sometimes nothing.”

Raine shakes her head in disbelief. “I don’t know how people function without coffee. So, have you known Nate long?”

“Only about three weeks.”

“How did you meet?” Patricia asks next.

I wonder what they think our relationship is. Do they think we’re seeing each other? Does it matter?

“I run Blue Vista Events. Have you heard of it?”

They exchange a glance. “You mean that event venue right on English Bay?” Raine asks. “Mace and I considered it when we started planning our wedding, but it’s a little out of our price range.”

“That’s the one. We just partnered with Hops Scotch. We’re going to be serving their beer at events this summer.”

“So you’re not dating him?” Patricia asks.

“No. We’re just friends.”

“Why are you here?” Raine asks. “There aren’t many spectators at the hockey games. Patricia and I come to see each other, not the game. And Dani, of course, on the weeks when Nate has her.”

I shrug. “I’ve never been to a hockey game before. Of any kind. I figured I’d check this one out. I’m trying to do some things I’ve never done before. Shake things up a little.”

The teams skate out onto the ice, doing some warmups. Before he joins his team, Nate looks at the bleachers finding me, as though he wanted to know exactly where I am. He joins the others and Patricia and Raine laugh.

I turn to them.

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