Page 18 of Hat Trick Daddies

Ally’s sitting at the bar with Kenzie, both of them laughing about something.

I start making my way through the crowd, weaving between people holding brightly colored cocktails in tiki-shaped glasses. Just as I near the bar I crash shoulder-first into someone.

“Watch it, man!” I snap, turning to see who it is.

Standing there is Bruno Varga, the goalie on our team this season. He’s built like a tank. His dark eyes narrow slightly as he glances down at me.

“Relax, Tyler,” he says, his accent thick but his tone even. “Didn’t see you there.”

Nick snickers behind me. “Better watch out, Ty. You don’t want Bruno flattening you before you even get your drink.”

I shoot him a glare before stepping back and waving Bruno on. “No harm done,” I mutter, trying to refocus on my original target.

I glance back toward the bar, locking eyes with Ally for just a second before she turns her attention back to Kenzie.

“Sorry about that,” I mutter to Bruno, who’s still looming.

Bruno just nods as he moves toward the bar. The guy always looks like he’s about to settle a score, not lace up for a game.

As soon as he’s out of earshot, I lean toward Nick and smirk. “Tell me he doesn’t look like a mobster instead of a hockey player. You half expect him to whip out a cigar and call someone ‘kid’.”

Nick snorts, shaking his head. “I don’t know, man. If he’s a mobster, he’s the kind that’s got you buried in the ice before you know what hit you.”

I laugh, imagining it for a second before Brooks is shoulder to shoulder with me, his expression as grouchy as ever.

“Would you two move it along already?” he grumbles, shoving past us.

“Relax, Grandpa,” I tease, shooting him a grin.

Brooks gives me a look, the kind that says he’s too tired to argue. “This crowd’s too young for me,” he mutters, glancing around the room with a slight grimace. “I should’ve just gone home.”

“Oh, come on,” I reply, gesturing toward the bar. “What’s not to love? Great drinks, great vibes. Karaoke night’s a classic!”

He groans. “That’s exactly why I hate it. Karaoke night is just a bunch of drunk idiots who think they can sing. I don’t have the patience for this.”

Nick pipes up, his grin matching mine. “Guess you’re stuck with us then, old man.”

Brooks shakes his head, muttering something under his breath.

I roll my eyes at Brooks as he grumbles his way toward the bar. “Live a little, man. You might actually have fun for once,” I call after him, shaking my head.

Nick chuckles, nudging me with his elbow. “You know he’d rather be home with a beer and some boring documentary.”

“Then it’s our job to fix that,” I reply.

Ally and Kenzie are still sitting at the bar, their heads close together as they talk and laugh. Ally glances up as we approach, her blue eyes catching mine for a moment before she smiles.

Damn, she’s got a killer smile.

“Ladies,” I say, sliding onto the barstool next to them. “Hope you don’t mind us crashing your party.”

Kenzie grins. “As long as you’re buying the next round, you’re welcome.”

“Deal,” I say, signaling the bartender.

It doesn’t take long before shots are lined up in front of us, and we start tossing them back.Each one seems to come with a toast, Kenzie to her new “favorite doctor”, Ally to surviving her first day, Nick to avoiding stitches again anytime soon, and me for, well, just being me.

Even Brooks grudgingly joins in.

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