Page 121 of Restricted List

“I’m always down for a night out.”

Knox groans. “Do wehaveto go out?”

“Yes,” I reply, rolling my eyes. “And even if you try not to, my sister will drag you. Suck it up, Spencer.”

“Let’s get this practice over with then,” Ari says. “I’m ready to get out and find someone else’s bed to end up in tonight.”

“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Ari!” Rory says happily from her place next to me in our booth. Ari picked the loudest andbrightest club for tonight, and we luckily snagged a VIP booth in the back.

“Good to meet the woman that drew in Wichita’s most eligible bachelor,” he laughs.

Harlow wrinkles her nose. “Ew. Please don’t talk about how my brother was back then. I really don’t want to know about it.”

Rory rests her head on my shoulder, a rare bit of affection she’s showing me out in public. “Well, we all know he isn’t like that now.”

I can’t hide my smile as I wrap an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. “Nope. I’m only yours, Rory girl.”

“You guys are so fucking cute,” Ella groans. “I can’t stand it.”

“And you guys are the only ones that know,” I say. “I’d really like to keep it that way.”

“Might want to stop sitting so closely then,” Lucia chimes. “Matt’s meeting us here soon.”

“We finally get to meet Matt?!” Lo asks excitedly.

Lucia bites back a smile. “Yes. I figured it was time for him to meet my friends.”

Ari looks at me curiously. “Boyfriend, I’m guessing?”

“I think so. Don’t know much about him, though.”

Harlow faces Ari as she finishes taking a sip of whatever mixed drink she ordered tonight. “How are you liking New York, Ari?”

“Not bad. It’s cold as fuck, though.”

“Get used to it, man. Early part of the season is always freezing up here.”

A brunette man I’ve never seen walks up to our table now, and based on the way Lucia lights up, this must be her guy.

“You made it!” she says happily, scooting over on the bench to make room for him to join us. “Guys, this is Matt.”

“Hey, everyone,” he says with a slight wave. “As a Stars fan, I recognize some of the faces, but I’m not sure about everyone else.”

“Here, I’ll introduce you,” Lucia says, gesturing down the table. “Next to me are Ella and Josh. They just got married last month. Harlow and Knox are down at the end. Lane is sitting across from us. He has the world’s cutest daughter. Then there’s Ari. He just joined the team. On the other end are Rory and Cole. Rory is Skipper’s daughter, and Cole is Harlow’s brother.”

“Nice to meet you, man,” I say before I catch Ari out of the corner of my eye. I can’t quite make out his expression, but he doesn’t seem happy right now. “Everything okay?” I ask, lightly elbowing his arm.

“Oh… uh, yeah. Everything’s fine.”

It’s not convincing in the slightest, but I decide not to press it.

“So, what do you do for work?” Rory asks Matt.

“I work on Wall Street,” he answers. “Keeps me busy.”

Ari mutters something under his breath that I don’t quite make out before he asks a question of his own. “How long have you been with Lucia?”

Lucia replies before Matt can. “We’ve been seeing each other for about a month. We’re just having fun.”

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