Page 103 of Win Big

“They’re still there?”

“Yeah.”

“They must be proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

He laughs. “They don’t get hockey at all, but yeah.”

I cast a worried glance toward the inside bar, where Wyatt and Gage still are. Wyatt looked annoyed. And Gage... is he telling Wyatt about us? It reflects even worse on him than it does on me. He wouldn’t. Would he?

21

WYATT

I don’t knowwhat the fuck this dude was doing talking to Everly in the hall and looking like he was pissed at her. I don’t like it and I’m glad I interrupted. Everly looked petrified. But why?

He’s a big guy, but I’m bigger and stronger. I can tell. Pretty sure he hasn’t played hockey in years, and it doesn’t look like he works out either. So I kind of use my physicality to separate him from Everly and hustle him into the men’s room.

I don’t look at him as we stand at the urinals. “So you and Everly met before, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“That was what . . . ten years ago?”

“About that. Maybe eleven. That’s when I got traded to the Wild.” His tone has an ugly edge.

“Huh.” There was something about the way he’d looked at her that I don’t like. Eleven years ago, Everly was sixteen.

And I remember what she told me, about some trouble she’d gotten into when she was a teenager.

My stomach heaves.

We wash our hands side by side at the sinks.

“Be careful with her,” Gage says. “Her dad’s pretty protective.”

I tug paper towels out of the dispenser and dry my hands. “And you know that how?”

His face ruddies. “Everyone knows it.”

I react without thinking, adrenaline flashing through my veins. I shove him up against the tile wall. “Did you touch her?”

He eyes me defiantly. “Ask her.”

I stare him down. “You better not have touched her. It’s not only her dad who’s protective of her.” I give him a hard thrust against the wall and step back. As he winces, I straighten my suit jacket, eye him with disdain, and walk out.

Back at the table, the fire flickering from the center, I sit. I’m tense. Edgy. Pissed. I don’t even know for sure why. I turn to Everly. “We need to go.”

She has her arms wrapped around her stomach, her lips tight. “Oh. Okay.”

Baz seems surprised but stands as we do. He holds out a hand. “Great to see you, man.”

I take it and slap his shoulder with my other. “Yeah, you too. I’ll take care of the bill on my way out.”

“No, no . . . I got this.”

“You don’t even drink, dude.” I shake my head, my lips curved into a smile that is not happy. “No worries. Hope you and Gage have a good talk.”

I take Everly’s arm and lead her out with long strides that nearly trip her up. I slow my roll and take more care with her.

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