Page 24 of Playboy

HANNAH

“I swearif someone doesn’t buy me a drink after the way life has been fucking me lately, I’m going to need a cigarette.”

I glare at my computer, skimming the email from another media source asking for Beckett’s comment on the Xander disaster. Beckett owns the Boston Revs—and along with his parents and siblings—just about the rest of Boston. Billionaires like him keep scandals like this locked down pretty well most of the time, but damn, this one is a doozy.

Sara leans into my office and smiles. “Oh, a good fucking. I’m always down for one of those.”

I close out of the email as my blue-haired friend steps over the threshold. She dyes it at the start of hockey season every year because she’s as superstitious as her goalie fiancé, Brooks. I’m not at liberty to share what I just read with her. It involves the Langfields, though it looks to be centered around the youngest sibling, Sienna. Though I’m sure Sara will find out soon enough, I’m oddly protective of Beckett, and I know for a fact that when it comes to this, he was only trying to do the right thing.

“I haven’t had one of those in a long-ass time,” I admit, rolling with our usual banter. Talking sex with Sara is a good way to distract her. She’s a hoe for a good dicking, just like I am.

Sara’s laugh echoes off the walls of my office. “Right. Everyone who stayed in that rental in Arizona with us knows you had at least one good dicking.” Arms crossed, she cocks a brow. “Millie hasn’t stopped crying about having to hear you chant her brother’s name that night.”

I never did give the girls details about sex with Daniel. I’m not one to kick a man when he’s down, and that boy was very obviously down after that night.

When I came out of the bathroom, he had disappeared. I figured it was in both our best interests to call it a night, and I woke up the next morning with the intention of checking on him in hopes that we could keep things from being awkward, but the man was already gone.

That’s when I made the mistake of asking Millie where he was. My friend was pissed.

“You mean he fucked you all night and then just left?”

Rather than own up to the disappointment that washed over me when I realized he’d vanished, I pasted on a smile and swore it was exactly how I would have wanted the weekend to end.

After all, I told him I’m the queen of unaffected.

“Please.” I scoff. “I’m sure she was too busy chanting Hockey Daddy to even notice.” The girl is feral for her husband. I push back from my desk and snag my purse from the bottom drawer. “Are we meeting the girls for lunch, or is it just us today?”

“Just us,” Sara says on a sigh. “Ava is leaving early to get Josie to dance, and Lennox is working on a big party for Sienna’s birthday, I guess.”

My instinct is to wince at the mention of the youngest Langfield sibling. Fortunately Sara’s on a roll and doesn’t notice.

“Oh, and Millie has a meeting with her dad to discuss her next album.”

God, our friends are impressive.

I don’t have to ask about Liv, Beckett’s wife. Yes, she’s our direct boss, but we are close with her too. Today, though, I can imagine she’s got her hands full dealing with poor Beckett, who I’m sure is working overtime to fix this disaster.

A disaster I, unfortunately, can’t help with. I will, however, lend support when it’s time to contain the fallout.

For now, all I can do for them is paste on a smile and pretend I know nothing.

“Sounds good. You’ve got another away stretch, right?”

Her blue eyes sparkle with amusement. “Already looking forward to having the apartment to yourself?”

I shake my head. “God no. I love having Noah around. And when he’s gone, Oliver goes to his mother’s, and then my place is too damn quiet. I never thought I’d like living with people, but it’s been fun.”

“How is Noah settling in?”She tilts her head thoughtfully. “Does he like the team?”

I shrug. “I think so. Honestly, he could get along with just about anyone.”

She hums. “I can see that. And he’s great on the ice. You coming to tonight’s game?”

I haven’t been to a hockey game since we made it home from Arizona. Baseball season is kicking my ass. But Noah has been on me about showing up tonight since the season is winding down. It doesn’t look like they’ll make it much farther in the playoffs, and after this game, they’ll be traveling for several days.

The overlap of the two seasons is rough on me. I hate missing so many of the Bolts’ games because I’m busy with work for the Revs. Hockey is my first love. Probably because of Noah, and if I could be in the stands cheering at every faceoff, I would.

Once again, I pull out that smile I’ve become so good at plastering on. “I’ll be there.”

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