Page 53 of Rewind It Back

“Oh. That’s okay.” I quickly shake my head. “I’m not really trying to meet someone right now.”

Thompson throws his head back in laughter. “Rio, you’re always trying to meet someone.”

I look to Stevie and Zanders, and the panic must be obvious because Zee cuts in for me. “Thompson, he’s not into it tonight.”

“Well, he needs to be.” Thompson bends down to speak to me quietly. “I’m trying to... you know... finally close the deal. And her friend is always hanging around. I need you to do me a solid tonight and keep her occupied.”

“Yeah. Abso-fucking-lutely not.”

“Rio, c’mon.”

“He’s not interested,” Stevie adds defensively. “Leave him alone.”

“There they are!” Thompson says far too enthusiastically, throwing his arm over his girl’s shoulders when the two of them approach. “Kylie, this is my buddy I was telling you about. Rio, this is Kylie.”

“I already know who you are,” Kylie says. “I was hoping I would get to meet you.”

One of my teammates leaves his chair, so Thompson grabs it.

“And look!” he says, shoving it next to me. “There happens to be an empty seat for you.”

He’s pulling his date to the far end of the very loud, very rowdy table before Kylie has even sat down.

No, I’m not interested in her in that way, but she’s still a human being that just got pawned off by her so-called friend and I innately feel sorry for her.

“Uh...” I stumble. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Kylie’s attention bounces between me and Zanders as she sits down. “This is wild. I’m such a big fan of yours. Both of you.”

Great.

“Are you having a good time?”

“Well, it definitely just got better, but I could use a drink.”

“Yeah,” I exhale. “I could use one too.”

The rookie who scored his first goal tonight is making his rounds, already buzzing with alcohol when he throws an arm over Zee’s shoulders. “There’s my captain! What a goal, huh?”

“Yeah, Big Shot. Hell of a goal. How do we get drinks around here? Do we go up to the bar or do they come here?”

“Oh, they’ll come to the table.” He holds up his empty beer bottle. “I need another. And man.” He smacks Zee in the chest. “One of the bartenders here, she’s a smoke show. That’s why I come here all the time. I think tonight is the night I ask for her number. What do you think?”

Zee, Stevie, and I laugh at our too-excitable teammate. He reminds me of how I acted while I was trying to meet any and everyone in hopes of proving something to myself. Trying to prove that love did in fact still exist, even after Hallie and I broke up. Even after watching my parents’ divorce. I was convinced it was out there somewhere. I just had to find it.

“I say you go for it,” I chime in. “Use that first-goal confidence to your benefit.”

“Yeah.” He nods quickly, switching from having his arm slung around Zanders’ shoulders to mine. “Yeah, Rio, you’re right. Isn’t he so right?” He shifts his attention to Kylie. “You are so lucky, you know that? This guy, he’s the best!”

Our rookie squeezes into the space on the other side of her, sharing a seat with another of our teammates before stealing his beer.

Kylie leans into me.

Fuck it.I can’t do this tonight. I can’t evenpretendto do this tonight. I just want to go home and see if Hallie might be home too.

I stand from my seat.

“You okay?” Stevie asks.

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