Page 91 of Hat Trick

Make Liam keep them in his pocket. That could be a fun game.

Piper

Oh. Now YOU are onto something, Lex.

Me

Just want to make sure my friends are getting the attention they deserve.

Maven

Such a girl’s girl.

* * *

Always heldin a swanky hotel with a hired band, delicious food, and top shelf alcohol, the team’s annual holiday gala is one of my favorite events of the year.

The guys are all proud hockey players who won’t hesitate to get in a fight on the ice, but at their core, they’re philanthropists—good men with soft hearts. Members of the community who show up for those who have less than them. And it’s always so inspiring to see how much money they raise for charity at the end of the night.

I shiver as I walk up the steps to the Four Seasons Hotel, grateful when the warm air of the lobby wraps around me. I hand over my shawl to a young guy at coat check and accept a flute of champagne from a passing server, smiling when I see Piper bounding toward me in a form-fitting pink dress.

“Holy shit, Lex.” She grabs my hands, making me do a slow spin on the marble floor. “You’re aknockout.”

“Do you like it?”

I run my palm down the gold gown. With the spaghetti straps, a plunging V-neckline that dips below my breasts, and a floor-length skirt with a train, I was worried it was too over the top, but Piper’s whistling makes me confident in my choice.

“Your ass is actually insane. You look like a Greek goddess. That dress was made for you.”

“Thank you.” I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. The messy high ponytail I pulled it into an hour ago is starting to come loose, but I don’t trust myself to take it down and try to replicate it a second time. “And look atyou. Pink is so your color.”

“I’d wear it every day of my life if I could.” She loops her arm through mine and leads me to the ballroom. Music rings down the hall, and half a dozen people stop to say hello to us. “I went with your no underwear suggestion, by the way.”

“And? What do you think?”

“I could get used to this. It’s freeing. Plus, I feelsexy. No one knows I’m not wearing underwear—besides you, of course—but I do, and that’s kind of hot.”

“It’ssohot. I’m proud of you, Piper.” I kiss the top of her head and grin when I spot the rest of my friends circled around a high-top table draped in a white linen. “Everyone looks so good.”

“There you two are.” Emmy pops out a hip and looks us up and down. “Damn. Everyone cleans up well, don’t they?”

“You win that award, Emmy.” Madeline smiles and takes a sip of her champagne. “Your ability to go from sporty to hyperfeminine should be studied.”

“When I was younger, I had a coach tell me no one was going to want me to be a part of their team if I wore ribbons in my hair. It took away from mytoughness, he said, so I decided to wear more ribbons and more makeup and more heels when I wasn’t on the ice. He’s choking on his words now,” she says. “Who says women can’t do hard things just because of how we dress?”

“Amen, sister.” I lift my glass her way. “It’s so good to see all of you. I hate that we’re all so busy during the season, but I’m glad we get to spend tonight together.”

“You probably only get me for two hours. Liam won’t last much longer than that.” She waves across the room to the goalie sitting at a table, looking miserable while Grant chats his ear off about something. I hold back a laugh when he picks up a knife and spins it between his fingers. “Maybe an hour and a half if we’re lucky.”

“I’m going to grab a drink from the open bar. If the organization is paying for it, I’m going to order the nicest alcohol they have. Does anyone want anything?” I ask.

“I’ll take a red wine,” Piper says, and Madeline nods.

“Make that two, please.”

“I’ll take a Chardonnay if you can carry it,” Maven adds, and I glance at Emmy.

“Nothing for me. I’m fine.”

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