Page 63 of In My Hockey Era
“Please,youshould be worried aboutyourself.I’ve seen the way you’ve been looking at your phone all week.Waiting for a text, aren’t you?”
I groan.“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.You love me.And youreallylike Bennett Wilder.”
I don’t confirm or deny that, because honestly?I’m still trying to figure out how deep I’ve gotten myself into this whole thing.But my silence is enough for Mia, who hums knowingly.
“I’ll see you Saturday, babe.”
And with that, she hangs up, leaving me sitting there, staring at my phone, feelingentirelytoo called out.
25
PLAYING THE LONG GAME
Lucy
The bar is buzzing but not too crowded—just the right amount of people for a casual Saturday night.Mia and I slide into a high-top near the back, and the moment we sit, she raises a brow.“So.What are we drinking?”
I scan the cocktail menu and shrug.“Margaritas?”
“Basic.”She grins.“I like it.Two spicy margs, please,” she tells our server, flashing a smile.
While we wait, we make small talk—work, her latest dating misadventures, the fact that she’s debating getting bangs again (I try to talk her out of it).But the moment the door swings open and two large, very familiar men step inside, Mia’s entire body stiffens.
And then—WHACK.
She kicks me under the table, hard enough that I nearly choke on my drink.“What the hell—”
“You didn’t tell me how hot he was!”she hisses, eyes locked on Bennett.“I mean, I Googled him, but holy hell, woman.That is a whole different level of hot in real life.”
Heat creeps up my neck, but before I can respond, Bennett’s gaze finds mine across the room.His lips twitch.He says something to Chase, then starts toward us with an easy, confident stride, like he already owns the place.Chase follows, hands stuffed in his pockets, looking as amused as ever.
Mia lets out a slow exhale.“Oh, I call dibs on Grumpy back there.”
I fight a laugh.“That’s Chase.”
“I don’t care what his name is, I want it moaned into my pillow.”
“Please stop talking,” I mutter, my face now officially on fire.
Why am I friends with her again?
And then Bennett is in front of us, towering, grinning, all warm blue eyes and scruffy jawline and stupid, perfect, broad-shouldered everything.“Hey, Quinn,” he says smoothly, resting a hand on the back of my chair, and just like that, the rest of the bar disappears.
There’s only him.
“Wilder,” I manage, willing my pulse to chill the hell out.
He dips his head, brushes a kiss against my cheek—not quite lingering, but enough to make my stomach flip.
Mia makes a tiny strangled sound next to me.
I clear my throat, remembering my manners.“This is my best friend, Mia.Mia, this is Bennett.”
Mia, for once in her life, is speechless.She shakes his hand, blinking up at him like he’s a damn mirage.
Bennett chuckles.“It’s nice to meet you.”
