Page 42 of Bad Teammate
“Jack, sweetheart,” Emma began, a saccharine note in her voice, “how would you like to go to the symphony later this week?”
Jack eyed her. “Is this a trap? Why do I feel like I can’t say no?”
The three of us giggled again.
“It’s not a trap, but you’re right, you can’t say no. But don’t worry—it’ll be fun. I’ve always wanted to go to the symphony. And Katerina really loves classical music, so now we’reallexcited about it.”
“Uh …huh,” Jack said, maybe notentirelyconvinced. “Well, sure, I’ll go.”
Austen pulled back from a kiss with Dane so she could deliver the news with a playful bop on the nose. “You’re going to the symphony too, mister.”
“Eh?” Dane squinted with confusion, but he shrugged it off. “Alright. Whatever. As long as Hath has to go, I’m in.”
Jack rocked Mackenzie in his arms. “You about ready to go, babe? It’s getting late.”
Emma let out a contented sigh and grabbed her purse. “Yeah.”
“We should probably head out, too,” Dane said to Austen.
The three of us hugged and said our goodbyes. I was sad to see them go, but I couldn’t help but feel like I’d made two great friends.
Emma and Jack made for the door, but she turned back to me and waved one last time. “Bye, Katerina! So great to meet you! We’re totally gonna make this happen!”
“Make what happen?” Jack asked as held the door open for his wife.
She spanked him on the butt as she walked past. “Nothin’, honey.”
Austen and Dane followed them out, and then I was alone on the balcony.
I moved to the railing and looked out at Dallas with a dopey smile. I’d gotten a little drunk with those girls—both on the wineandon wild hopes and big dreams—and all I could do now, as I looked over this glowing city, was try to imagine it as my home.
But God, that’s crazy! Isn’t it?
Emma and Austen sure didn’t think so. And they should know, since they knew these hockey guys better than anyone else.
I tried to remember the tips those girls had given me. They told me to just relax and enjoy the rest of the night, that I shouldn’t force anything with Derek. They told me the one thingnotto do was pursue him—because these guys were always being pursued, and so doing that told him you were just like all the other girls. The key to winning their hearts was making them realizetheyhad to pursueyou.
The night air had grown a little chilly, and goosebumps speckled my flesh. I said goodbye to the Dallas skyline, gathered up the empty wine glasses we’d left on the balcony, and made my way to the door.
Before I opened the sliding door, I took one last breath and cleared my mind.
Whew.
Okay.
Ready.
15
Katerina
The glass door slid open and a wall of noise greeted me, hip-hop beats thumping and bumping in my chest.
Carefully handling a collection of empty glasses in my arms, I stepped inside and pulled the door shut behind me. Just inside, one of the athletes had a girl pinned against the wall, his hips stapled to hers. I gave the couple their space, not wanting to intrude on their intimate moment—but the girl reached out to me.
“Here, take mine, too!” she said, dangerously stacking her empty glass on top of the ones I already carried. I couldn’t refuse without dropping them all to the floor.
“Oh … um …o-kay,” I muttered.
