Page 19 of Slew Foot
Jesse deftly plucked a second shot off the tray when she passed him, and he lifted it high. “I’d also like to say congratulations to our brand-new president of hockey operations, Finnegan O’Shea!”
“Glad to be back with the team!” Finn gave a brief wave, then threw back his shot to the sound of raucous cheers.
Mickey held up his beer, then took a sip.
“And it turns out we have one more thing to celebrate!” Jesse called out, reaching for another shot.
Rafe grabbed his third from the server when she passed by him, making the rounds again.
“Congrats to Gavin and Dakota for their relationship!” Jesse hollered.
Rafe threw back his shot and Mickey toasted too, taking a sip of beer and watching as Rafe licked whipped cream from his full lips.
He turned away to see Gavin press another passionate kiss to Dakota’s mouth. Dakota clutched at his shoulders, then pulled away laughing, lips still slick from Gavin’s mouth.
They looked happy.
Mickey idly wondered what that felt like. He hadn’t had a serious relationship in years. There’d been a woman named Emilia back in Germany. She was great, but she hadn’t wanted to move to the US, and he hadn’t pushed it.
They’d ended things amicably enough and the last he’d heard, she’d moved in with a boyfriend. He’d sent her a congratulatory message, and she’d thanked him and wished him well.
It had all been very civil.
He glanced back at Rafe who had his head propped up on one hand, his eyes heavy-lidded and threatening to close. He reminded Mickey of a very large toddler refusing to nap and Mickey felt a strong urge to bundle him off to bed and tuck him in with a kiss to the forehead.
Instead, Mickey pushed a glass of water toward him.
Around them, the team began counting down to the New Year. “Think you’ll make it to midnight?” he teased.
“Huh?” Rafe blinked at him, lashes thick and dark against his cheeks.
“Five … four … three … two … one … Happy New Year!”
Around them, people kissed, and Mickey held up his glass to Rafe. “To a better year for both of us,” he said softly.
CHAPTER FIVE
Rafe woke to the sound of his phone buzzing.
He slapped at it, pulling the charging cable loose and nearly knocking the phone off the nightstand before he finally cracked one eye open. He squinted as he looked around, confused about where he was.
Oh, his hotel in Boston.
Well, itlookedlike a hotel anyway, and his bags were in the corner of the room. He had no idea how he’d gotten here though. The last thing he remembered was drinking with the team.
His phone buzzed again, vibrating against his palm, and he looked back at it. The name Mouse flashed across his screen with a little emoji of a cartoon animal’s face and Rafe fumbled to answer it.
“’lo?” he managed.
“Sorry to wake you. I thought you might be up by now. Would you like me to let you go back to sleep or would you like to go to brunch at O’Sheas’?”
“Weren’t we just at the pub last night?” he rasped. It was way too early to be drinking this morning. Even if a hair of the dog cocktail did seem like a good idea right now.
Mickey laughed softly. “That was O’Neill’s. Catherine and Declan O’Shea are hosting brunch at their home today.”
“Oh.” Rafe rubbed a hand over his face. He had a fuzzy memory of Connor’s mom inviting him at one point. “I mean, it’s still pretty early, right?”
“It’s one pm,” Mickey said sounding like he was trying not to laugh, though his tone was kind.
