Page 7 of Stick Side
A lightness filled his chest as a feeling of satisfaction washed over him. She definitely wasn’t immune to him.
“Okay,” Eric Cassidy spoke into the silence, pinning them both with a slightly reproachful glare. “Now that you two have been introduced and have stopped laughing at my expense, are you just about ready to go, Mel?”
If Cassidy had witnessed Melody checking him out, he made no mention of it.
Sparing him one last shy smile, Melody turned to face Cassidy. “Just about,” she said as she repositioned the cloth bag on her opposite shoulder.
Cassidy eyed the bag with undisguised optimism. “Is that what I think it is?”
“If you think it’s groceries for movie night snacks, you would be correct.”
Cassidy grinned from ear to ear and rubbed his hands together in eager anticipation. “Oh yeah,” he said, drawing out the vowel sound.
Melody returned his smile but rolled her eyes at him. Clearly, she wasn’t as impressed by her potential offering as he was.
Cassidy’s eyebrows knit as he studied the bag. “Do we have enough to share?”
The question made Ben realize just how full her bag was.
Melody appeared to be doing a silent calculation in her head. “We should have enough for five or six.”
“Sweet,” Cassidy said as he turned to face the guys remaining in the locker room.
Ben had been so fixated on the captivating woman in front of him that he hadn’t taken note of the other guys filing out. Only he, Cassidy, Richie, Alexei Volkov, and Kevin Phillips remained.
“Do you guys want to join us? Mel and I have an exciting night of mayhem planned.”
The look Melody cast Cassidy’s way was dubious. “Mayhem? You didn’t say anything about mayhem when you suggested a movie night.”
“Mayhem can’t be avoided,” Cassidy explained. “Don’t you remember what happened last week when you left me in the kitchen unsupervised?”
Melody cringed in apparent remembrance.
“I forgot to put the lid on the blender before turning it on,” Cassidy clarified for their group. “Kitchen carnage.”
“Good point.” Melody shuddered. “You are hereby banished from your own kitchen.”
“Yes!” Cassidy pumped his fist in triumph.
“So,” Cassidy continued, “now that we can be assured that ‘Kitchengeddon’ won’t be taking place at my condo any time soon, who can I interest in a movie or two? Mel’s a great cook and I should have beer aplenty.”
Ben was surprised by the effort it took to keep his smile in place when Cassidy slung one of his arms around Melody’s shoulders. Much to his disappointment, Melody didn’t try to throw off Cassidy’s arm.
“I wish I could,” Phillips said, “but I need to get home to Pam and the girls.” The warm glow lighting his eyes made it clear he wasn’t in any way put out by his decision to prioritize time with his family.
“I am in,” Volkov said.
“Richie?” Cassidy inquired.
“Thanks for the offer, but no can do. I’ve got a hot date.” Richie winked at them.
It was clear someone thought he’d be getting lucky tonight.
“Logan?” Cassidy asked.
Ben’s eyes flicked over to Melody, silently asking her if she’d mind if he joined them. As seemed to be her habit with him today, she smiled shyly before traces of pink started to suffuse her cheeks.
God, this girl.All he had to do was look at her and her cheeks colored with the sweetest of blushes. Her honest, uncontrived response to him was promising. It was also touching in a way that he hadn’t experienced in a very long time, if ever.
