Page 31 of Wild Love
A burst of pride sparks under my skin. “Valley University.”
His smile spreads. “They won the Frozen Four this year.”
I nod. “Yep.”
“Man, they had a great season. I wanted to be in Kansas City for the final game, but I couldn’t make it work.”
“I was there, and it was awesome.”
“Wait… a friend from college. You don’t mean…”
“Yep.” Another dose of pride. It was amazing to hear Maverick’s name dropped so many times today. The people of Minnesota are really excited that the Wildcats signed him.
“What?” Quinn looks between us. “What am I missing? Who do you know?” She narrows her eyes at me.
“Johnny Maverick. We went to college together.” It’s weird to think of that in the past tense. He won’t be there when I go back.
The corners of her mouth pull down into an unimpressed frown. “Never heard of him before today.”
“You will,” Reese says and lifts his beer bottle to the center of the table. “To the Wildcats.”
Quinn and I touch our glasses to his. “To the Wildcats.”
I stick with Reese, and he introduces me to a lot of people. Since he interned last summer and is local, he has all the inside knowledge, and I feel like I’m drinking from the end of a fire hose. I want to do such an amazing job this summer.
Quinn eventually ditches us for her nail appointment, but I’m glad she came out. She’s unlike any of my other friends, but there’s something about her brazenness that I kind of dig.
Speaking of friends, Reagan calls while we’re playing darts. I excuse myself and find a spot at a quiet section of the bar.
My best friend’s face fills the screen, and I smile back at her.
“Rea!”
“Kota! I miss you.” She sticks out her bottom lip. “Tell me about your first day. Was it amazing? Did you meet any hockey hotties? I miss yousomuch!”
“I miss you too.” And I do. We’ve been inseparable for the past three years. There are few days since we met that I haven’t seen or talked to her.
“And hockey hotties?” Her mouth pulls into a wide smile.
“A couple of sightings here at the bar, but just backs of heads. It’s just as well. They made it clear at our orientation today that fraternizing with the hockey players is not cool.”
“You can’t date the players?” Her mouth forms a perfect O, and her eyes widen. You’d think I just told her I can’t leave my desk to use the bathroom.
“Oh, come on, it isn’t like I was in a real position to do that anyway.” The only player I will be spending time with this summer is the one I’m working with on the endorsement. And Maverick, of course. Well, assuming he wants to hang out. He might be busy with team stuff.
“Please, you have WAG section written all over you,” she teases. “The way you wore Maverick’s number at the Frozen Four, and then he scored a hat trick. That’s enough to convince any guy you meet there that you are the perfect accessory to a great season.”
I snort-laugh. “Except I won’t be here once the season starts.”
“I believe in you. Make it happen.”
Channeling my dramatic friend, I place a hand on my chest. “Hey there. Do you want to casually date for the next two months? I’m leaving at the end of the summer, but my vagina is so magical. I guarantee that you’ll have a great season.”
I giggle and look to Reagan, who I expect to be laughing along with me. Her brown eyes are even wider now. “Uhh, Kota.”
“What?”
She points, and I swivel in my chair and come face-to-face with Johnny and Jack Wyld.
