Page 54 of Play Your Part

Graham’s bun bobbed with his nod. “Hard to forget the toughest defenseman in the league. Man, you were brutal tonight.”

“Hey, you got one,” Matt said. “You know our rookie, Zach Briggs?”

Briggsy shot up in his seat, back ramrod straight. “Mr. Sutter, you are one of my favorite players.”

Jesus Christ.If he asked Graham for an autograph, I might kick him out of my house.

Graham laughed. “Always happy to meet a fan. I see a long career for you, kid.”

The words silenced Zach, something I had never seen. If he hadn’t blinked, I would have worried he’d slipped into an open-eyed coma.

“It’s good to see you happy,” Cora said suddenly. “You and I were always trying to force it, you know?”

I scoffed. “I didn’t realize you felt that way untilaftermy contract was terminated.”

“Volk.” Cora softened her tone, dropping a hand to my shoulder that I wanted to shrug off me.

But I realized none of the emotions I would expect to feel when confronted with my ex-fiancée and her new boyfriend had surfaced. In the aftermath of the breakup, nothing I did tempered my anger at losing my contract and my girl. For a week, I drank hard and ordered enough food to feed a small army. Eventually, I felt enough like shit to change tactics, to train harder than I ever had, which helped me claw my way back into the league.

“We weren’t right for each other. I’m sorry about how it happened, but you weren’t easy to deal with after…” She looked at Graham, who gave her a small nod. She flashed her hand at me, displaying a massive diamond on her finger. “Anyway, I figured I should tell you myself. Graham and I are engaged.”

The fuck?

“I know it’s fast, but when you know, you know.” She snapped her fingers. “Like you and that girl.”

“Kennedy and I aren’t engaged… eight months after we broke up.”

I checked my watch for the date, and it hit me. Tomorrow, Cora and I were supposed to get married. The realization crashed over me with the force of being slammed into the boards.

My wedding was supposed to be tomorrow.

I shot out of my seat, towering over her, eye level with Graham, who looked like he would rather sink into the floor than be present for this conversation.

“But, Cora, you’re right. Kennedy isn’t the kind of person who would ditch me at my lowest point. She doesn’t care about superficial shit like what team I play for or my contract. So thank you for showing me exactly what Idon’twant in a partner. She’s a much better fit for me.”

Cora’s mouth fell open. I threw back one more shot. “Greatto see you both. Boys, I’m heading back to my room.”

I didn’t wait for anyone to respond before pushing my way past our guests and getting the fuck out of this place.

The sound of my vibrating phone amplified the buzzing in my head. I groped around the nightstand, knocking over a couple of empty cans that rattled to the floor before finally landing on it. Unlocking my phone revealed a series of texts from Matt and Briggsy in our group chat, checking on me. I quickly responded I was fine and would see them in the morning.

Then I saw the messages from Kennedy. She sent something hours ago that I missed, nothing important, just another message in our string of sharing our days and whatever was on our minds. This photo was of me—a poster board version of me I sent to the McIntyre house as a gift to my new biggest fans and as a way to poke at Kennedy, a habit I enjoyed too much.

The words accompanying the photo wereAs if I didn’t see you enough.

You can’t get enough of me and you know it.I clicked send without a second thought, thanks to the alcohol swimming in my veins.

Immediately, the three dots appeared. It was past two on a Friday night, and Kennedy did not stay up this late. Because of her job, her internal clock was hardwired to wake up at the ass crack of dawn. What was she doing awake now? Could she have been out with someone?

I let my head fall back to the headboard, hoping the thud against my skull would fix my broken mind. Of course she wasn’t out with anyone, because the only man she could date was me. The reminder brought only small comfort. She didn’t chooseme, only this convenient solution to our problems.

You’re mistaking me for one of those drooling waitresses.

I laughed out loud, the action loosening tension still lingering in my body.It’s not the same without me there,I replied.Admit it.

Kennedy called, and I instantly picked up. This closeness with her would make it worse once our agreement ran its course, but I wanted to hear her voice. I had only known the sound for a month, but it had quickly become my favorite.

“I’ll admit,” she started without preamble, “I have felt a lot less annoyed over the last week. Coincidence?” Her voice came through without a hint of sleepiness.

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