Page 3 of Step Puck

“Hi, I’m…”

“Gary Allen. I know.” She gushes like a hockey groupie. “I’m so excited to meet you.”

He winks at me leaning closer to her so he can look down her cleavage. Dirty bastard. I won’t even consider the fact I wanted to do this. Since I’m trying to think of her as a sister, I wouldn’t do it. Gary doesn’t have that consideration.

Dirty bastard.

Lorelei throws her head back, the alcohol moving fast through her system, even with the food she’s eating. She’s even more beautiful, a Heinz ketchup red blush flows over her skin like a slow stream. Gary leans even closer, reaches out and snatches a fry from her plate. “Hey.”

“Gary.” I warn, my voice thick, hard, impenetrable.

He raises his hands in the air above his head, “is she spoken for? Yours?”

“His?” Lorelei asks, quickly glancing at me before looking away, an edge to her voice steely and impenetrable enough to sharpen a blade. “I’m no one’s, besides myself.”

“Well then. Want to go out with me tonight? Break out of this joint?” His smile has dropped to a half smile, trying to entice her with his round baby face and brown puppy dog eyes.

Dirty bastard. This is beyond sneaky. A total sly, back-stabbing bastard. “Why don’t I take you home Lor? Will your mom be home?” Ha. Upstaged him. Fucker.

“Um. Maybe she’ll be there? I don’t know.” Her eyes are a startling amber shade of brown, darkening to chocolate in her uneasiness.

I stand holding my hand out, enticing her to come with. She bites her bottom lip, her hands on the top of the table, one reaches out to grab the glass holding her drink and raises it to her lips and takes a small sip.

“Come on, Lor.”

“Don’t call me that. I’m not a child anymore.” Her voice is as adamant as the distain on her face.

Gary flicks his fingers between Lor and me, his eyes follow the movements of his fingers. “You’ve known each other long? Sounds like a long time.”

“Yeah, long time. She’s my sister.”

“Sister? How have we never seen her? Never knew you had a sister, bro.” He leans his elbows on the table and meshes the fingers of both hands together in front of him.

“Not related. Step.” She growls at me like a cute tiger cub, the glare she throws should burn me to cinders on the spot.

Gary glances fast, whipping his head back and forth between the two of us, surprise and shock waring for dominance on his face, “so someone thinks it’s a relationship that’s not a sister-brother relationship.”

“It’s complicated.” Lor admits, her head down, finger paints circles on the table, waiting. For what I don’t know. Admitting it’s complicated? Yes, it is. Admitting something can happen between us? Even more complicated.

“Complicated.” I admit bouncing my head up and down as if in agreement. I don’t really know what’s going to happen.

She glances at me out of the corner of her eyes, “come on, let’s go then.”

Lorelei jumps up, hand in her purse so fast for her wallet I haven’t had time to register her moving. And me always ready for fast movements in the rink.

“Lorelei, I’ve got this. What are you doing?” I reach out, grabbing her hand before she can pull any money out. This time the touch of our skin sizzles with more than desire. More than lust. More than anything.

“I pay for myself. This isn’t a date or whatever.”

“Hey, everyone. I’m paying the whole bill so cool it. K?” Gavin grumbles and glares at us, daring anyone to battle with him on this as if we’re busting his good mood, and we might be with the arguing.

“Sure, Gavin. No problem. Thanks, we’re going to head out. Talk with you tomorrow.” I lean over to bump fists with him and he gives me a nod in agreement.

Lorelei stands and I give Gary one last glare, my hand finds the small of her back leading her out of the restaurant, I’m already on the phone calling for Lyft who’ll be here by the time we make it outside. Stan will be our driver the app says. My car is still at the stadium, I’ll pick it up tomorrow.

“I assume your mother is still at the same house? That’s the address I gave them.” We continue to the street where the blue Honda arrives at the curb in front, matching the photo given to me on the app. Yup, bending down to look through the window, the driver matches the photo given.

“Yes.”

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