Page 42 of One Time Player

“Shit, girl. That dancing was hot,” Eden blurts. “I don’t blame you for wanting to jump his bones. That man is the whole package.”

“Not helping here,” I chime.

Eden winces. “Sorry. Just saying it like it is.”

“I’m so screwed. I need to find a way to get Evan and me back on track. I like talking to him and spending time with him,” I admit.

“Finally, Patty is in lust, that isn’t a bad thing,” Amelia says.

“It’s terrible. My father would never approve and as the team’s therapist, it’s legally forbidden for me to date one of the players. I would lose my job,” I share.

“Shit, that’s a problem,” Eden sighs. “How tragic. You fall for a guy you can’t have.”

“Tell me about it,” I say, feeling so frustrated but also disappointed in myself that I’m allowing my feelings to rule me. It’s all Evan’s fault. He’s softened me up. “We will just have to stay friends. It’ll be fine. I’ve invited him for Thanksgiving to my parents’. We are heading back to the completely platonic friend zone.”

“If you say so,” Amelia chimes, giving me a worried look.

My stomach dips. I have no choice but to place Evan back in the very safe zone of friendship. Step one is to stop fantasizing about him during my vibrator sessions.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Evan

You know you have a major problem when you spend your nights in bed trying to figure out a way to ask your coach if you can date his daughter, even though it goes against every rule book there is. It’s an even bigger problem when you can’t stop picturing said woman in a mini skirt and get yourself off to the memory of her rubbing her fine ass along your cock at a dance club.

Since said night, Patty has kept our interactions to a minimum. I get that when we are on the road things are busy. She stays late at the arenas after games to treat the guys who are injured, but she’s also been brushing me off on nights we are in town. I know she has a family she needs to see and other friends to get together with, but there was a time she made time for me. She opened up to me. We bonded and had a good time together. Now it feels like it’s ending and it's the last thing I want.

Standing by my door, getting ready to head to Tribeca with Skylar, Liam, and Crew for a Thanksgiving dinner at Patty’s parents’ house, is making me nervous as hell. I stare in the mirror, holding a tie up to my neck. I don’t wear ties. They aren’t my thing, but maybe if I wear one I will be taken more seriously, or maybe I can use it to seduce Patty. I blink, that last thought was not okay. I don’t even know if Patty wants me as more than a friend. So what if we shared the best kiss of my life? Just because she enjoyed the kiss doesn’t mean there are feelings involved. And then there was our dirty dancing at the club. So what if we moved in sync? We are both physically fit people with a high level of agility and enough chemistry. Professional dance partners have chemistry, and they aren’t necessarily together. Which means I need to get my shit together and get these stupid-ass ideas of Patty being my girlfriend out of my head and just be the friend Patty needs and wants me to be.

The knock at my door pulls me from my thoughts. I throw the tie on the bench and open the door. Skylar, Liam, and Crew are ready to go.

“Let me grab my coat,” I say. I grab a black peacoat from my closet. I’m already wearing my dress shoes.

“I can’t believe you aren’t going to Cole’s,” Liam states. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you’re coming, but I know you never miss a holiday with them.”

Cole Davis is my buddy from college. He and his wife started having a group of us friends back in college over to their house for every important holiday. Most of us didn’t have families to go to and they became my family.

“I’ll try to make it out there for Christmas, we only have one day off. It would’ve been tight,” I explain. “You all are looking good. Especially you, Crew.” The kid is decked out in the same slacks and dress shirt as Liam.

“Thanks,” he answers with a bright smile. I’ve never thought of having kids. My dad wasn’t the best role model and my family, well, it didn’t exist. My life was always about school, hockey, and friendships, until Evie came along and I wanted more. Clearly, she was the wrong woman to fall for, but in a way my broken heart led to my friendship with Patty. I could never regret that.

“It’s nice you and Patty have become such close friends,” Skylar says.

I’m really starting to dislike the wordfriend.

“Her friendship has been good for me too,” I admit. What else can I say? I want to jump your friend’s bones?

Skylar smiles and I lock up my apartment. We head down to the underground parking lot. Liam drives us to Tribeca where Coach lives.

“Oh shit, I forgot the bottle of scotch I bought for tonight at home,” I mutter when we are almost there.

“Not a big deal, bro, we brought champagne,” Liam says. Now Coach is going to think I am a cheap-ass. I’ve always respected Coach and cared what he thought about me, but since befriending or falling for his daughter I care more. It’s messed up and I can’t stop.

We arrive to the Sanders’ home. Mrs. Sanders is the first to greet us.

“I’ve heard you and my daughter have struck up a friendship.” She grins. She looks like an older version of Patty.

“We have, Mrs. Sanders, Patty is a lovely person,” I reply, just as Patty walks up to our group. She is wearing a navy formfitting dress that hits her knees but shows off her every curve. The front of the dress dips in a scoop, showing off some amazing cleavage. I try so hard not to devour her with my gaze.

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