Page 90 of Player Problems

Got it. I knew that I knew it.

“Not for me?” I ask, pushing my bottom lip out in a pout and she doesn’t even roll her eyes.

“No,” she deadpans, making all of our friends laugh.

Isla slides in next to Colby. “I’m so glad you’re here! It gets to be a lot being the only girl around all the guys, especially when Torryn is working.”

The smile she gives to Isla is shy, but it’s there. Wilder beams at the both of them like a proud mom. What a weird dynamic.

We all grab our tequila and Tate makes the toast, “To the Wolves!”

Everyone cheers as we all throw back our shots. It’s not nearly as good as when I was able to follow it with Torryn. As I turn to her, I realize she didn’t take one. When I point this out to her, she points to the bar. “I’m working?”

I lean over the bar. “Does that mean I get a private celebration later?”

Her lips press against my ear as she leans in to meet me. “I’ll even wear my new jersey for you.”

I snort. “Trouble.”

She smirks and supplies more shots with rounds of beer in between. Every couple of drinks she also forces Isla, Colby, and me to drink water. When I ask why she isn’t forcing everyone she asks if she looks like their mother. It makes me laugh, but it also makes me feel nice that I’m on her short list for people she takes care of. That she looks out for.

The bar section gets rowdier and rowdier. With more people in orange and gray showing up, and a younger crowd trickling in. Someone must have told people we were here tonight.

The whole crew is pretty buzzed. Isla and Colby are giggling and braiding each other’s hair as Wilder watches them with a lovesick expression on his face. Even the guys have all lightened up, talking about the plays where we killed it and celebrating an amazing start to the season. We all feel as if we’re on top of cloud nine. Even Torryn seems to indulge in some of our revelry. Allowing us to monopolize her section of the bar the way we are. The night must have been going a little too well for me, because of course it just had to come crashing down around me.

Tate is the first one to tense and shift in front of me, but Beau and James are quick to follow suit. Their attitudes droppinginto glacier level cold as they glare at someone I can’t see. My stomach turns, and suddenly I wish I hadn’t drank as much as I did.

Shame makes the hair on my arms stand on end, and for the first time all night, I feel the urge to puke.

Why the fuck is Clarissa here?

thirty

MAYBE WE SHOULD

The sudden shift in the atmosphere is impossible to miss.

All of the hockey guys begin to form a tight knit circle around Baylor and my fingers instinctively wrap around Betty as I sense trouble.

Alysha has been getting a kick out of the different crowd we’re drawing in because of their presence, but I should have been prepared for the fallout that would be likely to come with it. It was only a matter of time before shit hit the fan. It’s not like it isn’t anything I’m not used to. But Baylor being seemingly at the middle of whatever is brewing has me gripping Betty just a little tighter than usual.

I grab her out of her spot from below the bar and walk back over to them. Not a single one of them stayed sober, save for maybe Xander. He only took the one shot as far as I’m aware. But I have no clue how these idiots were planning on getting home. They can’t all fit in Baylor’s truck. Not legally anyway.

Baylor is frozen in place, staring somewhere in the crowd. An expression on his face that I really hate. With my free hand, I place it on his arm, drawing his attention to me. I hate the lost and confused look I find. Nothing like the usual playful and carefree Baylor I’ve gotten to know.

I hate it.

I hate whoever made him look that way even more.

Nothing in his expression softens or eases, even as he grabs my hand with his and holds it tightly. His neediness, the caginess, it reminds me of the day he bumped into me in the library. Whatever it is, I know it’s something that hurts him. That makes him run and hide.

“I’ve got you, Baylor,” I promise, leaning into him and pressing a kiss to his cheek like I did earlier.

“Yeah?” The broken edge to that single word has me ready to raze down the whole bar if that’s what he needs.

“Yeah.” I nod, pressing another kiss to his temple and I can smell the liquor on his breath.

Beau hands me his credit card before Baylor says anything else. “Put everyone’s drinks on this. We’re gonna head out.” He seems far more sober than he did only a moment ago, so I don’t ask any questions, and do as he says.

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