Page 67 of My Lucky Charm

I glance at Eloise. The night I got to town was New Year’s Eve, and I went to have a drink in a bar to watch highlights from my old team’s game.

Before we walk out into the parking lot, Eloise stops in front of me. “Do you need anything before we head out?”

“You’re off the clock,” I say, without looking at her.

She gives me a mock salute, which I catch out of the corner of my eye.

She’s right. If I was the type of guy who smiled, she would make me laugh.

Chapter Sixteen

Gray

Iprefer crowds to be on the other side of the plexiglass.

It’s a Sunday night, but there’s a lot going on in the city, so much so that a bunch of hockey players walking into a restaurant doesn’t seem to faze anyone. On our stage, we’re known, but as pro athletes go, we’re not really recognized that much off the ice.

Eloise talks to the host like they’re old friends, and he ushers us to a large room in the back. There are three members of the wait staff ready to take our drink orders, and Eloise greets them by name.

I watch as she makes her way around the room and wonder if she realizes she doesn’t work here. It seems to be her personal mission to make sure every single person in our group has everything they want.

I could say I’m not anticipating her move to my side of the room, but I’d be lying. But before she can get over here, Gump, whose real name is Jimmy, intercepts. He steps in front of her, blocking my view of her face. I don’t know what he says, but I can imagine it’s something that would make me roll my eyes. He made it clear what he thought of Eloise in the weight room yesterday.

The hair on the back of my neck stands up when she throws back her head in a laugh that fills the entire room. I clench my hand into a fist at my side and start to sweat.

She doesn’t belong to me. So why do I want to throttle my own teammate just for talking to her?

I turn around and step toward the bar.

“You good?” Burke asks. “You should be on cloud nine, but you look like you want to kill someone.”

“I’m fine,” I say, not meaning it. “I’m just . . .” I shake my head. “Maybe I shouldn’t have come out.”

He frowns, but Jericho moves into the space beside him, and they start talking about the game, and I zone out, eyes wandering across the room to where Eloise is still standing, still talking to Jimmy.

“What’s his deal?” I nod over at the two of them, interrupting Jericho mid-sentence.

They follow my nod, then exchange a look.

“Gump?” Jericho asks. “He’s mostly harmless. I’m sure she’s used to guys hitting on her.”

“Why? Are you concerned?” Burke leans against the bar.

“No, I just—” I bite back what I’m thinking. “Aren’t there rules about dating employees?”

Burke raises an eyebrow. “You’re bothered.”

“I’m not bothered,” I say. “I just—”

Jericho raises both eyebrows. “You like her.”

“I feel protective is all,” I say, defensively. “Like a sister.” Not at all like a sister. Why am I still talking? I do better when I keep my mouth shut.

“She practically is Burke’s sister, and I don’t see steam coming out of his ears,” Jericho says.

Eloise glances over and waves at us, probably because we’re all looking in her direction. Gump follows her wave, but when he makes eye contact with me, I glare at him. I want to throat punch him just for looking at her.

He lifts his chin in recognition, then the two of them start toward us like a regular couple.

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