"So, he hasn't made a move?"
"There will be no moves.”
"Whatever. Back to the other two, has there been any hot group action?"
A scandalized gasp leaves my mouth, "No way"
"Don’t act like it's not inevitable. What's the point of being in a throuple if there's no Blake sandwich."
I shake my head at my friend's enthusiasm for the topic. "No to the sandwiches. One-on-one is enough."
"As a married woman, it’s my right to live vicariously through you. You really should suggest a visit to Paris."
I scrunch my forehead in confusion, and Emma laughs. “An Eiffel Tower, you prude. The high fives are strictly optional.”
I roll my eyes at her. "Hey, perv, we only have a couple of minutes left. We should head upstairs now.”
She huffs an annoyed breath but follows when I stand up and make my way out of the cafe and to the elevators. "Don't forget it's Cora's birthday party next weekend. She does miss her Auntie," she tells me.
"I'll be there. I took the day off from work."
"Great, bring the guys with you if you want. Even Cole is invited even though he's not a part of your harem again…yet."
I'll pass along the invite," I say, ignoring the rest of her commentary. Cole and I, as a couple, are over. I don't even have hope right now that we can salvage a friendship. We hug as we get to the floor where the bridal party is staying.
"Tear yourself from all those men once a while to see me, will ya?" she asks, and again I feel guilty. I don't want to be the girl who forgets her friends over a guy or multiple guys.
"I promise I will. I've missed you too, Emma. I didn't realize how much testosterone I've been drowning in."
She cackles as we make our way to start another busy workday.
By the time my night is over, it's after eleven, and I wait for one of the guys to pick me up in front of the hotel. I’m surprised it’s not Talon’s sports car or Foster’s SUV but Cole’s sleek silver Lexus pulling up.
He opens the passenger side door for me from the inside. I slide into the plush seat and place my camera case into the backseat behind me.
“How was your night?” Cole asks as we pull away.
“Not bad, it was a beautiful wedding,” I answer.
“That’s awesome. I’m proud of you,” he tells me.
I try not to melt because I’m waiting for asshole Cole to emerge. “It makes me happy. How did the other guys talk you into picking me up?”
“I was on my way back from a night out with some of the Dragons, and Foster asked if I would mind swinging by here since it’s on the way back to the house.”
I relax in my seat, settling into the friendly conversation, even though I’m slightly shocked by Cole's change. I try to decompress from the long night. I grab my water bottle and take a couple of ibuprofen for my aching body.
“You okay?” Cole looks over and asks.
“Yeah, being on my feet for hours takes its toll. After the accident, I had a lot of pieces that needed to be put together again. I fared better than humpty dumpty. Anyway, how are things with the team going?”
“I think it’s good. It feels right to be on the ice where we went to games as kids.”
“I can’t wait to see you play there wearing an Ice Dragons jersey.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I hope the team offers me a contract, but nothing is guaranteed.”
“Would that be the end of your career?”
