I take a couple of seconds to collect my thoughts before I look up and into her eyes.
“I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
“How about at the beginning?”
64
CASEY
The alcohol flows just a little too easily. The buzz it gives is also just a little too addicting.
We started the night in The Fractured Compass. The Vipers refuse point-blank to go anywhere else. But seeing as they’re all headed out of town tomorrow, all but two of them disappeared early, leaving us to party with the Bandits.
Fueled by vodka and the need to put everything about that game behind me, I allowed Parker to take my hand and drag me around after the team.
We’re now in the VIP section of Club 52. The beat of the music thumps through the floor beneath me, vibrating through my bones as we dance.
My skin tingles with the attention of those around us, but I don’t open my eyes to look.
I’m not interested in anyone here tonight.
The only man I want is currently at home, probably tucked up in his bed, fast asleep.
The strength it took to look unfazed by him this evening was almost too much.
But after last weekend’s game, where I ended up freaking out in the bathrooms, I knew I needed to pull my mask on.
I can’t keep falling apart whenever I see him. At least, I can’t do it on the outside.
Whether we like it or not, our lives are entwined and will be for some time.
I don’t have any intention of changing my job. Either of them. And something tells me Kodie and Sutton won’t be going anywhere anytime soon either.
That means I’m going to have to find a way to be able to look at him and not feel like someone is shredding pieces of my heart, strip by strip.
“I needed this,” Parker shouts over the music.
Cracking an eye open, I watch Parker as she moves to the beat. Her face is flushed, a few locks of dark hair sticking to her cheeks. She’s taken her jersey off and now has it tied around her waist, leaving her in what is basically a bralette. And one glance around lets me know that I’m not the only one who’s noticed.
She has the eyes of almost every man in the room on her.
I search the faces, looking for a familiar one who isn’t going to be impressed with almost every single member of his team checking out his sister. But when I find Everett at the bar, he’s more than a little distracted by two women.
I’m not sure why I’m surprised. Everett takes advantage of his position as a professional hockey player, leaving broken hearts in every city. LA is no different.
A breath gets caught in my throat when someone brushes behind me. I take a step forward to get out of their way, but I barely move before a large pair of hands grips my hips, dragging me back.
My back presses against a hot, hard chest before the man standing behind me begins moving his hips in time with the music.
“Relax,” he murmurs in my ear. “We’re all here for a good time.”
As he says the words, another guy steps up behind Parker.
I recognize him.
Anderson Westly, starting forward for the Bandits.
Once again, my eyes flick to Everett. It might have been a while since Parker was regularly around his teammates, but he’stoo busy laughing at whatever the woman pressed against his left side is saying.
