“Interesting,” Ryan notes.
“Rio? Oh, he’s harmless. He’s practically a golden retriever.”
“I meant your friend. Indiana? The one who was crying to Celine Dion at three AM.”
A large hand slyly grazes my lower back, fingertips digging into my hip, but I don’t stiffen from the touch.
“You following me?” Zanders bends down, lips ghosting my ear.
Turning to face me, his hazel eyes rake down my frame, taking in every inch before he pulls his bottom lip between his teeth.
I stare right back at him, wishing I could touch him. Kiss him. Hold his hand. Just about anything, really, but all I can do is look. So, I fucking look.
A white linen shirt has the privilege of gracing his upper half, the top few buttons undone, exposing his deep skin and gold chain. His pants are a shade of olive, the lightest pair I’ve ever seen him wear, but they look expensive as hell, nonetheless. This is different, seeing him in something other than his typically all-black structured outfits.
“Okay, just because you two are dating,” Ryan whispers for only the three of us to hear. “Doesn’t mean I need y’all to eye-fuck in front of me.”
“Can’t help it,” Zanders says without hesitation, his attention locked on me. “She’s stunning, and last night she did this thing with her—”
I quickly slap a palm over his mouth before regretfully pulling my hand back. My eyes dart around the room, but it doesn’t seem like anyone saw me touch him so casually.
Ryan’s eyes screw shut, attempting to unhear what Zanders started to say. “She’s still my fucking sister, man. And if this is how you two act while you’re trying to keep it a secret, I don’t even want to know what it’s going to be like when you’re finally public.”
That thought hasn’t crossed my mind in a while, mostly because I haven’t allowed it to. It gets my hopes up, and at the moment, that dream is too far off to wish for now. Zanders needs to get re-signed. And the only way that’s going to happen is for him to maintain his hockey playboy image. At least, that’s what his agent believes.
I can only hope that once the papers are signed, he will no longer care about keeping up appearances, and hopefully, by then, I’ll have thought about finding another job.
Zanders looks down at my hands. “Can I get you a drink?”
“I’m not drinking.”
“Why not?”
“Well, because you’re not drinking, and I’m hoping you’ll take advantage of me later, but I know you won’t if you’re sober and I’m not.”
His lips begin to lift mischievously, dirty words on the tip of his tongue, but Ryan cuts in before Zanders has the chance to speak up.
“Still here and still your brother.”
“I’m going to go pretend like I don’t know what you taste like while I hang with Maddison until he decides to head back to his hotel room.”
“Still here,” Ryan deadpans.
Zanders’ hazel eyes get all soft and sweet. “You’re beautiful, Vee.” He turns to my brother, knocking fists. “Good to see you, man.”
My boyfriend goes off to hang with his friend, and I can’t help but watch his backside walk away from me. Perfect hockey ass.
“Giddy as fuck,” Ryan laughs, swinging an arm over my shoulders.
“You should try it sometime.”
“Nah. I’m good.”
“And ‘good to see you, man’？ What the hell was that bromance?”
“We share the same arena and locker room. We see each other around. Don’t make a thing out of it.”
“Are you guys…friends?” My eyes are wide, a smile overtaking my face.
“Don’t be weird about it.”
“Indy, please love me,” Rio whines, his arm hanging on her.
“Rio. No,” she laughs, five margaritas in. “You’re still a baby. I would destroy your life. I would destroy anyone’s life right now.”
“You can destroy my life. I’d be perfectly okay with that.”
“Your boy is a little desperate tonight,” I whisper to Zanders as we stand at a table opposite Indy, Rio, and my brother.
“Every night,” Zanders sighs, leaning his shoulder into mine. “I tried to teach him, but he’s learned nothing.”
“I think his eagerness is part of his charm.” My entire upper arm presses into Zanders’， the only form of touching we can publicly do with too many eyes around us.