I’m so fucked. It’s decided. I need to sleep with her before my balls turn the deepest shade of blue.
The threesome of frat bros takes off towards Stevie’s table before I have the chance to.
Maddison is long gone by the time I make it back to my seat, and Rio is still batting his eyelashes at the girls at the bar. My beer is empty, and I’m not going to drink another the night before a game, but I can’t get myself to leave while Stevie is here surrounded by five of the shittiest people on the planet.
Trying to be sly but surely failing at it, I keep my selective hearing locked on the table next to mine, peering over every once in a while. Stevie’s two friends are entirely entranced by frat bro Chad and frat bro Brad while leaving her to the biggest asshole of them all.
He’s clearly uninterested and not even trying to be subtle about the fact that he got “stuck” with her as he sits a good two feet away and refuses to make eye contact, even when she’s speaking.
I fucking hate this for her. I’d hate this for anyone.
I also hate the way I can’t stay put.
Standing from my table, I go right over to hers.
“Holy shit, you’re Evan Zanders!” the one who refuses to give Stevie the time of day announces. “Can I get an autograph?”
I pause for a moment, letting him get his hopes up. “No.”
Looking down at the curly-haired girl next to me, I push her locks away from her face, and without thinking, I lift her chin to look at me. My tatted hand surrounds her cheek as I rub my thumb against the flushed and freckled skin. Stevie’s piercing eyes are blazing into me with confusion as her mouth gapes open. Not that I blame her. I don’t even know what I’m doing.
“Ready to go?” I ask, my eyes locked and focused on her blue-green ones.
She doesn’t answer. She just sits there in a surprised daze as the five onlookers share the same shocked expression.
“Thanks for keeping her company,” I tell the group as I lace my hand with Stevie’s, ushering her to stand and follow me out. They might not note the sarcasm in my voice, but I sure as hell do.
She drags behind me, still in a confused trance, so I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her body into mine, essentially guiding her outside. I can feel the group’s eyes on our backs, so I lean down and kiss the top of Stevie’s head to really sell the act.
I’ve never kissed a chick’s head before, and I’m not going to lie, it felt kind of weird.
12
STEVIE
“What…” I stumble, still in a confused stupor. “What are you doing?” I pull my body away from Zanders’ once we make it outside the bar. Part of me liked the weight of his arm on my shoulder, but most of me is beyond confused as to what is going on.
Zanders seems almost as stunned as I am by his little public display as he stands frozen right in front of the busiest bar on the main street in Nashville.
The buzz of live music echoes from every honky-tonk on the street.
“Holy Shit! It’s EZ!” someone yells, pulling out their phone and snapping a picture of the star hockey player.
“Zanders!” More pictures, more flashes.
“Fuck,” Zanders mutters under his breath, dipping his head down, trying to hide a bit.
“Is this your newest?” a random onlooker asks. My head snaps in his direction when I realize he’s referring to me. “She doesn’t look like your usual type.”
My eyes widen at the statement as my body warms, embarrassment flushing me. I can feel the weight of a dozen sets of eyes on me, not to mention the endless flashes of camera phones.
As quickly as possible, I turn in the opposite direction and run, needing to get away from this scene.
“Stevie, wait!” Zanders calls out, chasing me down. And because he’s tall as fuck, and his legs are practically tree trunks of muscle, he catches up to me in no time.
“Stevie,” he says again, gently pulling my arm back to follow him down a dark alley behind the bar. “Come here. Shit. Stop running away from me all the time.”
I yank my arm from his grasp, entirely flustered by this whole situation. “Can you not say my name out loud while all your fans are taking pictures? I don’t want to be plastered online next to all your puck bunnies.”
Realization hits me as I turn away from him, pushing my hair away from my face. “Oh shit. I’m so screwed. I’m so, so, so screwed. I’m going to get fired.”
“What are you talking about?” Zanders asks.
“I can’t be seen with you.” I motion towards his stunning body that’s barely outlined thanks to the small light hanging off the building above his head. “I’m going to get fired.”