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Her eyes were bothering her again, and she could only hope she didn’t get another bout of double vision, especially since she had to drive home. It had happened once last week when she’d been up late searching for freelance writing jobs online. She’d had a migraine earlier that day, so it had probably just been from that, but it had freaked her out.
Penn brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s nice for everyone to get together like this before the series starts, though. It allows the guys to blow off some steam and have a little fun. It’s going to be such an epic battle when it gets underway.”
“Yeah, you’ve got that right,” Holly agreed.
The Kingsnakes were going up against San Jose in the Western Conference Finals. Whoever came out on top would move on and play the winner of the Eastern Conference for the Cup.
“It’s so funny to see some of these guys with their playoff beards,” Penn told her. “I can’t get used to seeing Eli with a beard. Though I have to admit, he looks pretty sexy.”
Holly snorted. “I’m sure he’d agree with you.”
“Probably. Hey, Hol?” Penn hopped up on the bar stool next to her. “I saw you go upstairs with Eli earlier. What happened? And don’t say nothing because I know you too well for that. Spill the details.”
“The same thing that always happens when I’m around Eli,” she told her. “I get annoyed, then totally pissed off. The regular one-two punch.”
Penn arched one perfectly groomed blonde eyebrow. “Uh-huh. What part of ‘spill the details’ did you not understand?”
Holly finished her martini and signaled for Jake, the bartender, to give her a refill.
“Penny, this isn’t something I can tell you in five minutes.”
“Why not?”
Holly glanced around the crowded room. Brandon had rented out Callahan’s, which was part of the Palisades Hotel and Casino, for Hannah’s graduation party tonight.
The bar was a regular hangout for the hockey players after games, but right now, it was packed with too many people she didn’t know, even if they were Hannah and Brandon’s friends and family.
“Because I don’t want strangers knowing my business.”
“We can go back upstairs,” Penn offered. “No one’s supposed to be up there, but I don’t think Jake will mind. I’ll just use the chain on the bottom of the stairs to block it off.”
“The chain didn’t stop me,” Holly pointed out.
“Not much ever does, Ms. Wilkes,” Penn said knowingly.
Jake set a fresh martini down in front of Holly, and she shot him a grateful look. “Thanks. Can I run a tab?”
“Don’t worry about it,” the older man said, waving a hand. “The alcohol tab has been taken care of by the hosts.”
Holly flashed him a grin. “Then don’t be surprised if I’m back for another sooner rather than later.”
“Jake, do you mind if we go upstairs?” Penn asked. “We need to escape the noise for a bit.”
“Not at all,” he said, wiping down the long bar. “Just fasten the chain behind you if you don’t mind. The less people that go up there, the easier cleanup will be for my staff later.”
“Will do.” Penn gave him a brilliant smile. She gestured toward the stairs as she hopped off the bar stool. “After you, Hol.”
“So pushy,” Holly muttered, grabbing her glass. “You were never like this until you met your boyfriend. I’m blaming this all on Keller.”
“Nah, it’s not West’s fault. I learned it from my best friend,” Penn gave her a pointed look. “Let’s go.”
Once they were upstairs and away from the noise, Holly took a seat in one of the spacious booths, and Penn slid in across from her.
“Okay,” Penn said, settling back. “Details.”
Holly glanced at her friend, then took another healthy sip of the martini. “Eli got Lyla to remove the photos of Brandon and Hannah from the blog.”
“The ones from our vacation to Mexico?” Penn asked, surprised. “But that’s a good thing, right? They were... intimate. I know Hannah went through some tough times because of those photos.”
