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“Blake, man, you gotta come quick.” Easton’s voice is rushed and breathless. I can barely hear him over the background noise.
“What’s up?” My heart hammers, anticipation twisting in my gut.
“Drew’s plastered and about to throw down with some guys here. We need you.”
My grip on the phone tightens, my knuckles whitening. This is the last thing I need tonight, but Drew’s a wildcard, a brother on the ice. If I don’t step in…
“You still at Dunks?” There’s no question; I’m already sliding out of the booth, eyes fixed on Ryan. He follows suit.
“Okay, we’re on it.” I end the call, slipping the phone back into my pocket. I fish out enough money to cover the meal. As much as I want to stay here, locked in this easy bubble with Amanda, duty calls—a different kind, one that comes with being captain.
“Trouble?” Amanda’s eyebrows knit together, concern tinging her voice.
I nod, my frustration simmering beneath the surface. “Drew…” That’s all I need to say.
“Go. He needs you.” Her encouragement is a balm, even though I hate leaving her side.
“I’ll call you later. Hopefully, this won’t take long.”
“Be careful,” she says, her gaze locking onto mine.
“Always am.” I kiss her quickly before turning on my heel, my mind already shifting gears and plotting moves like it’s overtime and down by a goal. Except, this isn’t a game, and Drew’s high-stakes antics don’t play by regular rules.
“Let’s take care of business,” Ryan says as our feet chew the distance.
“Guess the team bonding session will happen sooner than I thought.”
It doesn’t take long before we’re on our way, but I can’t get Amanda out of my head the entire time.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
AMANDA
“Jesus, you look hot.”Maddy steps back from her latest creation, me, and admires her work. She spent her Friday afternoon applying my makeup and pinning my unruly locks into an elegant twist.
“Thanks to you.” My fingers tremble as I run them over the length of my dress. The classic song Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine plays overhead—a stark contrast to the knot of tension in my gut. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. Perhaps it’s because our ruse ends after tonight, and I don’t want it to.
Maddy grins, but there’s a focused intensity as her gaze roams the length of my gown. “This dress, though.” She gestures at the blush fabric hugging my frame. “It’s like it was made for you.”
That statement brings back memories, hot ones.
“Why are you blushing?”
“I’m not.”But I so am.This dress is tethered to memories of the hungry look in Blake’s eyes when he first saw me wearing it, to the way he held onto my hips while thrusting inside me. I don’t think sex has ever been hotter. “I’m just anxious about tonight.”
“Okay, if you say so.” She laughs. “But why are you so nervous?”
Where do I even begin? The uncertainty of our relationship’s future is at the top of my list, but I settle for a more straightforward answer. “I hope that damn Juliette isn’t there. She keeps showing up like an ill-timed pimple.”
Maddy’s face contorts with something resembling guilt. If guilt had a visible sign, it would flash above her.
“What are you afraid to tell me?”
“The charity event is for the children’s cancer center at Lakeside Hospital, right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I think her dad is affiliated with them or something. There’s a slight chance she’ll be there.” Her voice ticks higher, adding, “But only a small one. Minuscule, really.”
