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“So, Ali, how’s motherhood?” Kassie asked, and focused on Alison while there was a lull on the ice.
“I love it! Kaleb is the best baby. I kind of feel bad being away from him right now. But he’s with your mom, and he just adores her.”
“So, he’s not keeping you up nights anymore?”
“No, no. The other O’Conner is who keeps me up at night.” Alison winked at her, but Kassie didn’t find it as cute as Ali intended.
“Ew.” Kassie shook her head, somewhat grossed out.
“Oh, stop. Grow up, silly girl. Like you don’t have sex, too.”
“I don’t talk about it with my brother though!” Having Ali talk to her about sex with Kaden was not high on her list.
“All right. I’ll stop. What about you? Anyone special in your life yet?”
Practice started back up. It appeared to be a scrimmage. Kassie kept her attention on the ice as she spoke, not really wanting to get into this topic. A heavy sigh led into her words. “Nope. No one right now.”
“Maybe I can help.”
“Nah. I mean… I’m just being overly picky at the moment. You know, I was so busy with school, and now with work. I wasn’t really looking. It’s next on my to-do list. Really,” Kassie lied. It was on her to-do list, just not next, or fifth, or even tenth. It was at the very bottom, like when she had extra time and felt like dealing with looking for a needle in a haystack.
She was a romantic, like Romeo and Juliet romantic. Star-crossed lovers and stuff like that. She wanted a love of a lifetime, not just some drunk at the bar, slobbering all over her. To find a guy with substance would take time and effort. Or as her heart hoped, he would magically find her. Maybe they’d link glances from across a crowded room. Maybe it would be love at first sight. But she wanted the magic and romance. And magic and romance weren’t supposed to be this difficult.
“What is going on in that brain of yours?” Alison tilted her head as she asked.
“Nothing.” Kassie knew there was no such thing as magical romances, but it didn’t keep her from dreaming. Maybe her high expectations were why she hadn’t found her perfect man yet.
***
CHAPTER THREE
Luc
Luc mingled around Kaden’s loft. It was filled with guys from the team, their wives and girlfriends, and some folks he didn’t recognize. Kaden liked throwing parties. Normally Luc would bring a date, mingle a little, drink too much, and leave early. He never saw those girls twice and couldn’t remember any of their names. And honestly, he was a little bored with that.
Worry ate at his gut. Am I getting older and wiser, or am I becoming boring? Because no way in hell was he going to grow boring. Had to be getting wiser. That was the only choice he’d accept.
Torin nudged Luc. “Marcella, no lady on your arm tonight? That’s not like you.”
That wasn’t entirely accurate. He didn’t often have a girl on his arm; he just made it look like he did in public. He had a reputation, one that said he was a ladies’ man. But he didn’t bother to ask anyone to accompany him tonight. Luc hadn’t realized it was a “party.” The way he’d understood it was that it was just going to be the guys hanging out.
“Nah, not tonight.”
Hoping this conversation with Torin would be over, Luc took a sip of his beer and glanced around the room. Kaden’s mom was there. She’d spent most of the night talking with a brunette. He hadn’t been able to see the young woman’s face yet. Her hair was dark and long, and covered her face whenever she didn’t have her back to him. Which was not entirely a bad angle.
He didn’t know why he kept staring at her; maybe it was because he was bored and was trying to entertain himself. Maybe he just needed another beer. Grabbing another from a cooler in the living room, he popped it open and took a swig.
“Luc, you better take it easy on the beers there,” Kaden called, startling him. “Try some of the snacks Ali made. They’re delicious.”
He wasn’t wrong. Luc should probably exchange this beer for a water; he was driving home. He sure as hell didn’t want to wreck his Porsche. And he was well aware that wasn’t the worst that could happen if he didn’t slow down on the beers. Knowing better, he set the beer down on the closest table and grabbed a water.
“Luc! Look, Tri, it’s the Puck-Star himself.” Sam smirked and called him by the nickname Luc was trying to make a thing.
“Hey, Rock-Star,” Trina cooed.
Sam’s wife was very pregnant with their second child. But that didn’t keep her from team functions, even parties. And for some reason, she had also taken to calling him Rock-Star, playing on his taste in music.
“Maybe you could help Kaden out with his music choices tonight. I’m not hearing any rap or rock ’n’ roll.” Trina rolled her eyes.
