Steve slid the drinks to me, and I paid, then made my way back to the table.
I stepped up behind Coop just in time to hear him say, “Guys, this is Ford’s best friend, Kaylee. Kaylee, these are my teammates: Butcher, Sexton, Nyström, and Orlov.”
Kaylee’s cheeks flushed crimson as she gave a small wave. “Hi.”
“Nice to meet you, Kaylee.” Butcher smiled. “Ford and Coop have told us a lot about you.”
Kaylee’s jaw dropped. “They have?”
“Be nice.” Coop nudged Butcher playfully. “I promise I just told them we were meeting up with one of Ford’s friends tonight. Butcher just likes to fuck with people.”
“Guilty.” Butcher chuckled and pulled out a chair to sit beside Kaylee.
Sexton took up her other side and asked, “So, Kaylee, are you a hockey fan?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never seen a game until tonight.”
While they continued to chat, I handed her the martini and then whispered in Coop’s ear, “Good game, baby. You looked great out there tonight.”
“Thanks,” he replied, wrapping his arm around my waist. “I’m beginning to think you’re my good luck charm. I’ve been playing better than ever since we got back together.”
“Must be all the good sex you’re having.” I kept my voice low, making sure no one else could hear me.
He chuckled. “That has to be it.”
We sat across from Kaylee, who was laughing at something Butcher had said.
“He’s probably wowing her with his never-ending list of dad jokes,” Coop teased quietly.
“He could probably say anything, and she’d be impressed.” I leaned closer to him. “She was pretty excited when I told her she was meeting some of your teammates.”
“Yeah?”
I nodded. “Well, after she got over the shock and yelled at me for not giving her a heads-up.”
Coop raised a brow. “I thought you were good with women.”
“Iusedto be good with women. It’s been a long time since I tried to impress one.”
He laughed, and then we joined in on the conversation with our friends.
Hours passed until it was just the four of us left.
Butcher leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms above his head. “I should probably get going,” he said with a yawn.
Coop stood from his seat. “Yeah, I should call it a night too. Are you two ready to go?” he asked me and Kaylee.
We both nodded and we headed outside to make the short walk to the arena where Coop’s and Butcher’s vehicles were parked.
“It was nice meeting you, Kaylee,” Butcher said as he climbed into his SUV.
“You too.” Kaylee grinned from ear to ear.
“Later, guys,” he called out and closed his door.
“Did you guys drive here?” Coop asked when we got to his truck.
I shook my head. “Nah, we took a rideshare from the office. Both of our cars are still there.”
