Chapter 9
Austin
“I am proud of you.” Austin nudged Lincoln’s elbow as they walked through the door ofGuac n’ Roll.
“Proud of us losing?”
Austin shook his head and grabbed his friend’s arm to hold him back while the rest of their group made their way to the hostess podium to wait for a table.
“No, Lincoln. I am proud of you for not losing your shit. For not letting that game disintegrate into a bench clearance. For being a true leader.”
Lincoln seemed unconvinced so he kept talking. “You know as well as I do that the game could have turned the other way just as quickly. You played well. Your team played well. Lady Luck was just not on your side this time.”
“Didn’t help that that fucker Lawson was an asshole.” Linc rubbed the back of his neck.
“You are right, it did not help. But I think the post-game re-group will bring the team together and make them stronger for the season. Not only that, but the Raccoons will be feeling confident – perhaps eventooconfident – after that win. You know overconfidence is the kiss of death in our sport.”
At the podium, Claudia approached the group with a sad smile. “I have your table ready.” Not only did she have their table ready, but she had also remembered their drinks order from the previous night and put them on the table for them as well.
She nudged Austin. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“How did you get here and ready for work so quickly?”
She shrugged. “Wore my uniform under my hockey jersey. I’m a pro at this.” She inclined her head to the table. “How are they handling the result?”
It was Austin’s turn to shrug. “They’ll rebound, but I suspect it is going to sting for a while.”
She nodded. “I’ll keep the drinks flowing.”
“Wait. We have too many seats at the table.”
“The de la Peña’s want to sit with you…” She cast a wary glance at the table of morose Snow Pirates. “If that’s okay with you?”
Austin arched a questioning brow at Lincoln whose head popped up at Austin’s declaration of too many chairs.
Claudia held up her hands. “No funny business, no gloating, they just want to hang.”
Linc nodded before leaning across the table to tell the rest of the group.
“You’re fucking kidding me? Like we need it rubbed in our faces. Do they think we won’t cover our bet, or what?” Theo’s indignation carried over the bustle of the restaurant.
“It’s not like that.” Artemis’s voice came from behind Austin. “That was a close game, it could have gone either way.”
Lawson stepped into the restaurant behind Justin and Ares, and Theo and Enzo jumped to their feet. Austin held out a hand in an attempt to warn them to stay calm. Hard to do when Lawson had gotten up into Séb’s business.
“Easy.” Apollo’s calm voice could have cut the tension hanging over the group like a knife. “Laws has something he wants to say to Séb, then he has an elsewhere to be.” Apollo shoved Lawson to the front of the group where he mumbled an apology to Séb.
If looks could kill, Lawson would have died multiple times over. Russell’s arms were folded, and his glower could light wood in a fire pit. Surprisingly, Molly remained quiet, her head tipped down, eyes focused in her lap. He had expected her to climb over the table and strangle him with her bare hands for pulling such bullshit on her beloved netminder.
Nothing. Not even a glare or scowl at him. Was she unwell? Iowa Molly was very strange indeed.
He made a mental note to ask Mackenzie if Molly was okay, assuming they all survived the meal with the Raccoons at least.
“We don’t want any trouble.” Apollo moved around the table to the empty seat next to Enzo. “And we aren’t here to gloat.”
Ares grinned. “We come in peace.” He winked at Sébastian, whose ears turned pink, before rounding the table and sitting next to him.
Artemis took the empty chair facing Apollo’s which left Justin sitting beside Lincoln. Perhaps the captain of the Raccoons could bestow some confidence-inspiring, words of wisdom to the dejected captain of the Snow Pirates.
