“I didn’t think that was a bad thing!” I defend myself in a whisper. When she rolls her eyes, I narrow mine. “Why are you here, anyway? Are you two dating or something?”
“Jesus,” Lowesy mutters, running a hand over his face. I should probably just shut up.
Both Boston and Lemmy slowly turn to glare at me, faces ice cold and lethal. Again, I’m proving my point. Look at them both murdering me with their eyes. They would be perfect forone another, and they would be one of the best looking couples on planet earth.
“Maybe you should focus on yourself and your multiple layers of related charges,” Lemmy bites out. “I needed a night out after dealing with your shit, and I was asked to be here by the organization. Boston and I are friends, so we’re seated together. Is that okay with you, Carter? Do I have your permission to sit here?”
“Yeah, do you approve?” Boston asks, leaning forward on his elbow.
“You two are a bit tense,” I point out, letting out a low whistle. “I know a good way to blow off steam if you haven’t ventured down that road together yet.”
“Forker,” Declan practically begs from the other end of the table.
My phone buzzes on the table, and the only reason that I concede is because I see Red’s name on the screen. I open up the text messages just as Penny sits back down, immediately greeting Lemmy and jumping into the conversation with her. Sweets to the rescue, as always. I’m pretty certain Lemmy was about to murder me.
Arden
Meet me near the bathrooms in five.
I raise my brows. Oh, it’sthatkind of night?
“So, is there any information on who leaked that Irina shit to the podcast?” Boston asks Lemmy quietly.
I should be paying attention, but all I’m thinking about is red hair and cherry lips.
“I’m getting there,” Lemmy responds, leaning forward in her seat. “What I have managed to deduce is that itwasn’tIrina.”
Boston grumbles, running his hand over his face.
I watch the clock carefully, pretending to listen to the surrounding chatter. At four minutes, I jump from my seat, tell them I have to take a leak, and rush into the hallway. I find her almost instantly, which surprises me, since she’s much further from the bathrooms than she should be if we’re doing this. She’s also talking to a dude.
Focus on anything but the way the pisses you off, Carter.
She is looking impeccable in that black satin dress, it will be my pleasure to tear it off her before dinner.
I slow as I approach her and her glass of wine by the staircase. She’s nodding, a sweet smile on her face, talking to a man who towers over her. Her eyes glide to mine over his shoulder and I force my expression to look approachable rather than territorial, because I’m already annoyed.
Arden smiles wider, all pretty like she always is, gesturing to me.
“Ah, there he is! This is who I wanted you to meet.”
I stride forward just as the man turns, and I immediately come to a complete and total halt. I do it so fast that I nearly stumble forward into his chest. He’s an older gentleman with a bald head and a red goatee, andI know that face. Dark eyes, a scar under the left one, a bent nose from one too many breaks.
My heart gets lodged in my throat.
Gene. Fucking. Saltzman.
He cracks a smile, nodding at me like the beautiful bastard I know him to be. “Mr. Forkerro. Of course, I already knowallabout you, even before Arden talked my ear off about how great you are.”
I open my mouth, stammer a bit, and then clamp it shut. Oh god, my heart is racing in my chest so loud that I can hear it. Is it fucking lame if I pass out in front of my idol? Yeah, it is, Fork. Get it together.
I had no idea he was here.
Arden is grinning ear-to-ear, but she nods at me with a stern look in her eye, as if begging me not to mess up my chance.
“Holy shit,” is what I manage to choke out. Great. Cool.
Gene’s smile widens. “You know, I tell my kid all the time that he’s my son, but you’re the younger version of me. You play hard, you play smart, and you are bloodthirsty on that ice. You’re incredible to watch, Forkerro.”
