Page 11 of Game Misconduct

“Don’t threaten us like that.” Mikey shivered.

“She only uses her power for good,” Dani reassured me before glaring at Mikey. “If you didn’t get yourself into trouble, you wouldn’t have to fear her.”

“I was having a bad time,” he grunted. I wanted to know what he was talking about, but stayed quiet.

“So?” Viv watched me curiously. “Are they?”

I nodded, “Yeah, they’ve been great. Very welcoming.”

Lance snorted. “Good answer.”

“Hey,” she snapped at him. “Be kind, or the party is canceled.”

He narrowed his eyes at her, but she didn’t back down. “Fine.”

Party? I glanced at Mitch, and he shrugged. So, he wasn’t invited either.

“Oh, Dory! You and Parker are invited to our place on Friday for a dinner party,” Jess grinned.

“Why am I just hearing about this?” Mitch turned his eyes on Lance.

“Calm down. It’s not a big deal. I was going to mention it tomorrow.” Lance waved him off.

“Yeah, we’re trying to keep it quiet. It’s the first time we’re hosting, and we wanted to keep it pretty small,” Mikey added.

“Why?” Jake asked.

“It’s always Chloe or Emma or Madi that host, and we rarely get invited. I get it, we’re the newer guys, younger, and they’ve all gotten married and started having babies. I don’t think they mean to do it, but they have their group, and I get that, but I don’t want to sit on the sidelines forever,” Lance admitted. “This is like a practice to see how things go, and eventually we can invite more and more people.”

This was key information for me. There was a divide on the team, at least off the ice. The vets versus the rookies, or at least the younger guys. Where did that leave me if Lance had been on the team for a few years? Was I lucky to even be here, eating pizza with these guys? Mitch would have to catch me up later.

“Whoa, I wasn’t aware that was the plan,” Viv said glancing from Jess to Lance.

“It won’t always be at your place,” he cajoled, but she didn’t look like she believed him behind her narrowed eyes.

“Then where?” she challenged.

He looked around the table, pausing on Dani and Jake. “Maybe?”

“Nope,” Dani cut him off. “You’ve seen our layout. It’s perfect for two or three couples, but anything more, and it’s way too cramped.”

“Jason?” Lance caught him with a slight raise to his mouth.

His eyes darted around. “What?”

“Has Taylor ever mentioned wanting to host a dinner party?” he asked.

Jason shook his head. “She pretty much works and plans our wedding. I don’t think she has the mental capacity for anything else right now.”

Lance shrugged. “Then I guess this plan is destined to fail. We’ll remain the outcasts forever.”

Jess rolled her eyes. “It’s not a popularity contest. Some of the guys are just at different places in their lives. That’s fine.”

Mikey and Lance shared a look.

“What is it?” Dani sighed. “Do you feel like that? An outsider?” She directed the question to Jason.

He shrugged. “I guess. It wasn’t really until Taylor came back in the picture that any of the veterans or the Pride cared about me.”