Page 105 of Hard to Get

“No.” I sigh. “This is coming out all wrong. You’re very businesslike. Competent. Self-possessed.”

“Okay, I’ll take those.”

“Also very independent.”

She nods.

“You value your freedom and your territory.”

“My territory?”

“Yes. Your home.” With pressure on her hip, I steer her away from another couple on the dance floor. “You’ve said it’s your sanctuary. Your private space.”

“True.”

“Anyway, you’re very businesslike and… well, tough on the outside.” Her eyes widen and I lean in, my mouth close to her ear. “But inside you have a big…” I brush a kiss on her cheek, “… mushy…’ Another kiss. “… tender… heart.”

She swallows, eyes drifting closed. “Oh.”

The music changes to some hip-hop tune that I don’t know how to dance to.

“Let’s get a drink.”

With my hand on the small of her back, I guide her back to our table. People are standing around it talking and there are excited greetings for Stella upon seeing her. She tries to introduce me to cousins and aunts and uncles but I totally lose track of who’s who.

“What can I get you to drink?” I ask in her ear.

“A glass of wine would be wonderful. White wine.”

“Sure.”

I thread my way through tables to the bar. There’s a line-up but that’s okay because I need a few minutes to get my head on straight.

I’m catching feelings for Stella. Big feelings. I have to admit it, even to myself. But I don’t know what to do with that. Alanna’s advice was to bail. But I can’t. I have to at least talk to Stella about it. Because as much as I’m catching feelings, I think she is too.

“Hey, you’re Jayden Wood.” A guy in front of me recognizes me.

“I am.” I pull up a smile.

“Cool. Good to meet you. Listen, what’s going on between Bishop and Burzynski?”

I stare at him blankly. “What do you mean?”

“There’s a bunch of rumours that they’re having some kind of feud and that’s why the team is playing so bad. Is it a woman?”

Rumours? What? Now the whole world is talking about this? Jesus Harold Christ.

“No.” I can’t stop my scowl. “There’s no woman. There’s no feud.”

Except there is.

Is it over a woman? Fuck’s sake.

“Huh,” the guy says. “Somebody told me they heard that Bishop slept with Burzynski’s girlfriend.”

I shake my head. Luckily, the guy is next to be served and he steps up to the bar. Then he turns. “What can I getcha?”

It’s an open bar. But hey, that’s nice. “A white wine and a Crown Royal.”