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“Okay.” I let out a rush of air. “You look amazing too, by the way. In case I didn’t say that already.”
“Thanks. The minute I tried this dress on, I knew I had to have it.”
I envy Bryce’s effortless confidence and ability to take a compliment. But she’s right—her cream dress looks amazing on her olive skin.
“Want to get a drink?” I suggest, needing a glass of wine to help ease my nerves.
“Sure. Tell me, are you nervous because this is your first big work function or does it have to do with a certain quarterback?”
My head whips in her direction. “I told you, he’s left me alone ever since his speech in the parking lot.” I smile at people I don’t recognize as we walk through the crowd.
She turns to look at me as she pushes past a group of older men chatting in a small circle. “Okay, so it’s just the work thing and worrying about making a good impression then?”
“Mostly.”
She raises her perfectly arched eyebrows.
“A little of both, I guess.”
We reach the bar and stand in the small line to wait our turn.
“If he approaches you tonight, do you want me to save you?” she asks.
I nod. “Absolutely. The less time I’m able to spend around him, the better. Do you want me to do the same if I see you with Miles or Brady?”
She barks out a laugh and waves me off. “Please, I can handle myself.”
I chuckle. I have no doubt she’s right.
Once I have red wine in hand, we turn and face the room. A few players mill around. Some of them appear to have dates, and others are chatting with other players. My heart skips a beat when my eyes land on Lee because yeah, I was right. He’s a whole other level wearing a tuxedo.
His hair is more slicked back than usual, and his face is completely clean-shaven. Normally he has an effortless, unkempt look that suits his personality. But tonight, he’s all sophistication and class, and he pulls it off just as well.
My stomach sours when I see who he’s talking to. I don’t recognize the woman, but she’s beautiful—petite with long dark curls that hang down her back and bright, expressive eyes. The two of them are laughing at something she just said, and the sight of Lee enjoying himself with another woman twists my stomach in knots.
“How about we go check out the seating plan and find our table?” Bryce suggests, obviously seeing what I am and tearing me away.
“Yes. Let’s.” I drag my gaze away from Lee and who I presume is his date and follow Bryce to the far side of the ballroom.
Why didn’t it dawn on me that he’d have a plus-one too? Of course he’d have a date. He has his pick of women and I actually assumed he’d show up alone? I’m an idiot.
But the better question is, why do I care?
When we reach the board, I breathe a sigh of relief that we’ve been seated with a couple of the other athletic trainers. At least I won’t have to struggle to keep my dinner down while watching Lee’s date fawn all over him.
“Well… at least we’re not at his table,” Bryce says.
“What do you mean?” I don’t know why I bother to play dumb. We may not have known each other for a long time, but Bryce always seems to be able to tell what I’m thinking but not saying.
“Please, you were practically eye-stabbing that woman Lee was laughing with.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Eye-stabbing?”
She shrugs. “Sure, like eye-fucking, but the opposite.”
“The opposite of fucking is stabbing?”
She waves me off. “You know what I mean and don’t bother to deny it.”
