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“Lead the way.” Harper looked ready to explode right out of her skin.
“Can you at least try to act cool?”
“Please. I am quite capable of containing myself.” She smoothed her shoulder-length blonde hair out of her face and swiped her tongue over her teeth. “I look okay, right?”
My brow lifted. “Seriously?”
“What? I want to make a good impression.”
“Whatever,” I murmured. “Let’s get this over with.”
We made our way through the house. I discarded my bag on one of the chairs before grabbing us both a drink. Harper opted for a beer, but I stuck with water. Although, maybe a drink would distract me enough to get through the next hour or so. I didn’t want to have dinner with the guys, let alone watch Harper have dinner with them.
Just as I expected, the second we reached them, she stole the spotlight. Austin was on her in a second, introducing her to Connor and Noah.
Because, of course, Noah was here. So were Mason and Leon, who I’d learned was one of the team’s rookies. But they seemed less interested in my new friend and more interested in the ruck of sausages sizzling away on the grill.
“How was your day, little Hart?” Connor joined me as I hovered on the periphery, watching Harper, Noah, and my brother debate the Lakers’ chances of making it to the Frozen Four again.
She was one of them, I realized. Just a female version. They laughed and chatted like old friends. But Harper didn’t look at Noah like they were friends. She looked at him like he was a prize to be won. A challenge to be conquered.
Jealousy snaked through me. Did he like her? Blonde, slim, and drop-dead gorgeous, Harper was exactly his type. Not to mention the fact she was a hockey fan and had a direct link to the team.
She’d walked into a yard full of Lakers and acted like she belonged there.
I could never do that.
“Rory, get over here,” Austin called, one-handedly manning the grill while hanging on Harper’s every word.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“How was your day?”
“It was fine.”
“Don’t be shy, Rory,” Harper smirked. “Tell him about your big news.”
“W-what?”
Everyone stared at me, and I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.
“Yeah, shortcake, why don’t you tell us all your big news,” Noah’s eyes twinkled with interest.
“It was nothing.”
“Oh, come on,” he teased, “don’t be shy.”
“Aurora has a date. Well, she will when we track the coffee shop cutie down and tell him she would love to go out with him.” Harper clapped her hands like a proud parent, and my insides withered.
God, she was embarrassing.
“Harper,” I hissed, turning red all over. “It’s not… it wasn’t…”
I peeked over at Noah, but his expression remained indifferent. But then, why would he care if I went on a date? He was still hooking up with girls.
“Big whoop,” Mase mumbled. “Can we eat now?”
“You don’t have to be so rude,” Harper snapped at him.
