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“No,” I cut in. I don’t need to hear anymore.
But of course, Pippa continues. “They want to interview you and—”
“Fuck, no. Tell them I’m not interested. I’m out.”
Pippa gapes while Seth chuckles beside me. “You didn’t even let me finish.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I stare at her deadpan until she huffs. “Pippa, we just won the cup. I’m all interviewed out. I’ve given you everything I can.”
“And here I was thinking you’d changed,” she grumbles, making Seth laugh even harder.
“You just caught him on a championship high,” he says, elbowing me in the side. “Before that he was still his asshole self.”
“Not true.” Pippa wags her finger. “He did a few more things than he used to.”
Now it’s my turn to chuckle. “I did. On Willow’s insistence. She said I had to go easy on you every once in a while. But if she’d asked me to agree to everything, I probably would have—lucky for me she didn’t.”
“Wow, you really are pussy-whipped,” Seth says with another laugh until Amber shoots him a glare.
“Actually, I’m Willow whipped,” I say and own it proudly. “Speaking of, where did she disappear to?”
Pippa points in the direction of the door and my gaze follows. “Tate just arrived with his new girlfriend,” she informs me. “Willow rushed off to meet them.”
Of course she did. She and Tate have grown closer since we became friends again, and it’s nice to have him in our lives.
As if we’ve summoned them, they walk over to join us, with Tate holding his hand out for a shake. “Congratulations, my man. What a year to bow out.”
“It was time. What can I say?”
Tate smiles before turning to the young woman beside him. “This is Emily,” he says with a proud grin, curling her under his arm.
“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.” Not a lie. Tate won’t shut up about the feisty young girl he met at a football game of all places. We don’t talk about the fact that he never came to any of my games.
Willow curls herself into me as she tucks her elegantly styled hair behind her ear, smiling to a brunette beside her. “And this is her sister, Cory.”
Cory steps forward, lifting her hand for me to shake. “Sister-in-law, but close enough. It’s great to meet you; my husband’s a huge fan.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Tell your husband I said thanks.”
“Oh, I’ll be telling Nateeverythingabout this encounter. I didn’t know we were coming here. Emily told me it was a retirement party, so naturally I pictured old people.” She grimaces and I laugh.
“There are some old people here. Let me introduce you to Seth.” I point over my shoulder, right as Seth shoves me in the back.
“You’re retired now, so I can finally kick your ass.”
“True, but you still need me. I’ve got people lining up for endorsements.”
Seth groans. “I hate when you’re right. How long until I’m done with you?”
“Never and you love it.”
As soon as the formalities are over, and I’ve done the appropriate amount of mingling, I seek out Willow, ready to take her home.
She’s once again talking with Tate and his girl, keeping her friends close. Despite being a hockey girlfriend for almost three years, and having a successful and extremely popular jewelry business, she still prefers to stay out of the spotlight and stick with what she knows. Or in this case, who she knows.
I watch her as I walk her way, taking in her easy smile and the overall lightness she projects. The warmth. The happiness. Like petals in the wind, my Buttercup is free. And there’s no better feeling than knowing that.
“I’m at the end of my rope; are you ready to blow this joint?” I whisper, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind.
