AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The waitress appears beside the table. “Can I get you anything while you wait?”
Calista smiles at her. “Hi, Nikki. How was your Christmas?”
“It was nice, thanks. How was yours?”
“Busy, but it was great.”
“She got engaged,” I pipe in.
Calista tips her head toward me and pins me with an annoyed look.
“Oh my God, congratulations. Let me see the ring,” she says.
“Thank you.” Calista holds out her hand.
“Have you set a date yet?” Maeve asks.
“No. It’s so new still. I’m not in a rush.”
“It appears your fiancé is,” I tease, and we laugh.
“What can I get for y’all?” Nikki asks, getting us back on track.
We order appetizers and drinks for the four of us.
“Do we need to order food for the guys?” I ask.
Calista shakes her head. “No, the team has a standard order she’ll put in for them when they arrive.”
“Nice. Special treatment.”
“That’s why they come here after their home games,” Calista says.
“Is it gonna be weird that I’m here?” I ask her.
“No. Why would you ask that?”
“Because I’m not a girlfriend or fiancée to one of the players.”
Rogan mumbles, “yet,” and Maeve elbows him. Those two must be bickering about something, as usual.
“You met a bunch of the team at the Christmas party.”
“True. I don’t want them to be bothered that someone outside their usual circle is here.”
“If it makes you feel better, Rogan and I don’t know any players besides our brother,” Maeve chimes in. “But I know Niall wants us here, and I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.”
I don’t want to think about why that pleases me so much. And I don’t want to think about how I couldn’t take my eyes off Niall for the entirety of the game. His aggressive playing had my thighs clenching—and it wasn’t because they were cold. Seeing this side of him intrigues me, making me want to learn more about him. I can’t say I’m a hockey fan after tonight, but I am a fan of watching Niall play.
CHAPTER 13
LUCY
When the Coyoteswalk into the pub they’re greeted like heroes. Their names are shouted and hands are held up for high fives.
“There’s nothing like the love hockey fans have for the sport and its players,” Maeve says. “I’ve watched Niall play on two different teams now and it’s the same everywhere. They know how to make them feel appreciated. But the reverse can be said too. When they’re not playing well or lose to a team they should beat, they let them know they sucked.”
“I’ve found the Coyote fans to be some of the loudest and most supportive I’ve ever encountered. During games, their cheers are so deafening they fire me up, and I don’t even play hockey,” Rogan says.
