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“Aw, babe, thanks.” Tossing the covers back, he gets up and struts over to a chair where he picks up the tech tee he must’ve thrown over the back before his nap.
Tugging it over his head, he says, “There’s always Tuesday’s home game.”
“Don’t worry,” I reply. “I’m definitely coming to that one.”
“Good.” Frowning, he says, “Hey, there’s something I need to tell you about tonight.”
I cross my legs as I ask, “What’s that?”
“It’s nothing bad,” he prefaces. “I mean, it could be.” He switches out his lounge pants for his jeans, shrugging as he zips them up. “But let’s just play it by ear.”
“Good God, just tell me already,” I say with a huff.
He blows out a breath too. “Okay, so some of the guys were talking this morning after our practice about going out tonight after the game.”
“Oh, no, I think I see where this is going.” I shake my head. “Let me guess. Boots is on the list.”
Leveling me with a hard stare, he says, “It’s not just on the list, Ellie. It’s at the fucking top.”
I murmur a sarcastic “Great.” And then I add, “Too bad it’s too late for me to call off.”
He crosses his arms. “You shouldn’t have to. It was only a few guys who said they’d be up for going, and Arden wasn’t even at practice. If they do decide to go, I’ll text you. Oh, and…” He gives me a stern look. “I’ll be coming along with them.”
I roll my eyes. “Nils, I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’ll just make sure I don’t wait on their table or stay in their section. I can switch with one of the other girls if I need to, no problem.”
“I know you got this,” he says. “But if I’m there, I can help keep them away from you. We don’t want anyone seeing you and telling Arden you’re working there, right?”
He has a point, so I concede, “No, definitely not.”
This day was bound to come. Boots is a popular spot. I’ve been lucky that none of the Thunder players have come in before. Maybe some have. If so, it was obviously on a night I wasn’t working.
But I’m working tonight.
And it sounds like their minds are made up to be at the same place I’ll be.
Crap.
Boots is packed and humming. It already feels like I’ve spent my entire shift running around nonstop.
Actually, I have.
But now I have a quick ten-minute break, thank God.
I head to the dark-paneled employee lounge in the back. It’s empty at the moment, a testament to how crazy busy it is tonight.
Relieved to get off my feet for a short while, I plop down on one of two plushy red velvet chairs situated around a low table.
Blowing out a breath, I kick my feet up onto the table and take out my phone.
I had it tucked in the waistband at the back of my skirt with the sound turned off. It was quiet all night, meaning no vibrating. That was, until the past few minutes.
Just as I was wrapping up with my last table before this break, it started buzzing.
Sure enough, I see I have a few texts—all from Nils.
Nils: Game’s over, we won. I got an assist on a goal. That’s the good news. The bad news is some of the guys are still set on going to Boots tonight. I tried to suggest a few other places, but it was a no-go. Looks like I’ll see you soon.
Nils: We’re all just about ready to leave. Just finalizing who all wants to go. Finn is in, so he’ll have our backs too.
