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“That sounds like a threat,” James says, eyeing her with mock suspicion.

“It’s encouragement,” Kira chimes in, stepping closer, a new drink in hand and a glint in her eyes. “I fully support Acers karaoke if shirts start coming off.”

Mikey, arriving just in time, coughs into his drink. “You had me at ‘shirts.’”

Kira turns to him. “And you’re the cute one, right?”

Mikey nods solemnly. “It’s a burden, but I carry it with grace.”

Ethan laughs and raises his bottle in salute. “Don’t encourage them, Kira. They’ll never leave.”

“I haven’t decided if that’s a good or bad thing yet,” she replies, giving Ethan a once-over.

James grins. “If it helps, we clean up well and bring our own snacks.”

“You also bring chaos,” Mandy adds, arching a brow.

“You love it,” I say, bumping her shoulder gently.

“Undecided,” she says, but she’s smiling.

Lexi nudges Priya. “I feel like we just stepped into a live version of a sports rom-com.”

Kira tosses her hair and points to the group. “And I’m clearly the scene-stealing best friend.”

“Careful,” Mandy says, sipping her drink. “You’re going to give them ideas.”

James winks. “Too late. I’m already working on our team name.”

Kira raises an eyebrow at Mikey. “So, cute one… do you have an actual name or should I just keep calling you that all night?”

Mikey grins. “Depends. If I tell you, will you still flirt with me?”

“No promises,” she says, sipping her drink. “I like a little mystery.”

“Mikey,” he says, leaning closer like it’s a secret. “But I answer to ‘cute one’ if you say it the right way.”

Ethan groans. “You’re giving her material for days.”

“Oh, please,” Kira says. “I’ve been waiting for a lineup like this since I moved in. Three hockey players, one of which is my neighbor, walk into my living room. It’s practically a fantasy.”

Priya laughs. “You should sell tickets.”

James points at Ethan. “This one’s the show-off. Catches shirts, hearts, and penalties.”

Ethan shrugs. “Not wrong.”

Kira turns to Mandy. “You weren’t going to tell me the view was this good?”

Mandy deadpans. “I was trying to protect you. Clearly, I failed.”

I watch the exchange with a smirk, heart thudding in that strange, restless way it does before something fun, or dangerous happens.

Yeah, this night is just getting started.

Kira turns that mischievous grin toward me now. “And what about you, Nate? You always this quiet when you're not on the ice, or are you just playing the broody, mysterious type tonight?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Depends. Is it working?”