Page 75 of Shots Fired

“You’re beginning to sound like a relationship guy. Abbie really does have you wrapped around her little finger, huh?” He winks, smirking.

Another icy sensation creeps through me as I opt to ignore his comment and head for my own bench, ripping my jersey overhead before starting on my pads.

I need to see her.

I need to know she’s okay.

The instant we step into Lloyd’s, my eyes are roving the space for honey-colored hair and a bright smile I can’t get enough of.

I ignore my teammates as I walk alongside them and through the ropes cordoning off the private area, and my eyes finallyland on the main reason I came out tonight. She’s sitting at her usual place at the bar, wearing a peach bodycon dress that rides high on her smooth thighs, her long hair resting in classic waves against her back, hovering just above her ass.

My mouth runs dry as she picks up her water glass and takes a sip, giggling over something with Jenna as she waves her arm around expressively. I love how she talks with her entire body.

“I’m getting the drinks in. Beer, I assume?” Sawyer steps in front of me, snapping his fingers to garner my attention.

“Nah, I’m good,” I reply, eyes never leaving Darcy.

Inconspicuously, he turns to identify what’s got me so distracted, although he doesn’t need to. He should know by now.

“Jesus fucking Christ, tell me you aren’t going back there with her.”

I focus on my captain for a second. The wordsshe’s carrying my babybattle to break free. “It’s probably best if you keep out of this, Cap. I’m your friend, but you’ve also got the team to think about. I guess you could say you’re facing a conflict of interest.”

He turns to look at Darcy again and then back at me. “True, but I’m your friend first. I’ll be sharing a beer with you long after our hockey careers are through. You’re going to tear yourself to pieces over this girl.” He scratches at his chest, pained on my behalf. “Trust the first girl you fall for to be the one you can’t have.”

My eyes snap to his face. Not because he freely admitted I’m falling for Darcy since there’s nothing to deny there. I’m just sick of hearing the same rhetoric from him. I can have her; we can have each other. It’s going to happen.

The glare I give him leaves no doubt over my thoughts, and Sawyer holds up a hand in surrender.

“Liam wants her back,” I bite out over the music.

He just nods casually. “Of course he does. If she’s got the NHL’s biggest playboy all twisted up and chasing her everywhich way, you can best believe some loser like Liam will eventually realize his loss.”

Darcy swivels on her chair, probably on her way to the restroom, when she stops dead in her tracks at the sight of me staring.

“Annnd that’s my cue to leave and pretend like I haven’t seen any of this.” Sawyer says, making his way over to the booth, where a few of the players, along with Collins and Kendra, are seated.

Like I’m her latest catch, she reels me in, and I head toward her. But unlike a fish awaiting its grizzly fate, I’m not thrashing or fighting against her bait. I’m desperate to be caught up in her. I don’t want her to cut the rope and release me back into the ocean. I want to be right here. No matter how much it hurts or how long I have to wait.

I flash Jenna a quick smile, not wanting to be rude, but she takes the hint anyway and turns to order another drink. I don’t know how much she knows about me and Darcy, and to be honest, I don’t especially care. Jenna has never struck me as a girl who plays by the rules. She’s got a wild streak to her—I can tell. And that’s why I messaged her that night at Darcy’s party. I get the feeling I can trust her; in fact, I’m pretty sure she appreciates a boy who couldn’t care less about etiquette in his pursuit of what he wants.

Trying not to make the action too obvious, I lean down to Darcy’s height on the stool, my breath shifting a few strands of hair, and I watch the way her throat hitches.

“You know, I swear to God, your hair is thicker, and your rosy cheeks are glowing even brighter tonight. Or is it the fact that, once again, I’ve hardly seen you all week?” I smile into her big blue eyes as she stares up at me. “And this fucking dress.” Surreptitiously, I graze a finger down her thigh. “It’s reallyunfair to make me go any time at all between seeing you. You can really kill a guy with that kind of mean behavior.”

She rolls her lips together in amusement.

Yeah, she knows she’s got me hooked.

Reaching back to the bar, she picks up her water glass and takes a sip. “For your information, thicker hair and a natural glow are all signs that a girl might be … you know.”

I step a little closer.

Jesus, talking like this in public—with Jack, Coach, and the team only a couple of tables away—is dangerous.

Regardless, the risk isn’t enough to stop me.

“Are you pregnant, Darcy Doll?” I whisper so only she can hear.