Page 26

TWENTY-SIX

LEXI

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN(DAMENTAL RIGHTS) AND GOOD SEX

Piper

I wish they made underwear for specific occasions.

Example: my dress is very tight and I don’t want to have any visible lines.

Me

It’s called going commando, Piper.

Maven

You walk around without underwear on a regular basis?

Madeline

My post-baby body could never.

Maven

Same.

Emmy

I’m with Lex. I do it all the time. Makes it fun to tease Maverick with photos when I’m on the road.

Me

He’s unbearable when you’re not around. That man is obsessed with you.

Emmy

As every man should be. I love it.

Piper

Any suggestions on the underwear dilemma?

Me

Try going without any. Trust me. You’re going to feel so free.

Piper

Until my vagina ends up on the internet because I didn’t know my dress was see-through thanks to a camera flash.

Me

I bet you have a nice vagina.

Piper

That’s so sweet! I think I do.

Me

Commando or bust, Piper!

Piper

Fine. But I’m bringing a spare pair and putting it in my bag.

Maven

A purse panty. You might be onto something, Piper.

Madeline

I hate that word.

Emmy

Same. I just gagged.

Me

Make Liam keep them in his pocket. That could be a fun game.

Piper

Oh. Now YOU are onto something, Lex.

Me

Just want to make sure my friends are getting the attention they deserve.

Maven

Such a girl’s girl.

* * *

Always held in a swanky hotel with a hired band, delicious food, and top shelf alcohol, the team’s annual holiday gala is one of my favorite events of the year.

The guys are all proud hockey players who won’t hesitate to get in a fight on the ice, but at their core, they’re philanthropists—good men with soft hearts. Members of the community who show up for those who have less than them. And it’s always so inspiring to see how much money they raise for charity at the end of the night.

I shiver as I walk up the steps to the Four Seasons Hotel, grateful when the warm air of the lobby wraps around me. I hand over my shawl to a young guy at coat check and accept a flute of champagne from a passing server, smiling when I see Piper bounding toward me in a form-fitting pink dress.

“Holy shit, Lex.” She grabs my hands, making me do a slow spin on the marble floor. “You’re a knockout .”

“Do you like it?”

I run my palm down the gold gown. With the spaghetti straps, a plunging V-neckline that dips below my breasts, and a floor-length skirt with a train, I was worried it was too over the top, but Piper’s whistling makes me confident in my choice.

“Your ass is actually insane. You look like a Greek goddess. That dress was made for you.”

“Thank you.” I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. The messy high ponytail I pulled it into an hour ago is starting to come loose, but I don’t trust myself to take it down and try to replicate it a second time. “And look at you . Pink is so your color.”

“I’d wear it every day of my life if I could.” She loops her arm through mine and leads me to the ballroom. Music rings down the hall, and half a dozen people stop to say hello to us. “I went with your no underwear suggestion, by the way.”

“And? What do you think?”

“I could get used to this. It’s freeing. Plus, I feel sexy . No one knows I’m not wearing underwear—besides you, of course—but I do, and that’s kind of hot.”

“It’s so hot. I’m proud of you, Piper.” I kiss the top of her head and grin when I spot the rest of my friends circled around a high-top table draped in a white linen. “Everyone looks so good.”

“There you two are.” Emmy pops out a hip and looks us up and down. “Damn. Everyone cleans up well, don’t they?”

“You win that award, Emmy.” Madeline smiles and takes a sip of her champagne. “Your ability to go from sporty to hyperfeminine should be studied.”

“When I was younger, I had a coach tell me no one was going to want me to be a part of their team if I wore ribbons in my hair. It took away from my toughness , he said, so I decided to wear more ribbons and more makeup and more heels when I wasn’t on the ice. He’s choking on his words now,” she says. “Who says women can’t do hard things just because of how we dress?”

“Amen, sister.” I lift my glass her way. “It’s so good to see all of you. I hate that we’re all so busy during the season, but I’m glad we get to spend tonight together.”

“You probably only get me for two hours. Liam won’t last much longer than that.” She waves across the room to the goalie sitting at a table, looking miserable while Grant chats his ear off about something. I hold back a laugh when he picks up a knife and spins it between his fingers. “Maybe an hour and a half if we’re lucky.”

“I’m going to grab a drink from the open bar. If the organization is paying for it, I’m going to order the nicest alcohol they have. Does anyone want anything?” I ask.

“I’ll take a red wine,” Piper says, and Madeline nods.

“Make that two, please.”

“I’ll take a Chardonnay if you can carry it,” Maven adds, and I glance at Emmy.

“Nothing for me. I’m fine.”

A secret smile curls on her mouth when she taps her water glass, but I don’t ask any questions. She and Maverick have been trying to get pregnant for months now, and she doesn’t owe anyone an explanation or story of what might be happening behind the scenes.

I give her hand a squeeze and tuck my clutch under my arm, making my way over to the open bar. The line moves quick, and when I place my order for the four drinks, I turn and survey the ballroom to see how the night is going.

“Are you here with someone?”

“Pardon?” I glance to the right and spy a man in a tuxedo.

“I didn’t know if you were one of the player’s girlfriends or wives,” he slurs, and I eye the two drinks he’s holding. This is a classy event, and from the smell of alcohol rolling off of him, he should probably be cut off. “Or a sister. I like sisters.”

“I work for the Stars.”

“You do?” He perks up and sways on his feet. It’s going to be bad news if he topples into the champagne flute display. “Are you in marketing?”

“Head athletic trainer, actually,” I say.

“What’s that like?”

“I spend my days focusing on injury prevention. I’m the first responder for any medical emergency that occurs on the ice, and I can identify musculoskeletal injuries the way other people can identify cars,” I say, giving the rehearsed answer I’m used to tossing out. He’s too drunk to remember anything else. “I like it.”

“Huh. Sounds boring.”

“I get to be around a sport I love and make money from it.” I shrug. “Not sure we can call it boring.”

“You’re feisty, huh? I’ve always liked that in a woman.”

“And easily annoyed.” I spin and thank the bartender for the drinks by dropping a ten in the tip jar with the wads of twenties and fifties. “If you’ll excuse me.”

“Do you need some help?” the man asks. “I have a hand.”

“Do you? It looks like your hands are full.”

“Shit. I’ll hold one with my teeth. I don’t mind. I can?—”

“She said she was fine,” a new voice interrupts, and I smile on instinct.

Riley .

I look his way, breath catching when I see his thick-framed glasses and stubble on his jaw. His tuxedo fits him like a glove, showing off curves of the muscles he’s been hard at work rebuilding. A pair of silver cufflinks flash under the chandelier lights, and his shoes are so shiny I can see his reflection in them.

I’d happily take two of him.

He’s so damn pretty.

“Hi,” I say.

“Hi,” Riley answers, eyes sliding over to the guy beside me. “I can take it from here.”

“I was already?—”

“I really don’t want to have to get security involved, but I will if you don’t leave her alone.” He flexes his hand at his side, and yup . Just as hot as the movies. “Am I clear?”

“Sorry,” the man apologizes, clutching both drinks to his chest. “Enjoy your night.”

When he disappears, Riley’s focus snaps back to me. “I’m impressed.”

“With what?”

“Constantly having to ward off men? Having to explain no to someone multiple times? Life must be exhausting for you, but you make it look so easy.”

“It’s a plight, I’ll tell ya.” I laugh and toss my ponytail over my shoulder. “It’s nice to see you in something other than your sweaty gym clothes, Mitchy. You clean up well.”

His eyes wander down my body, clearly in no hurry as he takes in my dress and the black heels I paired it with. He whimpers and brings his fist to his mouth, biting his knuckles. “Hell. You look gorgeous, Lexi.”

“Thank you.” The compliment nestles its way into my chest, right next to my heart, and I don’t know when I became such a fucking sap. “It’s nice to be out of my leggings.”

“I’ll say. Are you having a good night?”

“I was until Drunky McDrunkerson told me my job was boring.”

“Do you think it’s boring?” Riley asks.

“No. I love my job.”

“Then fuck what he has to say.”

“Wise words, Mitchy.” I smile. “What about you? There are a lot of people around. How’s your social battery?”

“Liam and I have an escape plan ready to go the second the auction ends. The drinks should be flowing by then, and I think I’ll be able to sneak out of here before people start trying to ask me about my leg.”

“An escape plan, huh? What does that involve?”

“Walking out the door and leaving. I’d like to see someone try and stop us,” he says confidently.

I laugh again. “You’ve clearly thought this out.”

“Oh yeah. It’s not my first time ditching a social gathering I don’t want to be at.”

“Between the two of you, I think you’ll be actively avoided.” I pop a shoulder in a shrug. “It’s a bummer you were planning to leave early though.”

“Yeah? Why’s that?”

“I was hoping you’d save me a dance,” I say, grabbing the bar tray of drinks off the counter and starting back to the girls. “If you want.”

His hand rests on my elbow, and I stop. “Do you want me to save you a dance, Lexi baby?”

I’m immediately thrown back to that night—the heat of his mouth, his shuttered moans and the way fuck rolled off his tongue. My skin warms instantly, a response to the nickname used in the privacy of our secret rendezvous.

It sounds wicked out in the open, a sinful, lustful plea that makes my nipples harden and my thighs squeeze together. I look at him, not surprised to find his cheeks pink and his chest rising and falling like he’s been sprinting for miles, and every logical reason I ever had for staying away dares to fly out the window.

It’s not him.

It can’t be him .

It’s the orgasms he gave me. The mind-blowing, earth-shattering, organ-rearranging pleasure brought on by his tongue and his fingers, and that’s why I whisper, “Yes.” My voice is thick before tacking on a softer, “Please.”

“You have to know I love when you beg.”

I swallow. He’s not even trying to conceal what he wants, but I guess I’m not either. Not when I take a step toward him and tip my chin, mouth inches away from his ear, and say, “I’m not wearing any underwear.”

“You are so unfair,” he murmurs.

“Maybe you should do something about it,” I say, pulling away. “You know where I’ll be.”

The walk back to the girls is a blur, and I know I’m a badass bitch when I don’t try to look over my shoulder to see if Riley is watching me. I slide the tray of drinks onto the table, grab my gin and tonic, and take a long sip.

“Are you okay?” Piper frowns and touches my cheek. “You’re burning up.”

“Please tell me you put that asshole in his place. And please tell us what he said,” Emmy says. “I could see the steam coming out of your ears.”

“Something about my job. The usual.” I swirl my straw around and swallow down another gulp. I should’ve asked for straight gin, no tonic. The whole fucking handle, really. What the fuck is wrong with me? “And yes, I put him in his place.”

“I knew you would.” Maven smiles and reaches for her glass, lifting it in the air. “Fuck the patriarchy.”

“Hear, hear.” Madeline clinks her drink against Maven’s. “And was that Riley you were talking to? Don’t tell Hudson, but I always thought he was cute.”

“Yup. That’s Riley.”

“Are your sessions going well?” Piper asks. “He seems so much happier after being behind the bench for a game or two.”

“It looks like he’s living again,” Emmy adds. “Coach offering that role to him probably changed his life.”

“They’re much better.” I let my attention drift across the room again and find Riley talking to a blonde woman in a black gown. He nods along with whatever she says and smiles at some parts. There’s a twist in my chest when he throws his head back and laughs, and I down the rest of my drink. “I’m so proud of him. If he keeps progressing like this over the next two months, we’re going to be able to try skating with his prosthetic. I hope the guys will come out and help him around the rink when it’s time.”

“Oh my god. They’d be there in a second,” Piper says.

“They wouldn’t miss it,” Emmy adds.

“I’m going to put a plan together.” I set my empty drink down and smile at the women around me. “All of you are dating or married to very rich athletes, most of whom will be in this auction starting soon. Should we go spend some of their money?”

“I’m bidding on Grant,” Emmy says with a wicked grin. “Maverick is always more fun when he gets jealous.”

“Funny. I was going to bid on Ethan.” Piper giggles. “Liam will absolutely storm out.”

“I can’t bring myself to bid on anyone but Hudson,” Madeline admits.

“Because he’s too sweet and no one wants to see him sad.” I motion to the center of the ballroom where people are lining up for the auction. Each winning bid on the DC Stars players goes to the charity of their choosing, and in return, the bidder gets an afternoon with them. “Let’s have some fun.”