Page 40 of Hat Trick (Titans Hockey #1)

Chapter thirty-four

Emily

I turn down the hallway from the staff area back towards the stadium and freeze. Chad and his blonde friend are standing in line at the concessions. He holds her, her back to his front, with his arms draped over her slim shoulders, and he's not-so-subtly grinding his crotch against her ass. Gross.

I manage to slide past them without them seeing and slide back into my chair. My face heats when I notice Chad's friends openly staring at me, whispering and speculating.

I jump, startled, when Chad's heavy body drops into the empty chair next to mine.

He turns his playboy smile on me. "Emily. It's so good to see you again. How have you been?"

The hairs on the back of my next stand on end. His friends were making fun of me thirty minutes ago. He was dry humping his blonde just a few minutes ago. Why is he sitting here, talking to me, as if we're something to each other?

"Good. Chad. And you?" I ask looking straight ahead, not bothering to hide the suspicion in my voice. I peak over Chad's shoulder to find the blonde, throwing eye-daggers at me.

"I've been okay. "

I'm silent. I don't want to indulge in whatever this is.

"I've missed you," he whispers, his voice low, turning in his chair to face me.

I scoff. "You didn't seem to miss me five minutes ago when you were dry humping your girlfriend."

Chad glances over his shoulder. "I'm not into Lindsey. Our parents set us up, but she's not my type. She's not you." He places a hand over mine and I shudder. He must think I'm an idiot. I pull my hand out from under his.

"Chad. Please don't patronize me. I was young and dumb and let you use me. But you can't make me believe you were ever 'into' me."

For a moment he gives me a look, so full of sadness and regret it catches me off guard.

"I had a lot of fucked up shit going on in my head, baby." I wince as the use of my nickname cuts me. He would call me baby and it would make me melt, so sure that the nickname meant he really loved me. "I let my parents get in my head and convince me that I should only be with one type of girl."

I'm not buying any of his bullshit, but I also don't know how to end this awkward conversation.

I've finally seen how a man loves a woman.

How devoted to me the boys are, how considerate and thoughtful and caring.

How they go out of their way to make me feel important and loved.

It's nothing like how Chad treated me. But how do I tell him that?

"Chad. I get that. I do. But I'm not interested. I'm in a relationship, and we're happy. I'm not interested in revisiting whatever we were."

Then it dawns on me. He sees that someone else values me - a famous and wealthy hockey player - and suddenly my value in his eyes has increased. That if Gabe wants me, I must be something special. Not that I'm special on my own.

That maybe, just maybe, Chad's not better than me.

"Let me take you out for coffee. Just to catch up. As friends."

Before I can answer, two uniformed stewards approach. "Sir, we've been asked to remove you from the premises."

Chad's indignation rolls off of him in thick waves. "Excuse me?" He shouts.

"If you'd please come with us." The head steward asks, motioning for the exit. "Your friends, too."

I go to stop the steward. I don't need Chad and his friends ejected. I'm fine. But then I stop myself. If my boys want to protect me, who am I to deny them? I love their dedication. I love the fact that they want to protect me. That I'm finally wanted. That I finally have someone in my corner.

I watch as Chad, the blonde, and his friends get herded to the exits.

Turning back to the game, I catch Gabe's eye. Fuck it. He's already made us public. I smile and bring my hands together in a heart shape, resting them on the plexiglass in front of me. The grin he shoots me is indecent. It promises of so much...after the game.

As they warm up for the second period, he grabs Luca and Carter, and they huddle together. He whispers something to their little huddle and all three of my men look up at me, wickedly sinful grins on their faces. I blush deep and shrink. Oh, I'm in for it.