Page 10 of No Shot (The Toronto Tundra #2)

Bri

Okay, my mind is spinning a little bit. I won ’ t lie, water probably would have been a good idea, but I ’ ll be damned if I order one now and give Penn the satisfaction of being right.

I ’ ve only had three drinks tonight, but that ’ s usually my limit.

I ’ m teetering right on the edge—caught between feeling surprisingly light and happy, and the impending dread of tomorrow.

I didn ’ t want Cami and Scott to have to drive me all the way back, though, even if I am starting to feel like my night should wind down soon.

Ten more minutes of fun and socializing, and then I ’ ll return back to reality. I order an Uber before turning to the guy I just sat down next to with a smile.

He ’ s sort of… adorable? I feel bad for describing a man like that, but he has a full-blown baby face, and I kinda want to squish him.

“ Hi! You ’ re Theo, right?” We didn ’ t get a chance to talk the other night, and I ’ m looking forward to getting to know him more.

He ’ s definitely one of the quieter ones in the group—you can just tell.

Mia told me he ’ s always been like that.

Being the youngest, with all that pressure on him, it makes sense.

Everyone says he ’ s the most talented on the team, not to mention it seems like the spotlight ’ s always on him.

Apparently, he ’ s been playing with the Tundra since he turned nineteen.

I really can ’ t even imagine dealing with that kind of pressure from such a young age. I ’ m sure if I was in his shoes, er—skates, I ’ d keep to myself a little too.

He immediately turns bright red, giving me an affirmative nod, before looking down at his hands, settled on the table. “ Yeah, Theo. Um, you ’ re Bridgette, right? We met briefly a few days ago, if you remember. You, uh, are in school, yeah?”

I don ’ t think small-talk is his speciality, but it ’ s fucking heartwarming that he ’ s trying so hard. “ Yeah! I ’ m getting my MBA right now at TorontoU.”

“ Oh, cool, that sounds… fun. Err, no, I ’ m sure it ’ s really hard actually—” He cuts his sentence off with the clearing of his throat, and he ’ s fully staring down now. My god, I want to stuff him in my purse and keep him forever.

“ It actually is pretty fun. I ’ ve always really liked school, but it ’ s definitely hard too. My program can be stressful sometimes.”

“ I bet you ’ re doing great.” This time, he takes a peek up at me, with sincerity in his eyes.

I don ’ t know why his encouragement lifts my spirits the way it does.

He has no clue how I ’ m doing in school.

No idea how many hours I spend studying.

No insight into how much pressure I put on myself to ace every class, but it ’ s just nice to hear, no matter who it ’ s coming from, I guess.

“ Thanks, Theo.” I nudge his shoulder with my arm and offer him a reassuring smile. “ Congrats on the win tonight, you were awesome.”

The second the topic flips, the tension in his forehead eases.

“ Oh yeah, thanks. It was a tough match-up. Carolina has a really strong offense, but their defense has been looking pretty weak this year. Hanson, he ’ s their top defenseman, has been on injured reserve since the start of the season.

It was easy enough to hone in on their weakness, plus their goalie, Platt, tends to favor his left side.

It, uh, makes it easier to find some opportunities that way.

” He stops, glancing over at me before his hand drifts to the back of his neck, rubbing it awkwardly. “ Sorry.”

Did I mention he ’ s adorable? “ Don ’ t apologize, I like talking to you, Theo.” I place my hand on his forearm before popping a quick kiss on his cheek.

He basically turns the color of a tomato in response, a shy smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. But as he looks forward, the smile fades, replaced by a flicker of concern. He immediately shuffles the tiniest bit over so that there ’ s space between us.

“ Um, Penn looks like he ’ s going to kill me,” he half-mumbles to the table.

“ What?” I ask, following the line of sight, where he was just looking. Penn isn ’ t even subtle about it, just sitting there across the room, staring directly at the two of us, his leg frantically shaking under the table. When our eyes meet, he mouths the word ‘ water, ’ his face suddenly serious.

I scoff before narrowing my eyes at him. The fucking audacity. Who does this guy think he is? My keeper? I refuse to give him the upper hand here, so I look down at the table, quickly spotting Theo ’ s whiskey.

Ugh, not my favorite, but I have a point to prove.

I pick it up and chug the last few sips down in a second, making sure to level Penn with a wicked smirk before I set the glass back on the table.

I ’ m expecting the burn that comes alongside taking a shot like that, the tingly feeling that warms your body as it works its way through your system, but I feel…

nothing. I ’ m mostly confused, unable to fully savor Penn ’ s irritated frown.

I swirl the remnants around my mouth, trying to place the flavor.

Sweet, refreshing, and was that a hint of lemon?

I turn to Theo, about to start apologizing for stealing his drink, when I slam my mouth shut.

He’s pale, his eyes wide like he’s seen a ghost. He just has one of those faces, like an innocent little kid, and I immediately feel the urge to comfort him and shield him from whatever is plaguing him.

“ P-please don ’ t say anything.” His whisper is cut off as he drops his head.

All of a sudden, it clicks. I ’ m not going crazy, that was freaking iced tea.

Why would Theo ask for this in a whiskey glass?

He ’ s pretending to drink? I swear if any of those fuckers ever made him feel bad for not drinking, I ’ ll castrate them.

The distraught look on his face breaks my heart as he raises his head again and scans my eyes for reassurance.

“ Say what?” I reply with a wink.

The corner of his mouth flips up as he finally takes a breath, relaxing a little. My phone vibrates from my purse, and I pull it out in time to stop the notification.

“ My car is here. I ’ m going to head out, but it was nice chatting with you.”

“ I hope you get home safe, and uh, Bridgette?” he says, as I rise to stand.

“ Yeah?”

“ Thanks for uh—”

“ Don ’ t mention it,” I reply, leaning in to give him a little side hug goodbye.

I work my way through the crowd, navigating out of the front door into the cool September evening air.

It ’ s easy enough to spot my driver, John, given that he ’ s the only white Honda Civic stopped on the street.

Gotta love the safety and modern-day conveniences of a rideshare app.

As I reach for the doorhandle to the backseat, a massive hand beats me to it.

I turn and crash face-first into a firm chest.

Ouf.

Fucking, Penn. What is with this guy tonight? Or every night, for that matter.

Ugh, why does he have to smell so damn good all the time. It ’ s confusing my senses.

“ Can I help you?” I snip at him, planting my hand on my hip.

“ Just making sure I send you off safely.” Oh, that ’ s kind of… nice. No. Wait, what?

He taps on the passenger-side window as my driver rolls it down. Leaning into the car, he says, “ Hey man, where you headed?” His voice sounds deeper than usual, commanding almost.

“ Uh.” The guy taps on the map from his phone screen. “ Parkside Place,” he replies. Penn seems pleased with that answer, giving him a curt nod and standing back up beside me.

I can ’ t process any further because he leans around me and opens the door. I climb inside before he gently closes it behind me.

“ Goodnight, Soup.” He taps the roof of the car twice, sending me off into the night.

I watch through the window as he stands there waiting until the car drives out of his sight. If he wasn ’ t such an ass, I ’ d say he ’ s kind of… sweet.

That simply won ’ t fucking do.