Page 61 of Save Your Breath

Mia’s resulting smile was dazzling, her laugh so light and sweet it was like honey. “Wait, I am?” She turned to me wide-eyed. “Shit. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“And you’re funny, too?” Grace groaned a little. “It’s official. I’m surrounded by the baddest bitches to ever live. All of you are so hot and smart and funny andugh!” She clapped her hands together and turned to grab Maven, pulling her over to us next. “Here. You have to meet everyone.”

Grace launched into full-blown introductions then, and I stood idly by with one arm still around Mia’s waist and listened. It took everything I had in me to decline the drinks as they were offered to us on passing trays, but I promised Mia I’d be good.

And I was just nervous enough that I knew if I had one drink, I’d have ten.

I almost laughed at myself at the realization. I didn’t get nervous even one night of playing in the Stanley Cup Finals, but put me in a house full of music industry people and fans with their phone cameras pointed at me, and I had the stomach of a teenager before a driver’s license test.

Thisfeltlike a test of some kind — one I knew I needed to pass with flying colors.

“It’s so nice to meet all of you,” Mia said when the introductions were through.

She’d met Jaxson and Grace, Vince and Maven, Will and Chloe, and Carter. Livia had apparently taken Will’s daughter, Ava, to the bathroom as soon as they got here and would be joining us soon.

“I have to admit, I didn’t realize you had so many friends,” Mia teased with a brow arched in my direction.

“Oh, he’s made it crystal clear more than once that we’re not his friends,” Will chimed in. “Unfortunately for him, we’re the kind of team that doesn’t take no for an answer when it comes to building a family.”

“Yeah, he’s kind of been suckered into it,” Carter added. “We put up with his outbursts of rage on the ice and, in return, he makes all of us look like Scottie Scheffler on the golf course compared to him.”

I wiped a hand over my smile before slugging Carter in the stomach — not enough to actually hurt him, though he doubled over and played it off like I had.

Vince went on with the jokes, telling Mia about my first week of practice on the team and how I’d butted heads with everyone. She watched me curiously, her eyes understanding and smile light because she knew me better than anyone.

She knew I kept people at a distance because I knew I had nothing to offer them in terms of friendship, nothing to give in the way of kindness or generosity or care.

I stuck to myself because I knew I was the only one I could count on, and that if I didn’t get tangled up with anyone else, my actions would only impact me.

That was how I wanted it.

Livia sauntered over to us with Ava’s hand in hers, and the normally feisty little girl was wide-eyed and slack-jawed, hiding a bit behind Liv when they joined the circle. Livia introduced herself, and then she and Mia proceeded to gush on each other for so long I wondered if I should get them a room.

“And who’s this?” Mia asked, bending down to Ava’s level.

“This,” Livia said, running a hand through Ava’s hair. “Is your biggest fan — Ava Perry.”

Ava flushed harder, hiding more behind Livia’s legs. I realized then that she was shaking.

“Hi, Ava, it’s so lovely to meet you. I amdyingover that skirt,” she added, nodding to the sparkly lavender thing Ava wore.

“It’s like the one you wore in the ‘Do My Own Thing’ music video,” Ava said, her voice soft.

“Itis, isn’t it? Well, I think it looks even better on you.” She waited patiently, in no hurry to get back to the party as she calmed Ava with an attentive smile.

“She loves to wear it when we make up dances to your songs,” Chloe said.

“We?” Mia asked with a chuckle.

“Oh, yes. And I’m their very unwilling audience,” Will growled. “Not that I don’t appreciate your music, Mia, it just isn’t exactly my usual go to.”

“Don’t let him lie to you,” Chloe said. “I overheard him blasting your last album during his jump-rope workout the other morning.”

Will turned as red as his daughter, and when he didn’t deny it, we all burst into laughter.

Well, everyone else did, anyway.

I was too enamored with Mia to laugh.