They both laugh.

  “They taste different, but they’re both delicious just the same,” Trevor continues.

  Jana walks out of the office area entrance, stealing Kane’s attention. She stops and looks at us.

  “I’m gonna head over to Carmelo’s. No reason to hang around here.” Kane straightens up and walks across the parking lot. He doesn’t stop to talk to Jana, but heads directly to his truck. Jana does the same to her Mercedes-Maybach.

  “We should head over too,” I say.

  “We’ve waited this long.” Trevor approaches the group. “Sorry to interrupt, ladies, but I’m stealing Prince Charming away.”

  They all boo, but to my surprise, Trevor successfully pulls Cory out of the middle of the women. When I’m face to face with Cory, the breath rushes from my lungs. He is so good-looking with his full lips and strong jaw, and I feel drawn to him. Then I look behind him at all the women watching him.

  “I need to talk to you. Ride with me to Carmelo’s?” he asks, then glances at Trevor. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Not at all.”

  I widen my eyes at Trevor. “I came with Trevor so it would probably be rude…” I say mostly to Trevor, with the tone that says he should step in and save me.

  He slaps Cory on the back. “You’re in good hands. See you two over there.”

  And he walks away, leaving me with Cory and a few dozen eyes staring at me.

  Thanks a lot, boyfriend.

  I open the passenger door so Ande can slide into my sports car and shut the door behind her. As I round the front of my car, I’m hoping I don’t offend her with the questions I intend to ask, but as I open my door, my phone chirps with a text message. I pull it out to deal with that so there’ll be no other interruptions during our conversation. I assume it’s my parents texting to tell me good game, but then I see the name on the screen.

  York: Just a friendly reminder that I’m coming into town.

  I completely forgot I have to nip that in the ass. Now that Ande is back in my life, I have no interest in seeing her again, which I’ve tried to make clear every time she’s texted me since I saw Ande in that grocery store. I’ve been trying to be polite without being rude, so I try to continue on the same way, hoping she’ll take a hint.

  Me: Let me know if you want tickets for a game.

  York: I already told you I don’t want to see a game. I just want you naked in my hotel room.

  Me: I’m not sure I can work it around my schedule. Practice is grueling now that I’m on the starting line.

  York: Don’t give me that bullshit. I’m a big girl. Have I been replaced by a regular you have in Florida?

  Me: Listen, I’ll message you tomorrow. I just finished a game and I’m about to meet up with the guys.

  York: Just remember what you’re saying no to.

  Another picture comes up of her in a black lingerie number that barely covers anything.

  Pocketing my phone, I slide into the driver’s seat. “Sorry.”

  “No problem.” Ande faces straight ahead with her hands clasped in her lap, nervous energy rolling off her.

  I drive out of the parking lot, making our way to Carmelo’s. It isn’t far from the arena, so I don’t have much time to get out what I want to say to Ande. We’re both quiet until I park and turn off the ignition.

  “Can I ask you a question?” I’m still unsure how to approach this subject. I’ve never had someone make up a boyfriend as an excuse not to date me before.

  “Sure.” Her voice is soft, as though she knows what I’m about to ask.

  “You and Trevor…” I let the words hang there, hoping she’ll pick up where I left off.

  She turns in her seat to face me. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lied, but it was the only thing I could think of so that you wouldn’t push me to date you.”

  Talk about a knife to the heart. Jesus. Is the idea of dating me really that repulsive to her? I thought we had a connection when we were together on the island.

  I clear my throat. “You could’ve just told me.”

  She inhales deeply. “Could I have?”

  “Yes.” I nod.

  “And you would’ve just accepted that?”

  I run my thumb along the stitching of the fabric on my steering wheel. “I don’t make a habit of chasing women who don’t want me.”

  “That’s exactly it.”

  “What?” I glance at her and she’s staring out the window at the sidewalk.

  “I do like you, Cory. But remember when we went to the taco place, and I told you why I never called?”

  I nod.

  “Those reasons still exist. I’m still messed up from Michael. If we were to get involved right now, I’d punish you and be mistrusting of you because of what he did to me. Like tonight. All those women.” She gestures at me.

  When Ande told me about her ex-boyfriend and we decided to have a fling, I knew he’d done damage that would take time for her to get over. I also knew my lifestyle was a detriment to someone with major trust issues, and that was before I decided to live it up over the past year. But if I thought for a second Ande could be a part of my life, I never would’ve slept with anyone else.

  “Is it that hard to believe that if you were my girlfriend, those other women would be invisible to me?”

  She huffs but smiles. “I’ve read all the stuff about you.”

  “But if you’d called me or returned my phone call months ago, I never would’ve entertained other women. I thought you didn’t want me. But if you’re willing and available, you’re the only woman I want.” I swivel in my seat and grab her hands. Her soft skin feels like silk on my calloused hands. “Do I need to explain where you stand with me?”

  She shrugs. “I think I know, but I thought I did with Michael too. I thought we were going to get married and start a family. I envisioned myself as an elderly woman on a porch with him next to me, watching our grandchildren playing. And then bam, everything I thought was real wasn’t. It was like I’d imagined it all. The reason I can’t date you is because I know I’d be the one to destroy us. My mistrust would screw with us at every turn.”

  I weave our fingers together. “Then let me be a distraction.”

  Maybe I’ll have to take baby steps with this woman, and getting back into her bed is as good a first step as any.

  “What?” She narrows her eyes.

  “We can do what we did on the island. Nothing serious.” I shrug as if it will be easy-peasy, but the truth is, I know sleeping with her will make me want her more than I already do. But I have to keep the end goal in mind. My dad always told me nothing worth having was easy.

  “Why would we do that?”

  “Ande, I’ll take you any way I can get you.” I hold her stare for a moment.

  “You’re kidding, right? We just fuck and make some rules about no sleepovers or actual dates? And you’re still free to screw other women?”

  I shake my head. “No way. If you want to date someone else, I can’t stop you, but I won’t be seeing anyone but you. But as far as we go, we’d be casual.”

  She laughs lightly. “This is absurd.”

  It probably is, but if a casual relationship will help me grow closer to her and bring us to the precipice of a real relationship, I’m game.

  “I’ll think about it, but no promises.”

  I squeeze then release her hands. “Okay. Just let me know. As of right now though, you’re going to go in there and party with me.”

  I climb out of my car and pocket my keys, rounding the front to open the passenger door for her. If all goes well, I’ll have my answer tonight.

  My only mission for the rest of the night is to show Ande a good time. I’m done with the seriousness between us. What we need is some good, old-fashioned fun. So the first thing I do when we enter Carmelo’s is head to the bar and order both of us a shot.

  “One. Two. Three.” We each down the shot of the night, which I think is some version of a lemon drop. Definitely vodka and lemon.

  I take her hand and lead her into a booth that holds Tweetie, Tedi, and Trevor.

  “I thought Burrows was coming?” I ask, not seeing Kane.

  “I’m sure he’ll show up.” Tweetie raises his hand. “A round of shots.”

  After we talk about the game and do another round of shots, everyone says they’re not hungry, so Tweetie raises his hand again to gain our attention. “Let’s go clubbing.”

  Ande groans. “Trevor and I have a client meeting first thing in the morning.”

  “One dance isn’t going to kill you.” Tedi climbs out of the booth over Trevor. “Let’s go.” Trevor slides out, and when Tweetie stands, Tedi jumps on his back. “Let’s go to the karaoke bar.”

  “Great idea! Let’s go.” Tweetie points forward.

  Ande tries to get Trevor’s attention, but he seems into the idea, following Tweetie as if he wants to jump on his back too.

  The rest of the hockey team stays behind, and a ten-minute walk later, we’re at the karaoke bar. There are private rooms, so Tweetie pays our way in and, with the help of Trevor, orders pitchers of margaritas for all of us.

  As we file into a room, I haven’t failed to notice that Ande hasn’t pulled her hand from mine yet. Tedi didn’t ask any questions about Ande and Trevor while we were at Carmelo’s, but I’m pretty sure she already knows.

  The minute we’re in the room, Tweetie searches the book and cues up his song. “Dance Monkey” by Tones & I plays.

  “He does this every time.” Tedi throws herself into her seat. “I’m not dancing. We have witnesses.”

  “Let’s keep this PG. We are not having an orgy.” I hold up my hands then pick up the book, bringing it over to Ande.

  “Did someone say orgy? I’m in.” Trevor raises his hand and laughs.

  Tweetie sings, sauntering across the room toward Tedi. She’s laughing and shaking her head, but we all know what’s going to happen. He gets down on his knees, his hips moving from side to side. If I was jealous of any of my teammates’ relationships, it might be this one. Tweetie clearly loves Tedi, and they are one-hundred-percent themselves when they’re together. There’re no secrets, no hiding.

  Tedi finally accepts his hand, and he slides back on his knees, allowing space for her to get up and dance for him. Eventually, her hand is no longer in his, but rather her arms are raised in the air and she’s circling around while her hips rotate. Tweetie gets to his feet and swings his arm around her waist, the two of them dancing together.

  I remove my attention from them and focus on Ande. “Okay, do you have a song picked out yet?”

  She shakes her head, flipping the pages and glancing from the book to Tedi and Tweetie and back.

  When Tweetie’s song is over, I stand. “Okay, I’m going up.”

  Tedi’s on his lap and the two are practically making out. Until my song comes on. “Stuck on You” by Lionel Richie plays and Tweetie groans.

  “Way too serious!” he shouts.

  Trevor sits next to Ande and leans in, speaking loudly. “I guess the fake relationship’s been outed or do I need to kick his ass?”

  Ande laughs and shakes her head. “We’re busted. Sorry. Thanks for being my fake boyfriend though.”

  He hits her thigh. “Anything for you. I gotta find a heartbreak song now.”

  Tedi points at Trevor. “I knew it. You’re gay, right?”

  Trevor pretends to dance by himself in the small room. “Yep.”

  Tweetie still looks confused, so Tedi explains to him, and his eyebrows are furrowed after she finishes.

  Meanwhile, I’m on my knees in front of Ande, taking her hand in mine, but I’m not getting the action Tweetie is.

  “We need to amp up this party!” Tedi says to Trevor when I’m done, and he runs over to cue up a song.

  When “Dancing Queen” by ABBA comes on, Ande’s hand is out of mine and she’s on the floor with Trevor. I sit in the booth and watch the two of them dance together while singing. They definitely have a good friendship. Tedi springs up off Tweetie’s lap to join them, and Tweetie comes to sit beside me.

  “So, she lied?” he asks with a tone that makes it clear he doesn’t understand.

  “Yeah.”

  He nods. “And you still want her?”

  I shrug. “Yep.”

  He nods again. “Okay, cool.”

  And that’s why I love Tweetie so much. He doesn’t judge, just lives his life and lets others do the same.

  Then he steals the cue and puts on Elvis’s “Jailhouse Rock.”

  By the time we leave karaoke, I feel as though I’ve made some progress with Ande. We had fun together and shared some laughs. The best part of the night was when Tedi and Ande sang “Rich Girl” by Gwen Stefani and Eve because Ande seemed to have released the anxiety that’s plagued her since she started hanging out with us. It was as though the woman I met on vacation reappeared. I can’t help but hope that woman might be willing to give me another shot.

  Still, she went home with Trevor. But tomorrow’s another day.

  My sunglasses are firmly in place when I walk into my office the next day.

  “Hi, Ande!” I cringe and shut my eyes for a moment after Tabitha, our peppy receptionist, greets me. “The clients aren’t here yet. Trevor told me to assure you the minute you walked in.”

  “Thanks, Tabitha,” I murmur and sip my coffee, hoping it works its magic and makes this hangover disappear.

  I sit in my chair and my head feels as if it weighs a thousand pounds, so I rest it on my desk for a moment.

  “Knock, knock. I knew you’d be in bad shape.” Trevor walks into my cubicle. Though I usually love the smell of his cologne, this morning it’s making me nauseated.

  “I just needed a little more sleep.”

  “That Tedi, she’s a pusher.”

  I peek one eye open to find Trevor looking very presentable and not at all like he enjoyed one too many margaritas last night. There aren’t even any bags under his eyes.

  “How can you possibly look so good?” I pick up my head, but it falls to rest on the back of my chair.

  “I switched to water midway through the night without telling Tedi so she wouldn’t peer pressure me.”

  I wave him off. “I think the fun got out of control.”

  “You could say that. Now that the secret is out, I feel a lot more comfortable. Are you disappointed you went home by yourself last night?” He waggles his eyebrows.

  My only response is a groan.

  He laughs. “Had to fight with Cory about it. What’s going on with you two now that he knows I prefer dicks over chicks?”

  “Fight with him?”

  He waves me off. “Nothing I can’t handle. I told him soon enough he’ll be the one driving you home.”

  My eyebrows scrunch, not understanding what he’s talking about.

  “So, what’s going on?”

  My phone beeps and I groan again, reaching down to find it somewhere in my massive purse. When I do, there are a string of messages from my sister.

  “It’s my sister,” I tell Trevor.

  Pattie: Hey girl.

  Pattie: Are you ignoring me?

  Pattie: I’m coming into town this weekend but I won’t see you until Saturday. I’ve got plans Friday. ;)

  Why can’t I be more like her?

  Me: Cool. I’ll be at my apartment whenever you finish with your fling.

  Pattie: Wait til I give you the deets on this one. You’ll be drooling.

  “She blowing you off again?” Trevor asks, which is a legit question.

  My sister isn’t known for her faithfulness to anyone but her one-night stands and guys who are as afraid of commitment as her. I often wonder how two people can be brought up in the same household and have such different viewpoints and needs. My sister and I couldn’t be more different.

  “Sort of? Before she comes to see me, she’s going to hook up with someone.”

  Trevor huffs and shakes his head. “I love that she’s so open and free. It’s refreshing, but at the same time, she needs to nurture the platonic relationships in her life.”

  I smile at Trevor for being concerned about me. I told him how annoying it is to be so far down on my sister’s list of priorities. Then he shared with me how his brother didn’t disown him but acts as if he’s not really gay. Never asks questions, and if the topic gets brought up, he’s quick to change it in a different direction. So I like to think of Trevor as the brother I never had.

  Me: Can’t wait. Text me when you’re on your way.

  I don’t bother asking how she knows someone local, because the reality is that she knows someone everywhere.

  Pattie: You got it. I could always ask if he’s got a friend…

  Me: No thanks.

  The last thing I need is yet another man to complicate my life. I have my hands full with Cory. I drop my phone back in my purse, pretending not to be annoyed or hurt by my sister.

  “Back to last night. I want details. Now.” Trevor lifts his wrist to glance at his watch. “I’ve waited long enough.”

  “There isn’t much to tell. I told him the truth—that I’m too emotionally damaged to date a guy in his position.”

  Trevor chuckles and leans his ass against my desk, stretches his legs out, and crosses his ankles. “No, you’re not.”

  “I am. Waiting for him to get past all those women last night made me realize I can barely handle a relationship with an insurance salesman, much less a professional hockey player almost every woman swoons over.”

  Trevor holds my gaze. “In all honesty, he seems like a great guy.”

  “You’ve seen the blogs and stuff.” I sigh.

  “Who says those are truthful?”