Caspian (Carolina Reapers 8)

We had one more month of our official off-season, then another of pick-up games and meetings before the season kicked off. One more month before life resumed its normal, chaotic pace. My eyes drifted toward Ryleigh just as she laughed at something the girl next to her said, giving me a perfect view of her profile. How the fuck was I going to get on a plane tomorrow?

My gut clenched.

At what point had Ryleigh become a consideration to…stay? Even if just for another few days?

“Don’t worry, I’ll still kick your ass on the ice,” Sterling said with a cocky smirk.

The guys all laughed.

“This is our year,” Maxim said as the table fell quiet. “I can feel it. All the pieces are in place.”

“Our fucking year,” Brogan agreed, raising his beer.

We all lifted our bottles. “Our year,” I repeated as the others did, but something felt…off in my stomach. Not to the other guys, apparently. They were grinning like fools and nodding their heads as if our decision to kick ass was going to affect the season, let alone the play offs.

I couldn’t put my finger on whatever had my smile slipping.

“We leave for two seconds and the entire team commandeers our seats,” Mila joked as she and Evie returned, a beer in her hand, and champagne in Evie’s.

“Who needs to sit?” Sterling stood, putting his beer on the table. “Dance with me, little sis.” He held out his hand and Mila grinned, shoving her beer at Maxim and walking off to the floor with Sterling.

Evie swallowed hard, her gaze darting around the table before settling on the only empty seat—the one next to Maxim. She quickly took a sip of her champagne.

“Feel like dancing, Evie?” I left my bottle on the table and stood.

Her eyes popped wide, but her shoulders relaxed and a smile lifted her lips. “Absolutely.”

She abandoned her barely sipped champagne and slipped her arm into the crook of my elbow as Ella James crooned through the speakers about finding her true love.

“London did such a great job. It’s beautiful,” she said, glancing around at the decorations as we swayed.

“It is,” I agreed, keeping one eye on Ryleigh now that I could see her face. Fuck me, she was a stunner.

“Thank you for asking me.” Evie’s voice dropped slightly. “I know Maxim…and you, of course, but everyone else on your team…” She shook her head, her cheeks flushing.

“It’s no problem. You are a pleasure to dance with.” Evie had always had more than her fair share of social anxiety, and having a best friend whose brothers played in the NHL put the girl in the limelight way more than she liked.

“Still. You didn’t have to,” she muttered. “But you always do. You’re one of the good ones, Caz.”

“I’m not so sure about that, but thanks.” My eyes locked with Ryleigh’s, and my chest constricted again. Would one of the good ones have fucked her right before the ceremony knowing he was leaving tomorrow? Nope.

I was most definitely not one of the good ones.

“You are,” Evie insisted. “You always helped me with my physics homework whenever I needed it. You never told Mila that she couldn’t bring me around that first year when you shared an apartment with Maxim—”

It was all I could do to keep from dropping my jaw. “Evie, you’re always welcome. I know you and Mila are still settling into your apartment in Charleston, but don’t ever feel like you can’t come over. Even if Maxim is next door now. We’re friends.” Mila was studying for her doctorate in Charleston now, mostly to stay close to Maxim and get to know Sterling, but the girls were inseparable, so that’s where Evie had enrolled for her photography program, too. The girl had some serious talent.

“Maxim…” She shook her head, her face turning a brilliant shade of fuchsia. She pushed her glasses up her nose. “He’s…”

“Maxim,” I offered, since that really was the only way to describe my best friend.

She nodded. “He’s so damned frustrating.” She pressed her lips into a firm line. “And arrogant, and cocky, and aloof, and cold one second and then so nice the next!” Her words came faster and faster. “He’s impossible to understand, and infuriating with how he bosses me around—like I’m his little sister, too—and…and…” Her fingers dug in on my shoulders.

“And you’re in love with him,” I said softly, so no one else would hear it.

Her eyes flew to mine, her mouth opening and shutting a few times like she wanted to say something but just couldn’t. Finally, she swallowed and glanced his direction. “Does everyone know?”

I cringed.

“Caspian Foster, don’t you dare lie to me.” She pinned me with a look my mother would have been proud of.

“Evie, how you feel about Maxim is pretty much the worst-kept secret since…” I tried to think of something that even compared and failed. “Ever. Since ever.”