About fifteen minutes ago, Erik started walking around the house urging everyone into the great room which was large enough to squeeze the group in standing capacity as we were getting close to midnight. I made my way up the stairs with Legend, who has pretty much been glued to my hip all night. We’d been playing pool in the billiard room on the basement level.
When we reach the main floor, he leans over and whispers, “I’m going to hit the restroom. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay,” I murmur and because I’d be a fool not to, I accept the brief kiss he places on my mouth. If anyone had any doubts if Legend and I are a couple, they were dispelled tonight.
I turn around, intent to scout an easy place he can find me and see Blue standing by the fireplace with Brooke. I’ve come to really like both women in the short amount of time we’ve known each other. While I had met both women at Dave & Buster’s that one time, I really got a chance to get to know them at the game in Winnipeg last night. Legend had arranged for me to have a ticket next to them and the three of us just really clicked. Blue is from Phoenix, like me, although I’m a few years older than her, so we have that in common.
As I walk over to the women, I’m offered a flute of champagne by a waiter and I grab two so Legend is ensured a drink when the clock strikes midnight.
When I reach the women, Blue asks, “You sure seem like you’re having a good time with Legend tonight.”
Brooke grins in agreement but says, “Excuse me a minute. My dad’s over there and I need to tell him something.”
We both watch as Brooke walks away but Blue leans toward me and asks in a teasing voice. “Speaking of good time…where is your man? Don’t want to miss out on a New Year’s kiss.”
“Bathroom,” I tell her and then ask, “How many people do you think are here?”
“Three hundred?” she hazards a guess and I think she might be right.
While she and I have talked a few times tonight as everyone mingled around, I had not gotten a chance to ask her, “Does Coach Perron normally come to team parties like this where people are sort of cutting loose?”
I had to ask because as the night wore on, a lot of the players and guests were getting pretty ripped. A few of the rookies are really hammered and sometimes were making scenes with obnoxious jokes or loud arguing crassly with each other. Each time, one of the veteran players calmed them down and Erik collected car keys so the drunks couldn’t drive.
Blue looks over at Coach Perron and Brooke as they stand chatting together.
“I think it’s a little odd he’s here,” Blue says with a shrug. “But what do I know. I’m new to this hockey life.”
I giggle and nod in understanding. “Totally get that.”
Blue’s smile dims a little. “I’m a little bummed Tacker didn’t come. I keep hoping he’ll come out of his shell a bit.”
“Legend texted him a few times tonight to check on him. He said he was enjoying a book and a few beers and wished us all a great time.”
Blue looks around and sidles in closer to me. She lowers her voice and says, “Part of me just wants to drive over to his house, kidnap him, and bring him back here. You know, force him to have fun.”
Chuckling, I give her a show shake of my head. “I have it on good authority that he would hate it. After Legend’s third text checking on him tonight, he texted back and said that he appreciated the worry but that he’s never been a New Year’s Eve party type of guy.”
“Really?” Blue says with her nose wrinkling. “How can someone not like New Year’s Eve.”
The corners of mouth turn down a little. “He’d said in the text that he wasn’t the type even when his fiancée was alive.”
I get a sad smile back from Blue. “Well, then I guess we’ll just have to accept that Tacker will never be a social butterfly.”
Blue looks around again and then leans in to where she’s practically whispering in my ear. “Okay, before Legend gets back…tell me the scoop. How are things going?”
I look at her with my brows knit together. “Um…you and Brooke asked me this just last night at the Winnipeg game.”
Blue smirks back at me. “No, we asked you generally how Legend was doing with a new baby, and the role you were playing and we were just mildly curious about the fact he brought you to an away game when he has a nanny, and you told us you two were dating. But that, my dear Pepper, is not ‘the scoop.’ I want to know the real private stuff. Like how did you two go from enemies to lovers? And who broke first? And most importantly, how’s the sex? Is it good? Because Legend looks like he’s a legend in the sack, know what I mean?”