Only One Night (Only One 3)

“I think I look good,” she says, and I shake my head, walking down the stairs. I kiss Jaxon after he helps me put the head and ass on.

“I want to take the Porsche,” Murielle says of the two-seater car I don’t really take anywhere.

“Get in the BMW,” I say, “unless you want to drive yourself.” I smile at her. She glares at me but gets into the car, and her smell makes me ill. I pull out and make my way to Nico’s house. The whole time, she is on her phone.

“Why didn’t you park in the driveway?” she huffs when we have to walk far. “These boots are not for walking.”

“Your mouth should not be for talking,” I say, and then the front door opens.

“Welcome,” someone tells us. “Please come in. The party is right down there.”

She grabs my hand as we walk in, and I shake it loose as soon as I see Nico to hold it out and shake his. He is wearing a green sweater with Christmas trees and snowflakes all over it with stay cool written in white. “There he is, the captain.” I smirk at him as he takes my hand. He is the youngest owner in the whole league, and he isn’t just an owner. He is hands-on. He is there when trades are decided, he is there when we lose, and he is there when we win. If anyone deserves the cup to come to him, it’s Nico. “Is that a moose?” he asks of my sweater, and I nod. “There she is, the woman behind the man,” he says, and Murielle’s whole face lights up. I have to refrain from rolling my eyes. “You look fantastic. Have you been working out?” She nods at him.

“Oh, her trainer rides her hard,” I say, chuckling at my inside joke. I grab a water bottle from the passing waiter.

“Hello, everyone,” I say, looking over and seeing Becca walk in. She is wearing black jeans and a shirt that has lights all lit up on it.

“Who invited her?” I hear Murielle from beside me, and I see Nico side-eye her and then look at me.

“I did,” he says. “Becca,” he says, taking her hand. “So glad you could make it.”

“I have to say, Nico,” she says, grabbing a glass of wine from a passing waiter, “there is nothing quite like when you want something from me.” She takes a sip of her wine. “It is legit the best feeling in the world.” She smiles and looks around. “Well, that and when I make you pay through the ass. It’s right up there.”

Nico throws his head back, and he laughs at her. “If I ever get married,” he says, “I’m going to want you to negotiate the contract.”

“Deal,” she says to him, smiling. “Hey, Manning,” she says to me, and I just nod.

“Excuse me,” Nico says. “I see some of the guys arriving.”

“I’m here also,” Murielle says when Nico walks away.

“I’m fully aware,” Becca says to her. “I must have missed the memo. I thought it was an ugly sweater costume and not an 80s drag party.”

“You’re such a fucking bitch, Becca,” Murielle says and looks at me. “I’m going to the bar.” She comes close to me for a kiss, and I bring the water bottle to my mouth. She looks around to make sure that no one saw before she walks off.

“Please tell me he has something,” I ask Becca, and she looks at me.

“He’s working on it,” she says. “I told you it would be done. It’s been two days.”

I look at her, drinking my water as Miller gets there with Layla, both of them wearing beer pong sweaters with glasses pinned on them. Ralph gets there with Candace by his side. She wears a sweater with an elf, and he wears a sweater as Santa.

“We should get a picture,” Candace says, and I shake my head. “Do it for the Gram, Manning.”

“No,” I say, and she looks at me. “Fine, but one picture.”

She claps her hands, and I stand in the middle with the guys beside me. I see Murielle coming our way with Nico behind her. “That is a nice one,” she says, and then Nico looks at us.

“Couples,” he says, and Murielle is the only one happy about it. “Okay, let’s get the captain first.”

“Why don’t we take a group shot?” I tell him and look at the guys who just stare at me.

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea,” Miller says. “We should get all the guys over here and take it.” He looks at Ralph. “Let’s go round up the guys.”

Murielle comes to me and wraps her arms around my waist, and I’m about to tell her to get off me when her foot twists in some sort of way, and I wrap an arm around her to stop her from falling on me. “That looks great,” Nico says and takes the picture.