Victor (Chicago Blaze 3)

I swipe my glass off the table and carry it up to the bar, waving it in the air when I get there to gain the bartender’s attention. It takes a minute, but she comes over and pours me another beer. I’m turning to leave the bar when a guy bumps into me, spilling the beer all over us.

“Watch yourself, asshole,” I say with a scowl.

“I’m just sitting here. You’re the one who ran into me.”

“I wasn’t moving…was I?”

He shakes his head and turns away. Maybe I am a little drunk.

When I get back to the table, I down about half the amber-colored liquid that’s left in my glass before taking my seat. I pick up my phone, hoping Lindy’s done having a drink with Lyin’ Ryan. I gave him that nickname in my head a few beers ago, and I’m pretty sure it’s gonna stick when I’m sober.

Bryan: We need to meet tonight.

“Fuck.” I slam the phone on the table and lift my beer for another drink.

A message from that asshole is the last thing I needed tonight. I’m drunk enough to tell him to fuck off, damn the consequences.

Anton grabs my glass when it’s halfway to my mouth.

“Put the drink down and tell me what the hell’s going on with you.”

Reluctantly, I set down my glass. “I’m fine.”

He glares at me. “Look, I’m not much into long conversations. So I repeat—what’s going on with you?”

“Lindy’s out on a date with Lyin’ Ryan.” I glare back at him. “Now let go of my beer, asshole.”

He doesn’t.

“What do you care if she’s on a date?”

My blood pressure starts rising again. “She’s too nice and sweet for him. He’s gonna take advantage of her.”

“Really? How do you know?”

I point at my lap. “Because I have a dick.”

“Have you taken advantage of her?”

“No.”

“So it’s not that you don’t want any other guy to have her, just not this guy? You’ve got something against him?”

I shrug. “Any other guy would take advantage of her, too.”

Anton gives me a look of frustration. “Go find a woman to fuck. This place is full of ‘em.”

“No.” I try to push his hand away from my beer.

My phone lights up with a text notification and I snatch it up before Anton can turn to look at it.

Lindy: Just got home. Didn’t get murdered.

I exhale hard, my shoulders sagging with relief. I have so many questions, but the biggest one has already been answered. No, she didn’t go home with him.

“Keep the beer,” I tell Anton. “I can go home now.”

“You’re not driving. I’ll take you.”

“I’ll take an Uber.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

I need sleep. Tomorrow’s a busy day. I have to drill with our offensive coach in the morning, then there’s pregame skate, then a VIP meet and greet event before our home game.

While I wait for my ride home, I text Lindy.

Me: Good. Are you going out with him again?

Lindy: Maybe. Talk tomorrow? I’m almost asleep on my feet.

When I see her response, I want to throw my phone into oncoming traffic and watch it get run over and smashed to bits.

I don’t, though. Even drunk, I’m logical enough to know I don’t have time to buy a new phone tomorrow.

Me: Okay. Goodnight.

My Uber is approaching now. As I wait for the driver to pull up to the curb, I text Bryan back, because ignoring him will only get me into more trouble.

Me: Not tonight. Tomorrow night late or the next day.

Today sucked enough without having to deal with that bastard. I power down my phone and heft myself into the Uber, wondering on the ride home what Lindy wore on her date with Lyin’ Ryan.Chapter SeventeenLindy“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, it’s like a hot guy buffet out there. A smorgasbord with nothing but hunks of hockey-playing man meat.” Ari fans herself as we place drinks onto our trays.

I smile. “Down, girl. You’ve seen the players before.”

“Not like this! They’re all out there looking casual and fuckable in those hockey pants. They should hold these events before games every time.”

“Ladies,” Bruce calls out from the other side of the room. “Can I interest you in actually working today?”

“On our way, bossman.” Ari flashes him a smile as she picks up her tray of champagne-filled flutes and bottles of beer.

It’s her first time getting assigned to work a VIP event, and she’s trying to make a good impression on Bruce. She even arrived early to scope out the room and get supplies ready.

I arrived right on time, because I wasn’t looking forward to working this event. It’s guaranteed to be awkward—serving Victor drinks and snacks when he didn’t know I existed was easier than it will be now that he does.

He was so surly about my date with Ryan, too. I figured he’d be thrilled I was going on a date since he told me he’s not interested in me that way. Instead, he was…not thrilled, to say the least.