“How do I look?” I walk out into the living room where Heather and Steve are curled up together on the couch.
My friend sits up and smiles appreciatively. “Damn, Piper.”
“It isn’t too much?” I smooth a hand down the short skirt of the dress and turn to the side. It hugs my curves in all the right spots. I forgot how decadent expensive fabric felt like against my skin.
“The tag is sticking out the back,” she says, and pulls free from Steve. “Here, let me help.”
“Thank you.”
She comes up behind me and pushes the tag back inside the dress.
I turn my head and look over my shoulder. “Slide it under the back of my bra. That’ll help keep it from slipping out again.”
A small snort-laugh escapes as she does as I request. I’m not proud of wearing and returning a dress, but I needed a little extra boost of confidence going in to tonight.
It’s one thing to see or talk to Tyler about his sister, but it’s another thing entirely to show up to a party with all his friends and teammates.
“Okay. You’re all set,” Heather says. “Nervous?”
“So nervous. The only two people I know are the bride-to-be and Jade.”
“And Tyler,” she adds with a smirk. She goes back to the coach and sits next to Steve. He rests a hand on her thigh as he continues to stare at the TV.
“I don’t know Tyler anymore,” I say. “So, he doesn’t count.”
I toss my lipstick and gum in my purse and take a deep breath.
“Okay. I’m off. I’ll see you in the morning.” I point to the couch where I sleep every night. “Don’t have sex on my bed.”
As I pull away from the apartment in a dress I can’t afford, driving a car that is only slightly more reliable than the ice cream machine at McDonald’s, and heading to a party in one of the nicest neighborhoods in the city, I think about how I got here. Not here here, but here—broke.
I would have died of embarrassment if I’d known this was my future five years ago. My dad ran a successful company, I grew up in a huge house, and basically had anything my heart desired. When I met Tyler my dad’s company had just crumbled. It was hard, but my dad was the most resilient man I’ve ever known. I didn’t sweat it.
That was the beginning of a lot of changes, I guess. Tyler and I broke up, then Dad had his stroke and wasn’t able to work, my family moved out of my beloved childhood home, and life was different. Basically, I got hit over the head with a heavy dose of reality.
I’m not sure I’d be the same person today if I hadn’t gone through all of that, but I sure miss my dad from before the stroke and would love to have a little more heat in this old car as I drive toward the party on the other side of the city.
The engagement party is at Jack’s house, just down the street from where Tyler and Everly are staying. I glance at it as I pass, and my nerves kick up a notch.
Even without the address, I’d know exactly where to go by the sheer number of cars parked along the street and in the circle driveway. After I’m parked, I continue to sit in my car. I’m seconds from just turning around and going home when there’s a knock on the window.
I jump and let out a little scream. Jade stares back at me with a smile. Her laughter filters through from outside. “The party is inside.”
“Oh really?” I ask dryly as I open the car door and step out.
“You clean up real nice.” She whistles and links her arm through mine. “Now I’m glad I left Sam at home. You can be my date.”
“Your date is planning on hiding in the corner.”
“Not in that dress, you’re not.”
She has a point. This dress was not made to slink away in the shadows unless it’s so that someone can slide their hands underneath. My body gives an involuntary shudder at the thought.
With every step closer to the party, I seriously consider sending Scarlett an apology text and going back home. I feel like I’m infiltrating something sacred. This is supposed to be a fun, happy night for my friend, and I reach for some of that steely determination I’ve acquired to put on my brightest smile and celebrate the same way she would for me.
I can hear the music inside. The bass thumps at a fast rhythm and my heart races to catch up with it.
“Are you ready for this?” Jade asks, seconds before she pulls open the front door.
Even if I weren’t, it’d be hard to turn back now. Jade leads me through the entryway where someone takes our coats and purses, and another hands us a glass of champagne.
I sip the chilled drink as we move closer to the music. A large kitchen opens up to a dining area and beyond that is a living area that is bigger than the entirety of Heather and Steve’s apartment. The whole thing is open-concept and people fill the space. Lights outside are on and I can see that more people have braved the cold to stand out there.
I’m searching for Tyler. Not because I want to see him, but because I want to see him first so I can avoid making direct eye contact.
“There’s Scarlett.” Jade pulls me with her before I can spot him in the crowd.
Scarlett looks every bit the blushing bride-to-be in a sexy, white dress standing next to Leo. He’s got one arm around her waist as he talks to a guy nearby.
When Scarlett sees us, her lips curve up and she launches herself at us, squeezing us each around the neck in a big, group hug. “You guys finally made it.”
“I had to pry this one out of her car, but here we are. Congratulations, babe.” Jade gives her long-time friend a bittersweet smile. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Me too,” I say.
Scarlett’s eyes widen. “Oooh. Let me introduce you to Leo finally.”
Breaking free, she turns to her fiancé and laces her fingers through his. “Leo, this is Piper.”
He and the guy he was talking to both smile at me, and I get the awkward feeling they’re looking at me that way because of Tyler and whatever things they’ve heard about the two of us.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Leo says, pulling Scarlett tighter against his side.
The other guy continues to give me this friendly, almost shy smile. He’s the broadest of the group, tallest too. “For once the rookie didn’t exaggerate about something.”
“Right?” Another guy steps up and shakes his head. The movement makes the long strands of his dark blond hair fall into his face and he brushes it back with a flip of his head that somehow comes off not at all rehearsed or vain. He taps the other guy on the chest. “This is Declan, and I’m Ash.”
“The roommate,” I say quietly. I could ignore his remark about “the rookie” but if I’m going to survive tonight, I need to squash the idea that I’m in any way uncomfortable or tense about being in the same room with Tyler. Even if it’s a total lie. “Nice to meet both of you. I assume by rookie you mean Tyler?”
Their matching grins are my answer.
“And what did he not exaggerate about?”
“Answer that and I might have to kill you in your sleep.” Tyler places a hand on Ash’s shoulder and cuts in.
I suck in a breath at being caught off guard. I was so busy trying to appear like I didn’t care that I forgot to keep an eye out for him. Now here he is, and ugh, why does he have to be so hot?
“Hey, Piper,” he says. “See you met some of the guys.”
“Hey.” I give him the same greeting as I did his teammates. Only he doesn’t let me off so easily.
He takes a step closer and I pull in another breath, this time inhaling the scent of him. He smells like leather and cologne and hot guy. (Yeah, it has a smell. Or maybe I’ve just associated it with Tyler.)
“You look beautiful.”
The compliment skirts over my skin, caressing it as lovingly as the dress I’m wearing. He didn’t say great where I could play it off as a friendly compliment people toss out like mints or even gorgeous where it could be construed as flirty and a little over the top, but beautiful.
“Thank you.” I sip my champagne and look at Jade for help. I can feel everyone staring at us.
She must have already met Ash because she waves at him and then introduces herself to Tyler. He moves closer to me as he talks to her. Heat pours off of him and I find myself wanting to lean in.
“Bathroom?” I mouth to Scarlett.
“Down the hall, first door on the left.” She tips her head in that direction.
“Excuse me,” I mutter quietly. I no longer care if everyone here knows that I’m affected by him. Seems like a stupid thing to try to hide anyway. The man has been inside of me; of course, running into him at a mutual friend’s party would be tense.
After a few minutes alone, I exit the bathroom to find Tyler waiting for me.
“Hey.” He pushes off the wall across from me. In jeans and a basic T-shirt, he shouldn’t take my breath away the way he does.
The hallway is right off the living room, but right now we’re the only two in the space.
“Hi,” I say, stopping in front of him. This is good. A moment alone to ease the weirdness of the situation. I knew I was going to run into him, and if I’m going to show up to things for Scarlett, I have to figure out how to be around him without wanting to kiss him or strangle him.
“I probably should have told you I was going to be here,” I say. “Scarlett and I have become friends. It’s a long story.”
“Leo mentioned you two had met. Scarlett’s great.”
“Yeah, she is.”
He shifts his weight from one foot to the other. “Whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re here, seeing as how you don’t respond to my texts. I was hoping to talk to you.”
My face heats. While I didn’t think his thank you text needed a response, I doubt I would have responded to anything he might have sent. It’s just easier not to open that door again.
“It was no problem staying with Everly for a few hours. Honestly. Your thanks wasn’t needed. I like her and I don’t like the thought of her not having someone she can count on while you’re gone.” I shake my head as I realize how judgmental that might sound. “I’m not saying you’re doing anything wrong. I get how hard it must be. I just mean to say, I’m happy I could fill in.”
“I think she likes you too. You’re the only teacher she doesn’t add some modifier to their name. Evil Mrs. Jones and Asshole Mr. Thomas.” His mouth lifts on one side. “And, uh, that’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.”
My brows pull together. “What do you mean?”
He slides both hands into his pants pockets. “I’ve been relying on Declan to keep an eye on her while I’m traveling, but I found out tonight that he’s been cleared to play starting next week. She’s not a child so she doesn’t exactly need a nanny, but I don’t feel right about leaving her alone for days at a time. Look, I know it’s a lot to ask, and if I had anywhere else to turn, I would, but I’m hoping you might do what you did Friday. I’d pay you, of course.”
“You want me to babysit your sister?”
“Babysit is the wrong word, but I’d feel better if she had someone she can count on if something comes up.”
“I meant what I said, I like Everly, truly, but I live across town and I have school, plus I tutor some nights.”
“I will pay you double whatever you are making at your other jobs. No, triple.” He moves closer and I get another big whiff of him. It’s so familiar and intoxicating.
“Tyler, that’s ridiculous.”
He grins. A smile of four summers ago. “You’re worth it. I know you are. And you can still hate me and avoid me if you want. This is actually not about me this time. I want what’s best for Ev, and I think that’s you.”
I want to believe him, but it’s all too intertwined. I can’t hang with his sister and expect to never talk to or see him. We already have too many strands weaved together as it is. “It isn’t a good idea. I’m sorry.”
He takes a deep breath that lifts his chest, and he nods. “Yeah, all right. I knew it was a long shot. Thank you again for Friday.”
“Welcome.” I take a step toward the party. His gaze follows me but he doesn’t move. “I’ll see you around.”
I hang with Jade most of the night. She introduces me to some more of the hockey guys and others she knows through Scarlett, but mostly we have a damn good time hanging out just the two of us dancing and drinking.
After my second glass of champagne, I hold up a hand to stop her from giving me another. “I have to drive home later.”
“Sam is picking me up. He can give you a ride home.”
I haven’t met Jade’s fiancé. She almost always goes out without him, saying he prefers to stay in. I get that but wonder if it bothers her more than she lets on. It doesn’t really seem like it so maybe I’m projecting.
One of my favorite things to do with Tyler was go out with our friends or his then teammates. There’s nothing like being at a party or in a room full of people and sneaking kisses or little touches. It’s the best kind of foreplay.
I realize as I’m thinking about me and Tyler that me and Chris don’t spend that many nights out together with friends either. We have dinner or hang out at my place, but rarely do we go out with other couples. I forgot how much I enjoyed that.
I look at my friend, smiling, red hair bouncing around her shoulders as she moves to the beat. She’s so happy and free in the moment. I want to be that carefree tonight.
I haven’t seen Tyler since the run-in outside of the bathroom, but I haven’t completely shaken it off either. I feel for him and everything he’s doing trying to look out for his sister, but I can’t be the one that saves him.
“Okay.” I take the glass and tip it back. I’m not going to think about it. At least not tonight.
