and I was able to eat almost whatever I wanted without putting on weight. Yeah, I know, most women hate me for that.
“That was quite the performance,” I said. “Axel has some moves.”
“Yeah, it’s something I’ll never be able to unsee.”
“How was he ever convinced to do that?”
“He had to. It was part of the Puck Brothers Pact. His penance.”
“The what?”
“Puck Brothers. You know, what all of us younger single guys call ourselves. As each one of us succumbs to a monogamous relationship, we have to pay penance decided by the other guys. We let Steele handle this one. It was way worse than Easton’s was. He only had to polish our skates.”
“I do recall now that you’ve mentioned the Puck Brothers.”
“Yeah. I have a feeling we’re going to try to one-up each other. I’m not looking forward to my turn.” He shot me a sideways glance, but I didn’t take his bait. He wanted me to commit to staying, and I wasn’t. We had a few more nights together, but my plan was to leave on Monday after I helped Mandy clean up after the wedding on Saturday.
“Sounds brutal.”
“Oh, it is. Hockey players are known for pranks. It’s survival of the fittest.”
“I can imagine.” I was a competitive person, too. I’d always competed for the best grades, for my busy father’s attention, and whatever other ways I might be able to prove I was the best. I’d been a pretty decent tennis player and golfer on my high school teams, which was the extent of my athletic competition. Golfing had been a way to spend quality time with my dad, and I’d been golfing since I’d been old enough to swing a club. A lot of business happened on the golf course, including political maneuvering. I was a decent golfer, good enough not to embarrass myself.
“I golf and play tennis,” I volunteered, not expecting my meager athletic prowess to impress a professional.
“You do? We should play sometime. I’m not good at either, but I can hold my own. You’d probably kick my ass.”
“I bet I would.” I nodded, knowing we’d never find out who would win our personal battle of the sexes, but I didn’t want to ruin the evening by pointing that out.
“I’m going to hold you to it. The loser buys dinner.”
“Sure. I need a glass of wine.” Without waiting for him, I headed for the bartender. Kaden scrambled to catch up with me. He ordered a beer.
“Was the bachelorette party fun?”
“Actually, I usually hate those things, but this one was fun. I learned a lot.”
He shot me a sideways glance, confused. “What can you possibly learn at a bachelorette party?”
“You’d be surprised. Have you ever heard of a finger vibrator?”
“Can’t say I have. I haven’t needed to use much in the way of sex toys. I’m a natural sex toy myself. No need for imitations when you have the real thing.”
The bartender raised a brow and fist-bumped Kaden. My face burned from embarrassment. I hadn’t noticed the guy was listening. Maybe I didn’t need another glass of wine. Those women at that party put away the alcohol. I’d been struggling to keep up.
I rolled my eyes. Kaden and the bartender chuckled. I thanked him for my wine, and Kaden and I found a seat at one of the many tables with Geneva. Axel hadn’t returned yet, probably licking his wounds and gathering his courage to face these ruthlessly brutal men.
Steele sat down next to Kaden along with a few other teammates, and the conversation turned, as it always did, to hockey.
Geneva leaned toward me and lowered her voice, glancing around first. “That bridal shower was an eye-opener. Please tell me I’m not the only one who didn’t know what some of that stuff was for?”
“You definitely aren’t. Those sisters are naughty girls.”
“You mean Avery, Bella, and Izzy?”
“Exactly. They knew what all those toys were for.”
“So did Juniper and Cin. Makes you wonder.”
“I’m trying not to,” I said. “Speaking of Juniper, looks like she’s having a good time.” I pointed to the dance floor.
“She sure is. Wanna bet she gets some tonight?”
“No bets. She definitely is.”
Juniper was dirty dancing with Ziggy. The two of them were grinding hips together and lip-locked under the dizzying lights of the mirror ball. As we both watched, Ziggy’s hand cupped Juniper’s ass, and she wrapped one of her legs around his thigh, rubbing it against his crotch.
“Get a fucking room!” a couple of the guys shouted from a table nearby. Ziggy