Jilted Jock - Rebecca Jenshak Page 0,74

and talking before the meal was served, but I led her straight to the table.

Foster spotted us and came over carrying three flutes of champagne.

“Hey, you guys made it.”

He tried to hand us the flutes, but I shook my head. “We’re good.”

“Adele?”

“No, thanks.” Her voice was a little off, but I didn’t know if it was being offered a drink or just her nerves about meeting everyone.

He shrugged and an easy smile tugged at his lips. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Judd Foster.”

Shit. “Sorry, right. Adele, this is my buddy Foster.”

“Good to put a face with the name,” she said.

Foster smiled, but thankfully he avoided any cheesy comments about his face. I knew he was dying to interject something like, And what a face it is or something equally as awful. The guy was one bad pickup line away from being in the douchebag hall of fame. Always working the charm. In his world view, even the women he wasn’t interested in needed to be wooed.

“Lauren went to the ladies’ room, but – ah, never mind, there she is.” He smiled and tipped his head to Lauren making her way into the room. She sauntered over and Foster made the introductions.

After that, more of our teammates drifted over and Adele seemed to relax once conversation flowed around us. And thankfully, no one else tried to hand her a drink.

I squeezed her hand and leaned down. “Are you okay?”

“Stop looking at me like that. I’m fine.”

I didn’t entirely believe her, she still looked a little nervous, but my asking her nine thousand times wasn’t going to help. I took her at her word and tried to loosen up. I let Chance get in my head and I kept finding myself tensing for the second she was gonna freak out.

When Kenton called for a round of shots, I turned him down, but then Adele smiled and nudged me forward like maybe it was important to her that I not treat the situation any differently just because she was there. I took the shot but didn’t feel quite right about it and decided to pass on drinking anymore.

“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” I asked, brushing my lips against hers.

“Only about a dozen times.”

“Plan on hearing it a dozen more.” I kissed her harder, sweeping my tongue inside. I was starting to think maybe Dick, the fucker, had the right idea about staying in – getting her naked would have to wait and I was running thin on patience.

She pulled back first and pressed a hand to her lips.

I did my best to keep it PG after that and focused on getting through the event. I’d mostly avoided team social calls since Cindy. It was awkward as hell at first knowing all my teammates, hell, the whole organization, knew how I’d been stood up on my wedding day. The pity, the weird apology speeches some of the guys gave me. Everyone meant well, I think, but I’d just been too embarrassed about the whole thing to feel comfortable being around anyone.

Foster was the exception to that, of course. For as obnoxious as he could be making jokes and living life with this wild and carefree personality, he knew exactly who and what to be at the right moment. He was a bit of a chameleon like that.

But even he couldn’t make the moment Cindy and Martins joined our circle any less awful. My grip on Adele tightened causing her to look up and when she spotted Cindy, it was clear she knew my ex by sight.

“Hi guys,” Cindy said to the group.

No one spoke at first until Foster found manners for the lot of us. “Hey, Cindy. You look nice.”

“You too, Foster.” She looked to me. “Finn.”

I nodded as politely as I could manage.

I really had no intention of introducing them, but Cindy stepped forward and extended a hand. “Hi, I’m Cindy.”

“Adele.” She took Cindy’s hand looking as bad ass and beautiful as I’d ever seen her. I wanted to kiss her for rolling with it and not hunkering under Cindy’s intrusive gaze. She was just so… everything.

I wrapped a protective arm around her and then it was time to eat so we all sat down. Thank God for small miracles, Cindy and Martins were at a different table. Once we were situated with our drinks and food, my nerves eased up.

The food was delicious and the company even better. I draped an arm around the back of her