and I grab hold and I stay there for a bit. I don’t slip away because of my anchors. You’re one of them. You’ve almost dammed up my river and I really like that.”
There.
If that didn’t scare him away…
He looked at me, and his head cocked to the side. It was like he was now seeing me in a different way.
Like he was finally seeing me.
“What does that mean?”
What did that all mean? I had no clue.
Then, I thought about it.
“I think I’m willing to give up the river for you.”
His eyes took on a tender and loving look. He softened, and he leaned toward me. “If you’re saying what I think you’re saying, then… me too.”
I laughed lightly, almost laughing into his mouth because he was right there. “Although, in your world, your river is probably frozen over and you’re out there, skating away, playing hockey to your heart’s content.”
“Cheyenne.”
“Hmm?”
“Shut up.”
His mouth settled over mine, and I shut up.
36
Cut
Hendrix was eyeing Sasha. And that was not making Chad happy.
My box was next to the one that the Mustangs’ players used. I got my own because of my investment so when Chad showed up, I knew things would kick off with a bang tonight. And they had.
Hendrix cozied up to Cassie as soon as he showed up. Cassie had Melanie there, and whatever they’d been sharing with him, he had a whole different look when it came to Sasha.
Sasha, on the other hand, had barely left the booth where she was sitting with Cheyenne and myself.
I left, though.
I left to talk to Hendrix. I left to talk to the others. I left because it seemed that Sasha needed Cheyenne, so I was giving them some time. That’s when Chad walked in, and then Hendrix’s eyes lit up.
I recognized that look.
It was the same one he got when we had an opponent he really wanted to destroy. Of the other guys from the team, only Crow and Alex came out tonight. They were the single ones, and both were in a far booth with five girls hanging around them. Two to each, and a third going between them. Totally in their element.
Chad headed my way at the same time Hendrix decided to make his move.
He slid into my emptied spot, but I know he did that so Sasha would have to see his face. When I would return, Hendrix would apologize, get up, and sit right next to Sasha instead. He’d make sure his arm was brushing against hers, but he’d wait to see if she was into it. If she wasn’t, he’d cut his losses and leave. I’d seen him do it a thousand times.
“Hey.” Chad approached, but he was swinging a frown in Sasha’s direction right away.
Hendrix lifted his drink to us in a salute, before doing exactly what I thought he would do. He sat in my seat and leaned forward, making sure Sasha had to see him to respond.
“What the hell?”
“How about you and me have our conversation before you head over for that one?”
His gaze swung back to me, and he nodded. “Yeah. You want Cheyenne involved?”
I shook my head. “Cheyenne’s made it clear that this is between you and me more than her.”
He frowned.
Yeah. It confused me, too, until I thought about what she’d said. Then it made sense and it also made me feel a certain way about her, even more.
Hendrix and the others had joined my box once we got here, so theirs was now empty.
Chad and I had our drinks and headed over. There was a booth overlooking the dance floor, but some of the sound was more muted there. I slid in.
Chad slid across from me, and then he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
I started it. “How about you tell me what went down.”
“Didn’t Cheyenne?”
“I want to hear your version.”
He nodded, his head down before he spoke. “Deek reached out. Thought it’d be fun to catch a game with Hunter and myself. Personally, I think he wanted to talk about Cheyenne and get a feel for what all was going on. He knows things have changed, that you’re seeing her now. I mentioned it when I went over to hang out one night with Hunter. But, yeah. He and Hunter were heading for concessions tonight. I came up behind and saw Cheyenne hassling them. I felt a certain way and got in there. I—”
“Hassling?”
Chad quieted. “That’s what Deek said. Hunter looked uncomfortable.”
“Deek said that? Her father said that?”
“If