“Ashton hates sushi and he says this place is prissy as fuck. His words, not mine. You care if we grab pizza instead?” She pushes her dark hair from her face, tugging at her bottom lip with her teeth.
“I’m good with pizza. Sure you don’t want to ride with me?” I tease, letting my gaze drop to my lap.
She snorts out a goofy laugh that warms my heart. “Maybe later.”
It wasn’t a no.
The wind whips her hair again and she shivers. She starts to walk away, but I stop her.
“Mia, wait.” I reach onto the floorboard behind the passenger seat and grab a red beanie. “Put this on. Your head is getting cold.”
She frowns in confusion when I hand her the beanie, but nods, taking it from me. When she slides it over her head, covering the tops of her eyebrows, my heart skips a few beats.
“Beautiful.”
Her cheeks turn as red as the beanie and she backs away. “Let me tell Drew and then you guys can follow us.”
My mood has lightened since talking to her and I think about where I’ll take her on a date as I follow them to the pizza place. I’ve got it narrowed down to a couple of places, as I climb out of the Tahoe. All of my good mood is sucked away when Drew gets out of his truck. He saunters my way, his blue eyes homing in on me, concern flashing in them.
I should be pissed he benched me toward the end, but I’m grateful he put me back in just in time for me to at least grab us one goal before the end of the game. With Ashton and Mia here, I can use them as a distraction from having to talk to him.
The thing with Drew is, he sees me right down to the marrow. Every single time he looks at me. At one time, it was pretty fucking cool to be that close to someone. Now, it feels invasive. Like he doesn’t get that right. If I could erect walls around me, I would. Drew would just find a way to walk right through them, though.
“MiMi and I don’t eat fish that still breathes,” Ashton reveals, hyper as fuck tonight. “We’re allergic.”
They both laugh and Drew rolls his eyes at them. I can’t help but smirk.
“Coach Daddy is still buying, though,” Ashton says, his lips curling up into a devious grin that he flashes Drew’s way.
And. Just. Like. That.
I’m pissy again.
Ashton is gay. No big deal. But flirting with Drew? It annoys the hell out of me. As though he’s trying to do it to make me mad. The fucker has been pushing my buttons since I met him. At least I know his button now.
Mia.
I walk over to her, grabbing her hand and tugging her into the restaurant. “I’ve been thinking about our date,” I tell her as the garlicky aromas hit my nostrils, making my stomach clench eagerly for some food.
“Our non-existent, never gonna happen, totally hypothetical date?” she teases.
“Yep. That one. The one where you let me kiss you and tell you how pretty you are.”
She gapes at me, her brown eyes softening. “You’re a real Casanova, huh?”
The hostess interrupts our flirting and motions for us to follow her. She brings us to a booth near some skee-ball machines. I catch Ashton’s annoyed glare when I usher Mia into the booth and then scoot in beside her. It makes me think of Drew’s earlier comment about Mia turning a gay man straight.
Ashton slides in first and Drew sits beside him across from us. Where Ashton glowers at me, Drew is watching me, analyzing my every move not unlike how he studies the way his players play.
“A pitcher of beer for the table,” Drew says to the waitress. “Maybe some fried mushrooms to get us started.”
No one flinches that he orders for everyone, not even me. That’s Drew for you. Taking charge like fucking usual.
“You look super familiar,” the woman says, angling her body so she looks at Drew. “You come here a lot?”
“First time,” he says.
“He used to play for the NHL but then…” I let my words die off, leaving him hanging because I’m a prick.
His blue eyes turn icy, though his smile for her is warm. “I coach the Ice Hawks now.”
“That’s awesome!” she praises. “I’ll grab your beer and put in your appetizer order. Be right back.”
As soon as she’s gone, Ashton zeroes in on me.
“So your asshole-ness isn’t just directed at me. Drew gets it too? Good to know you’re an equal opportunity dickhead.”
“Not to Mia,” I remind them both, playfully poking at her ribs.
She lets out a laugh because she’s ticklish it would seem. “Stop.”
“Your smile says go,” I tease.
“And Rapey Dude Bro Bray has graced us with his presence,” Ashton deadpans.
Drew snorts. “Bray doesn’t have to rape to get what he wants.”
It irks me that he’s sticking up for me.
“I’m wearing Mia down,” I explain. “Nothing bad about a guy who pursues what he wants.”
Mia, obviously overwhelmed by the stares of three men, snatches up the menu. “What are you guys getting? We can share.”
“She likes pineapple on her pizza,” Ashton reveals. “Better get her a small, because no one wants to share that shit.”
She scoffs, but Drew and I are both in agreeance.
“I’ll get sausage,” I state, knowing Drew likes it too.
“Will you now?” Ashton jokes, smirking at me.
It takes a minute for my brain to catch up. For a split second, I feel exposed by him. Jerking my glare to Drew, I accuse him with just my eyes. But he’s not looking at me. His gaze is soft as he watches Mia.
“Order for me. I’m going to take a piss,” I grumble, sliding out of the booth.
I spend too much time looking at myself
