Page 168 of Cheap Shot

“So how is he in bed?” Tanner said, appearing at Jesse’s elbow. “I kinda don’t want to think about it too much because he’s totally like a brother to me but um, I’m also kinda dying to know.”

Sebastian chuckled. “Well, Luke’s pretty private, so I won’t go into details, but let’s just say, he’s pretty much like you’d expect. Gruff and growly and … intense. But like Jesse said, there’s more to him than you’d think.”

“Big dick. Got it.” Tanner nodded like it was confirming something he’d guessed. “Thought he’d be a grower.”

Sebastian let out a startled laugh. “Uhh, that wasn’t quite what I meant.”

“Am I wrong?” Tanner arched an eyebrow at him.

Sebastian shrugged. “I’m not saying that …”

“Okay, okay!” Connor’s voice rose over the crowd. “That’s enough harassing Luke and Sebastian. Everyone, grab a drink, grab some food, and let’s get down to business.”

As Sebastian made his way up to the bar a few minutes later, he was introduced to some of the SAPs. Kady’s girlfriend, Mandy, was very friendly, though he was surprised when he was introduced to their partners, Lauren and Jake.

“Great to meet you,” Sebastian said.

“We’re poly too,” Krista said, giving Sebastian a smile as she leaned into Tom’s shoulder. “Although we aren’t dating anyone else at the moment.”

Sebastian nodded.

“Did Luke tell you why?”

“No?” Sebastian said, slightly confused. “Was he supposed to?”

“No. I was just curious.”

“He really doesn’t talk aboutanyone’spersonal life,” Sebastian said. “He’s very private.”

“True,” Krista said with a soft laugh. “And honestly, this probably goes without saying to you, but the first rule about the SAP club is?—”

“We don’t talk about the SAP club?” Sebastian finished jokingly.

Mandy laughed. “Pretty much. It’s just … it’s not always easy being in the public eye. Fans are quick to criticize and make assumptions and blame personal lives on the way players are playing and …”

Sebastian nodded. “Not a problem. To be honest, other than promoting my business, I’m hardly on social media and I … well, I don’t exactly have a robust friend group in Boston. Hell, I hardly had that in New York. The perils of being a business owner who never knows when to turn it off, I suppose.”

Mandy looped her arm through his. “Well, you’re stuck with us now!”

And Sebastian thought that he was going to like that just fine.

After food and drinks and a lot of ideas about what the team could do to support Brie and Harper had been shared, Luke found himself face-to-face with Catherine O’Shea.

“I like him,” she said firmly, nodding toward where Sebastian was laughing about something with Tom and Thad.

“Me too,” Luke admitted.

She glanced over, her eyes twinkling as she took a sip of her drink. “Well, I would hope so. It’s a pretty important prerequisite for a relationship.”

“True.”

She leaned in. “What I really mean is that I like him foryou, specifically.”

Luke nodded.

“I didn’t know you were looking for a relationship,” she said. “I always got the impression that was something you weren’t interested in.”

“I wasn’t.” He swallowed hard. “But this feels … it feels right.”