Page 64 of Jackpot Joker

Dario settles back down next to me and whispers in my ear. “Not a long-lost lover, I hope.”

“Not mine.”

His arm reaches in front of me, and I lean back, only then noticing a man delivering our order to us. I take one of the beers and my pretzel as Dario takes his own drink and the cup of cheese. “Are you going to hold that for me all night?”

He pinches off a piece of my pretzel and dunks it into the plastic container before popping the bite in his mouth.

“Hey!”

He smiles, baring his teeth around the piece of bread. “I thought we could share,” he says around his bite.

I go to argue, but the lights dim and the music begins to announce tonight’s lineup. “And your Vegas Venom captain, Hendrick Ryder!” The entire arena is on their feet now, and the sound of the cheers has my blood boiling. Against everyone else, I shout out the largest boo I can muster, feeling a sense of pride as I stand up for my friend back home who still cradles her broken heart all these years later.

“Have some respect for the captain,” I hear from behind me.

I turn, giving him a sweet smile. “Perhaps your captain should have some respect for others.”

He shakes his head, and I turn back around, focusing on the game, enjoying far too much the way it feels when Dario snakes his arm around my waist. When he leans down to whisper in my ear, a chill runs through me, but I blame it on our proximity to the ice. “So brave, mio toro.”

The game starts, and I forgot how much I enjoyed watching the action live. I’m getting the best workout I’ve had in years as I leap to my feet and then settle back in my chair, only to do it all over again mere seconds later. Before I know it, there are only five minutes left in the third period, and the crowd stands as Ryder faces off with a defenseman from the Salt Lake Summit. Ryder dekes, allowing him the opportunity to soar the puck past the goalie and straight into the net, putting the Venom in the lead.

The arena erupts as fans cheer, but I don’t allow their energy to hold me back from the jeers I’ve been hurling at the team captain all night. “You suck, Ryder!”

I laugh as I chirp, having a much better time than I anticipated, but the fans around me are unamused. The same man from the beginning of the game hollers back down at me from a couple of rows above.

“I’ve had enough of you dogging the captain all night. Why don’t you just go ahead and get out of here?” I remain looking at the ice regardless of the muttered agreements around me.

My eyes dart from player to player as Salt Lake passes the puck, attempting to score with five minutes left in the game. “Hey bitch, did you hear what I said? We’re sick of your shit.”

I can feel Dario tense beside me, and I grab his hand. This guy is looking for a reaction, and I plan on pissing him off more by not giving him one.

“Jasmine,” Dario mumbles before the beer in my hand is tipped over, spilling on my solid black dress. Thankfully, it won’t stain, but there’s already a chill in the air, and now I’m even colder.

I look up into the red face of the man I pissed off. He gives my shoulder a shove. “Nobody wants you here. It’s time you leave.”

My hand balls into a fist, and I begin to raise it back, but Dario steps between me and the man, who clearly misses his frat days. His voice is smooth as silk as he tries to calm the man who doesn’t want to learn what kind of power I have at the end of these fists. “Sir, I apologize if your night has been ruined. Why don’t I get you a beer, and we can smooth this over?”

The man stares at Dario as though he’s under a spell, and I wonder if he’s giving him one of those radiant smiles that work far too well on me. The man nods shakily, and Dario follows him after telling me he’ll be right back.

I stay quiet the remainder of the game, not wanting to risk another unruly fan trying to make something out of nothing. By the time the Venom wins 5-3, gaining another goal after the Summit pulled their goalie in the final minute, I realize Dario never came back, so I pull my phone out to text him.

Jasmine

Hey, where are you?

As the crowd begins to clear, I follow the stragglers out and to the concourse. Since I still don’t see Dario anywhere, I text him again while I wait in the forever-long line for the women’s bathroom.

Jasmine

Seriously. Did you leave me here?

When I finish washing my hands, I check my phone again and see there’s still no message, or even a read receipt.

Jasmine

What the hell? Did I embarrass you? Dario, you can't leave me here.

I wait several more minutes, watching everyone leave the building, until I’m the only one left except for the people cleaning their stations. As I’m typing out one final text, a loud crashing noise, along with a moan, comes from a closet behind me.