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“You came,” Ari cried…his voice almost emotional as he threw an arm around the golden haired dreamboat we’d been headed toward and hugged him tight. The man chuckled and clapped Ari on the back…who was still holding onto me with his other hand, by the way. Once again I tried to pull away, but he wasn’t having it.
“Wouldn’t miss it, buddy,” Ari’s friend said in a delicious sounding voice. There was an absolutely stunning woman standing next to him with long black hair and sparkling green eyes. She had a gentle smile on her lips as she glanced from the guys to me, staring at me curiously. A peaceful feeling settled over me as we gazed at each other. Kind of weird actually, but something instantly told me this girl could be my friend.
Ari let go of the golden god and pulled me forward. “Blake, I want you to meet my second best friend, Lincoln. And my third best friend, Monroe.” Ari moved to give Monroe a hug.
“She is not your best friend, Ari,” Lincoln said exasperatedly–and a bit possessively, I thought–as he pulled her into his body so she couldn’t give Ari a hug.
I stared at them for a second longer than was normal. But it was crazy the way they seemed to gravitate around each other. Like even though they were talking to us, they were still wrapped up in each other. A longing settled in my gut.
I wanted that feeling. To know that your soul was safe in someone else’s hands.
I couldn’t even imagine what that would have felt like.
“Blake?” Lincoln repeated slowly, a glint of surprise and admiration on his face as his gaze flicked from me to Ari. “Is this the girl who stole my first best friend spot?”
He almost sounded like he’d heard of me before. But would Ari really have talked about me to his best friend after a random encounter in a restaurant?
Something that felt like butterflies soared around in my chest at the thought.
“Blake Shepfield, Lincoln Daniels. Lincoln Daniels, Blake Shepfield,” Ari said casually, as if it wasn’t weird at all that he’d told him about me.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said nervously.
“You don’t follow hockey, do you?” Monroe asked gently in a sweet, amused voice.
I bit my lip and glanced shyly up at Ari, hoping he wouldn’t be offended. “Tonight was the first time I’ve ever watched. I’m more of a football girl.”
Ari staggered like I’d stabbed him in the chest. “You don’t know what you’ve been missing,” he said theatrically.
You, a voice blared in my head.I’ve been missing you.
I pushed that thought away as quickly as I could.
“It will be nice to have someone who isn’t falling at these guy’s feet,” said Monroe with a smirk.
I glanced at her…boyfriend? Husband? “He plays hockey too?”
“We played on the Knights together. We’ve actually played together since prep school,” Ari explained, and there was longing in his voice. Longing that made my heart hurt for him.
I wondered if I’d ever feel comfortable enough to ask him what made him leave the Knights. It was obviously a very sensitive subject.
“You were awesome out there,” Lincoln said, making Ari freaking beam. “You even made up for Soto being on the ice somehow.”
The mention of his name made me glance over to where Soto and Charlotte were chatting with other members of the team. Soto was glaring at us even as my roommate tried to get his attention. A shiver stretched across my skin.
Ari let go of my hand though and instead pressed his palm against my lower back, in that space you’re not supposed to go if you’rejust a friend. His thumb slid back and forth, and even through my jersey it felt like electricity sparking across my skin from his touch.
“So, Blake,” Lincoln drawled. “How did you become besties with my boy, Ari? I would question your taste, but he did the same thing to me all those years ago, so I can only empathize with you.”
Ari let out an indignant bark of laughter. “Admit it. I’m the classy one of this relationship. You would be lost without me.”
Lincoln smirked, and I felt a bit dizzy from the delicious, grade A, alphamale energy radiating off these two guys.
And then Walker decided to sidle up next to us.
“Hey guys,” he said, his voice adorably nervous.
Ari sighed and rubbed a hand across his face as if he were pained. “Lincoln, meet your number one puck slut. Mr. Disney Prince himself. Walker.”
