Just then the waiter showed up to take their order. Meadow was the only one who requested a nonalcoholic drink with her entrée. Fortunately no one raised any eyebrows or gave her funny looks. She appreciated that.
After the waiter left, she confessed shyly to Scarlett, “I’m feeling a little starstruck having dinner with you. I was just telling your fiancé yesterday how much I love ‘Fahrenheit 32.’”
“Aww, thank— Wait. You met Viggo?”
“I did. Reid, too,” Meadow added to Nadia. “I was at the game last night for my second interview with Gamenetic. I met the players afterward at the team’s meet-and-greet.”
Scarlett squished her eyebrows together. “You had a job interview at a hockey game?”
Meadow nodded and laughed. “I know it’s a bit unconventional. The company’s management team has a suite at the arena. They’re huge Rebels fans.”
“Oh, how cool,” Nadia enthused. “That means you’ll get to attend lots of games.”
“Yup. They told me I’m welcome to join them anytime.”
“Awesome.” Scarlett grinned. “You’ll have to ditch your employer’s cushy suite and join us in the stands. That’s the best place to be at a hockey game. You wanna be close to the action. Close enough to hear the clash of sticks, the swish of blades cutting through the ice, the wham of bodies hitting the boards.”
Scarlett looked almost orgasmic, causing Meadow to giggle.
Nadia rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind Scarlett. She’s a bit of a hockey-a-holic. She craves it like a junkie craves a fix.”
Meadow laughed. “Then I guess it’s a good thing she’s marrying a hockey player.”
“Yes, Lawd!” Scarlett testified, waving her hand in the air. “Thank ya, Jesus!”
They all cracked up laughing.
Bianca grinned at Scarlett. “You know at some point you and Nadia will be expected to join the other WAGs in their VIP suite.”
Scarlett raised an eyebrow. “Says who?”
“C’mon now,” Bianca teased. “You know the players’ wives and girlfriends are supposed to sit together, sipping champagne and gossiping about whose man makes the most money.”
Nadia looked like she’d rather eat nails than participate in such a shallow bonding ritual.
Scarlett waved dismissively. “No offense to the other WAGs, but I’m a grown woman and I can sit wherever I want. I enjoy sitting in the stands, so that’s where my black ass is staying.”
Meadow and Bianca laughed.
Nadia just sighed as if to say: That’s Scarlett for you!
Ana arrived just as their drinks and appetizers were being served. A pretty Latina in a sleek designer pantsuit, she went around the table kissing cheeks, her dark hair spilling over faces. When Bianca introduced her to Meadow, she hugged her around the shoulders before taking her seat next to Scarlett.
“Sorry I’m late. I got held up at the office. They’ve been working me like a dog because they know I’ll be out for two weeks after the wedding.” She took a hefty swig of her margarita and let out an appreciative sigh. “Never thought I’d say this, but I can’t wait until the big day has come and gone. I just wanna lay on the beach soaking up the sun with my man.”
“Hear, hear!” Nadia and Scarlett chorused, clinking glasses with her.
The conversation returned to weddings as they demolished the appetizers, laughing and chatting until the waiter brought their meals.
Twirling strands of pasta around her fork, Ana smiled at Nadia and Scarlett. “So what are the fellas up to this evening?”
“A bunch of them are hanging out at Hunter’s house,” Scarlett answered. “The last time I texted Viggo, they were playing pool.”
Bianca snickered. “You know Logan’s probably kicking their asses.”
“You know he is,” Nadia agreed with a laugh. “Reid is the only one who’s ever beat him, but only because Logan was having an off night. He’s so damn good. I swear he was born with a cue stick in one hand—”
“—and a hockey stick in the other,” Bianca finished.
As the others laughed and nodded, Meadow found herself smiling. “His adoptive father taught him how to play pool,” she said without thinking.
Four pairs of eyes swung to her, all filled with surprise.
An embarrassed flush climbed from her neck to her face.
“How do you know who taught him?” Bianca asked curiously. “Did you read that somewhere?”
“Um, no.” Meadow squirmed in her seat. “I was there.”
“There?” Everyone stared at her, food forgotten. “Where?”
Her cheeks grew hotter. “I was there when he learned to play. We were kids—”
Bianca gasped, eyes wide. “Talk about ‘burying the lede’! You never told me you know Logan!”
“Sorry,” Meadow said with a sheepish shrug. “It never came up.”
“Seriously? Not even after I told you that my boyfriend is a hockey reporter and his twin sister is dating a Denver Rebel?”
Meadow gave another helpless shrug, palms upturned.
Narrowing her eyes, Bianca pointed her fork at her. “I’ll deal with you later, missy. Right now I want to hear all about you and Logan.”
“Yes, girl,” the others urged, leaning toward her. “Tell us everything.”
Meadow felt painfully self-conscious. “Um, well, we met in foster care—”
“Logan’s your foster brother?” Ana interrupted.
“No. We were at the same group home back in Vegas,” she explained, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Mr. Tavárez was one of our counselors before he adopted Logan. He was really good at pool. He got his church to donate a pool table to the group home so he could teach us how to play. I wasn’t interested. Nothing but astronomy and art held my attention. None of the other girls cared about pool either. So Mr. Tavárez ended up teaching just the boys.” She smiled a little. “Logan was a natural. He took to it right away. Mr. Tavárez wanted to keep the boys busy and out of trouble, so he arranged for them to compete in community pool tournaments. Logan was freakishly good. He used to beat lots of older kids. He probably could have become a professional pool player if he hadn’t started playing hockey.”
She paused to sip her virgin margarita. She had everyone’s complete attention. Their focus was a little unnerving.
“What was it like living in a group home?” Bianca asked quietly. “I’ve heard so many horror stories.”
Meadow nodded, setting her frosty glass down. “Some group homes are better than others. Fortunately ours was on the better end of the spectrum. There were about five staff members and fifteen kids. Our schedules were very structured. We had chores every day, we went to school and we had weekly group therapy sessions divided by gender. I shared a room with three other girls, which definitely had its challenges. We had no privacy whatsoever and sometimes our stuff would get stolen.” Or broken, she added silently, mourning her beloved telescope.
“Honestly,” she continued, “the group home was better than most of my previous foster homes. The counselors genuinely cared about us, especially Mr. Tavárez. He had a really big heart and he loved kids, so he tried to make our lives as normal as possible. He took us hiking and swimming, and we used to play games in the backyard.” She paused, feeling a sense of sadness creep up on her. “We all had baggage to deal with, some more than others. It was really hard for me to trust people and open up, so I mostly kept to myself. Or at least tried to.”
When she finished talking, there was silence as the others digested everything she’d just shared. She took the opportunity to eat a piece of grilled shrimp and wash it down with a slushy gulp of margarita.
Scarlett gave her a small smile. “Did Logan used to get into a lot of fights?”
“He did,” Meadow said with a rueful chuckle. “He stayed in trouble, especially at school. Mr. Tavárez used to call him a tough hombre because he never backed down from a fight. But sometimes he fought for noble reasons. He believed in sticking
up for the little guy, and he beat up more than a few bullies on my behalf.”
“Awww,” the others cooed warmly. “That’s so sweet!”
A soft smile touched Meadow’s lips. “I suppose it was.”
Bianca shook her head in wonder. “I can’t believe you never told me any of this.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just…” Meadow let out a deep sigh. “Surviving foster care isn’t something I enjoy talking about. I…I had some painful experiences that are hard to discuss, and I can’t handle people feeling sorry for me. As for Logan, well, I hadn’t seen him in fifteen years. I knew he got drafted into the NHL because the local media made a big deal over it. He was a hometown boy and the number one draft pick at just eighteen years old, so it was understandably big news. I was still in high school at the time, and I haven’t really followed his career.” She swallowed. “To be totally honest, he reminded me of a time in my life I’d rather forget.”
There were sympathetic nods and murmurs around the table. Bianca leaned over, put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her. The compassionate gesture made her throat tighten.
Trying to lighten the solemn mood, Ana smiled playfully at Meadow. “So I take it you’ve never seen Logan dance the bachata?”
Meadow shook her head.
“Mmm, qué rico,” Ana breathed, licking her lips. “Listen, mama. If you don’t want to have impure thoughts about your old BFF, you’d better not watch him dance.”
“You ain’t lying,” Bianca purred lasciviously. “Logan is such an amazing dancer.”
“They all are.” Scarlett grinned at Nadia. “Remember All-Star Weekend in Nashville when we went line dancing with the fellas? Remember how good they looked, working their hips and boot scootin’ across that dance floor?”
“How could I forget?” Nadia said with a naughty grin. “I wore Reid out when we got back to the hotel. And we could hear you and Viggo across the hall damn near breaking the furniture.”
The two cousins hooted wickedly and slapped high fives.
“Damn,” Ana grumbled. “I wish I’d been there to see the boys line dancing.”
“Right?” Bianca sighed. “I love my Nelson dearly, but that poor brotha has two left feet.”
“So does Luke,” Ana lamented. “It must be hereditary.”
Scarlett snorted. “If it is, it sure as hell skipped me and Nadia because we can dance our asses off. Ain’t that right, cuzzo?”
Nadia just laughed and shook her head, her hair bouncing prettily from the gesture. It was really gorgeous, so thick and long.
Bianca grinned. “All I know is that it makes no sense for those white boys to have all that rhythm.” She paused. “Well, I’m not sure about Hunter. We’ve never actually seen him dance before. But the other three? Lordy, Lordy, Lordy.”
“Yes indeed,” Ana leered, fanning herself. “When Logan broke out those sexy bachata moves at the band’s wrap party?” She pretended to swoon out of her chair, setting off a round of bawdy laughter.
Meadow chuckled, swirling her straw around the crushed ice in her margarita. “Mr. Tavárez was always listening to bachata music in the van. Logan was the only one who seemed to enjoy it.” She grinned. “Guess it was in his blood.”
This drew feminine purrs of appreciation.
Ana grinned impishly at Meadow. “Since you have the inside track on Bachata Bae, maybe you can help me out.”
“Um, okay,” Meadow said with a cautious smile. “Help you out with what?”
“Well, here’s the thing. My baby sister’s crazy about Logan. Seriously. She’s been dying to meet him ever since Nadia started dating Reid. I tried to introduce them to each other after a game, but the bunnies had their claws in him—”
“Bunnies?” Meadow interrupted, brow furrowed.
“Puck bunnies,” Nadia explained. “That’s what they call hockey groupies.”
“They’re the worst,” Scarlett added with an eye roll.
Meadow grinned wryly. “I think I encountered a group of them after the game last night. They were swarmed around Logan like bees around a honeypot, as my mom used to say. They were all wearing his jersey, and one girl asked him to autograph her, ah, breasts.”
“Yup. Sounds about right.” Nadia and Scarlett shook their heads. “The thirst is real.”
Ana snickered and took a slurp of her margarita before resuming the conversation. “Logan’s perfect for my sister. She only dates white guys, and he looks phenotypically white enough to satisfy her preference—”
“Um, hello?” Bianca interjected. “He looks white because he is white.”
“I know that. But he’s also part Latino and he speaks Spanish, so my parents couldn’t really complain about him being a gringo—”
“Like they complain about my brother being black?” Scarlett said sweetly.
Ana grimaced. “They’re coming around. No, seriously, they are,” she insisted at Scarlett’s skeptical look. “They really like Luke. He’s smart, educated, makes six figures and comes from a good home. They know he’s a great catch. But would they prefer a son-in-law who can converse with them in Spanish? Of course. Just being honest,” she said with a shrug. “Anyway, Logan would also win them over because he’s hella rich, which means he would make an excellent provider. I mean, he earns thirteen million a year, not counting endorsements. Like I said, he’s perfect for my sister.” She paused. “Except for the whole manwhoring thing.”
The others cracked up laughing.
Meadow bit back a smile.
Ana sighed. “I’ve always believed that the right woman can change even the whoriest manwhore.”
Bianca grinned. “Nadia definitely pulled it off.”
Nadia just smiled and shrugged, making everyone laugh.
“I’m really hoping Logan and my sister will hit it off at my wedding. Unless…” Ana looked at Meadow, her brown eyes narrowed speculatively. “There’s nothing going on between you and Logan, is there?”
“God, no,” Meadow said so vehemently that four sets of eyebrows shot up.
She flushed. “I mean, Logan and I go way back and he’s a great guy. But we’re just friends. Seriously.”
Ana eyed her suspiciously. “You don’t have a thing for him?”
“Not at all.” She flashed what she hoped was a convincing smile. “Your sister should totally go for it.”
Ana beamed with satisfaction.
Bianca, Nadia and Scarlett exchanged speculative looks.
“If you want,” Meadow offered, “I’ll even put in a good word for her.”
Ana’s eyes lit up. “Would you?”
“Of course. What’s her name?”
“Inez. Inez Gutierrez.”
Meadow smiled. “I’ll tell Logan about her, see what he says.”
“Yay!” Ana whipped out her phone and started texting her sister. “She’s gonna be so excited. You have no idea.”
Meadow smiled again and took a long sip of her drink, pretending not to notice the way the others were watching her. Like they saw something she was trying to hide, even from herself.
Ana put away her phone and sighed. “Since I can’t have one of those sexy Rebels, maybe my sister will get lucky.”
“Hey!” Scarlett stabbed a finger at her. “Watch yourself, heffa, before I tell my brother.”
Everyone burst out laughing.
* * *
After dinner they were standing under the restaurant’s canopied entrance waiting for the valet to bring Bianca and Ana’s cars around. Nadia and Scarlett had taken a Lyft to the restaurant so their fiancés could pick them up after dinner. Since Reid and Viggo were leaving tomorrow morning for an away game, they wanted to spend as much time with them as they could. Waiting to see them at home was apparently out of the question.
Bianca had struck up a friendly conversation with a group of young white women waiting by the valet station. Meadow was in awe of her ability to chat up complete strangers. She made it look so easy to make friends. It was enviable.
The girls recognized Nadia and Scarlett from TV and social media. They had just finished taking selfies with them when two gleaming sports cars came rumbling up the driveway. One was a black Lamborghini Veneno, the other a futuristic supercar Meadow couldn’t identify.
Everyone stopped to stare as the cars’ butterfly doors lifted vertically, and out climbed Reid and Viggo.
Nadia and Scarlett became all smiles and giggles. They started across the canopied driveway, practically skipping, and were met halfway by their ridiculously hot fiancés. What happened next could either be considered super romantic or super nauseating, depending on your tolerance for other people’s PDA.
Reid wrapped his arms around Nadia’s waist and lowered his head to nibble her lips as she smiled adoringly up at him.
Viggo kissed Scarlett and hugged her close, one big hand sliding down her back to affectionately cup her bottom. When he whispered something in her ear, she laughed coyly and bit her lip.
Watching the two couples, Meadow could feel the happiness radiating from them like sun rays. They were madly in love and clearly meant for each other.
Hashtag relationship goals, she found herself thinking. She wasn’t alone, judging by the deep sighs that floated up around her.
Reid and Viggo helped Nadia and Scarlett into their respective cars before sliding behind the wheel. The two couples waved goodbye to everyone and then roared off into the night, one right after the other.
Bianca and Ana immediately took out their phones and called their significant others.
Meadow had never felt so single in her life.
Chapter Ten
MEADOW
* * *
On the way back from dinner, Meadow and Bianca had karaoke in the car, singing along loudly to Drake’s “In My Feelings.”
When the song ended, they let out a whoop and burst into silly giggles.
When the next song came on, Bianca lowered the volume and glanced over at Meadow. She suddenly looked serious. “Can I tell you something without you getting offended?”
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