A smile turns her lips up. Then she makes eye contact with me, the blue-green color like Mediterranean water. I can’t stop staring at them even when she begins to speak. “I’m happy to be here. Sorry I couldn’t be at your game a few weeks ago, I had to work.”

I flick over my cards, wondering for the millionth time if she’s just saying that. She’d called to apologize about missing the scrimmage, and I don’t care about that. I’m just worried that she feels trapped into playing my girlfriend to impress my mother. It would work, too; my mother would adore this girl. Smart, cute, comes from a big family, helps her dad out—she’s an angel.

“Can I talk to you for a second?” I ask when she folds. I fold too, even though I’m close to a flush. “In the kitchen.”

“Sure,” she says, a hint of confusion at the edge of her voice.

Lilia flashes me a smirk as we leave the room, and I’m left wondering what exactly was said between the two women. If Lilia embarrassed me or made Andi uncomfortable, I’m not going to be happy.

“Lilia’s great,” Andi says as soon as we reach the kitchen. “Really fun to finally meet her, er…face to face.”

Now I understand: Andi caught my brother boning his soon-to-be wife and, even though we’re all happy they love each other, nobody wants to see that. No wonder she’s a little uncomfortable tonight.

“About that,” I say. “They’re not shy, so don’t worry about it. Unfortunately, I’ve also seen more than I’d like to.”

“Oh, no, it’s not that.” She runs a hand almost nervously over her collarbone. Then all at once she looks up, those brilliant eyes meeting mine. “Why didn’t you just call and ask me to come hang out?”

I see the stacks of pizza in the background and feel my stomach sinking. “Christ, I’m sorry, Andi. I didn’t even think about the work going into these things, I just thought…well, I wasn’t thinking. I wanted to see you, and I was trying to be funny. I suck at it, and I’m sorry.”

“No, it is cute.” She steps closer to me. “But you don’t have to be cute. I like hanging out with you, and we agreed to do this getting to know each other thing. Otherwise, it won’t be realistic for us to go to a wedding together. I mean, we can’t show up to your parents house and have you wondering if I like coffee or not—everyone would see right through the ruse. If we’re pretend dating, we have to know a few things about each other.”

“I know you like coffee,” I say with a wink. “What else do you like?”

She gives a soft laugh. “All I’m saying is that I expected we’d hang out when I agreed to do this thing. You can save your money—you don’t have to order pizzas or tip me or any of that. We’re friends.”

“Friends,” I echo. “Right.”

We watch each other in silence for a long moment. Mostly, I use this time to give myself a pep talk. Don’t be a pansy, I tell myself. Say how you feel, dickhead.

“Andi—” I say, finally gathering up the courage.

Right then, Lilia walks into the room.

I love Lilia like a sister, but I want to punt her out of the kitchen in that moment. My hands flex into fists as she bites into a slice of pizza and turns to face us. “What’s up, guys?”

I roll my eyes as she gives me a knowing expression, and I’m wondering if Andi said something to her about us, about this friend thing we’re trying out. Is Lilia trying to prevent us from getting involved? She has to know I left the room—alone—to get Andi by herself, so why is she being the biggest cockblock in the room?

I need to finally put my lips on Andi’s and kiss her until she forgets all about this stupid friendship idea. I need to show her that I’ve changed my mind, that I want something different.

That I’m changing the damn rules.

That I want her in my bed.

Now.

CHAPTER 21

Andi

“I fold.” I shake my head. “Crap cards, Nicky. Thanks for nothing.”

“About time.” Ryan winks at me, and I’m reminded of the moment we shared in the kitchen an hour earlier. “You’ve been taking our money all night.”

I laugh, playing along, but I’m still wondering what he wanted to say while we were alone, if he had wanted, possibly, to tell me what I so desperately wanted to hear. But Lilia, bless her heart, had interrupted, and Ryan and I haven’t been able to sneak away since.

I might be the pizza delivery girl, but I also know how to hold my own in a card game, and I took no mercy on these men. I have the most chips out of anyone at the table, and I’m not planning on letting up any time soon.

Lilia sits cuddled next to Lawrence while the agents and hockey players are in various displays of lounging, beers in hand.

“So, I hear we have a wedding coming up,” I say to Lilia and Lawrence. “How long have you two been together?”

“Almost three years,” Lilia. “Can you believe it? We met while living in two different states. We lived apart for a while while we both got our careers established, but we always got back together.”

“Until I finally put a ring on it and told her I wouldn’t tolerate any more nights apart.” Lawrence winks. Despite Ryan’s assessment of his brother as a dick, any time Lilia is in the room, Lawrence is a big, squishy teddy bear. He looks at me. “I hear you might be coming to the wedding.”

Lilia looks up, surprised. Apparently she hasn’t heard the news yet.

I glance at Ryan, not sure whether he’s told anyone else our plan, or if he’s keeping it a complete secret. “Possibly.”

Lilia gives Ryan a curious stare. “Really.”

“Really.” Ryan meets her gaze. Then he glances back to the cards. “My deal?”

“We’d love to have you,” Lawrence says. “Ever been to Minnesota before?”

I shake my head. “I’ve never had a reason to go.”

“Well, it’s a treat,” Lawrence says, and I can’t tell if it’s sarcasm. “You’ll need a week to come down from culture shock when you return to LA—our parents own a farm.”

“That sounds like an experience,” I agree.

“Enough with the wedding talk,” Ryan says. “Pick up your cards and focus.”

I look at my hand, wondering if Ryan’s upset. He’s acting normally otherwise, smiling and laughing and touching my leg now and again, so it’s hard to say. I push the thought away, focusing on the game, which ends up paying off big time.

A few rounds later, I’ve stolen even more of the boys’ money. Lilia isn’t playing anymore—she’s lying with her head in Lawrence’s lap, eyes closed, looking all too comfortable.

I’m not even trying to win anymore, but competitiveness is ingrained in me. Working at Peretti’s Pizza has given me a good base for card games. My dad taught me poker at a young age. When deliveries were slow, we’d need something to pass the time, and my dad was ruthless.

I’ve gone home many a night with no tips, but eventually I learned, and now my dad never asks to play anymore. He mostly likes to win.

Unlike my dad, the hockey guys aren’t poor sports. They’re good sports, which makes the game all the more fun.

“Babe, we should get you in bed. You have a meeting in the morning.” Lawrence leans over and plants a kiss on Lilia’s cheek. “And if we don’t leave right now, I won’t have enough money to pay our mortgage next month, since Andi here is sweeping the table.”

I laugh then push a stack of chips in Lawrence’s direction. “Here, I wouldn’t want you to be homeless.”

“Oh, he’s being a baby.” Lilia grins, pushing the chips back. “But I am ready for bed. Goodnight y’all. Behave.”

I catch a movement out of the corner of my eye—it’s Lilia, Lawrence, and Ryan all exchanging some look I can’t quite interpret.

“I’ll lock up,” Ryan says. “Good night.”

Mo stands up, too, waving to the table. “Pleasure playing with you all—except for you, Andi. It was a disaster playing with you. I should be heading out before I lose my cab fare.”