“Before we go in,” I said, “tell me more about your truck sex fantasy.”

His gaze fell to my hand, then lifted up to my face. He gave me a devilish smile. “What about it?”

“Where would this take place?” I slid my palm higher up his jean-clad leg. “I mean, in theory.”

“Lots of quiet areas out where my mom lives. Maybe around Thanksgiving, we could take a little detour…”

“Mmm,” I hummed, moving higher. “We should definitely do that.”

Chase shifted his weight, drawing in a breath; now I had him going.

“Dammit.” He shook his head.

“What?”

“You know what. You’re making me horny before we have to go inside.”

“Call it payback, Carter.” I gave him a look. “Besides, you’re always horny.”

“Of course I am,” he said. “Look at you.”

* * *

Everyone was bombed by the time we showed up. Dallas and Siobhan had gotten drunk on expensive wine at dinner with his parents—Shiv in particular, and she was talking so loudly I could hear her from the next room. And reportedly, the majority of the guests had been playing beer pong for a good portion of the night. Based on the noise level, it showed.

Chase steered me into the kitchen and quickly introduced me to Kyle Penner. He had wavy, reddish-blond hair and didn’t look familiar to me, but a lot of the guys looked different off the ice.

But the girl with him did look familiar. Dark hair, very pretty, petite. She was the girl hanging off Chase at the rink after the game against Callingwood. Kristen. I wasn’t her biggest fan, and there was definitely history between her and Chase.

After an awkward exchange, we headed into the living room where a group of people was playing a drinking game with cards. Tyler and the girl he’d brought were making out on a couch in the corner while his hand crept dangerously high underneath her short skirt. I had to avert my eyes to avoid seeing straight up it.

“Bailey!” Shiv squealed, waving us over. We squeezed onto the couch beside her and Dallas. “Are we still going shopping for the gala this weekend?”

Right. The gala. In the chaos of the move, I had forgotten. It was a big charity event that the hockey community put on for the Children’s Hospital Foundation. We were sharing a table with Dallas and Shiv, Ty and his date, and another couple.

It sounded nice—and fancy, which was a slight issue for me in terms of the dress code. But I would figure it out. Maybe via Zara or Noelle’s closet.

“Yup.”

By we, I meant I would accompany her and watch while spending zero dollars.

“I can’t wait,” she said. “I love dress shopping.”

Dallas chortled. “You love shopping, period. Even grocery shopping with you is an event.”