Page 50 of Hockey Boy
One side of Ryder’s mouth kicks up in a lazy smile. “Yes, I have.”
Lennox, oblivious to the way her parents have clearly used her to lure the singer here, smiles warmly.
I hate it.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming tonight.”
“Didn’t know I was.” He assesses her parents quickly. “But then I realized you’d be here.”
A red flush creeps up Lennox’s chest, and yeah, I’m over all of this.
“That she is,” I interject. “With her boyfriend.” With a hand on Lennox’s hip, I tug her back against me, pulling her hand from Ryder’s.
“Boyfriend?” the guy has the gall to question, his brows furrowing as he looks from me to Lennox. The expression morphs into a scowl as he turns to Jackson. “I wasn’t aware.”
Lennox straightens and lets out an uncomfortable laugh. “It’s new.” She tries to pull free, but I tighten my hold on her, splaying my fingers possessively across her stomach.
“But serious,” I add, holding her close. I nuzzle into her, dropping a kiss against her neck.
“What’s serious?” a male voice asks.
Lennox’s cousin, the birthday boy, Nick Kennedy, saunters up. “Holy shit, it’s Aiden Langfield.” The guy hands his drink to a woman I’m guessing is his wife and swipes his hands against his suit. “Dude, you’re like the best player Boston has ever seen.”
Grinning, I give him my full attention. Lennox uses the excuse to extricate herself from my grasp, so when he holds out his hand to shake, I have no option but to let her go completely. I absolutely hate it.
“Aiden’s a big fan of hugs,” Jackson Kennedy mutters.
The birthday boy’s smile grows larger, and he opens his arms, waiting.
“I do like hugs,” I offer, allowing him to lock me in a tight embrace. The dude then legitimately lifts me off the ground.
“Nick,be careful,” his maybe wife yells.
He sets me down, a sheepish grin on his face. “Sorry, I’m your biggest fan. Is this my surprise, hunny?” He spins in her direction and points at me.
She shakes her head. “I had no idea that your idol was coming tonight.”
“Your idol?” Lennox asks, breaking into a huge smile.
“Ya hear that, Lex? Apparently, I’m not justyouridol.”
The birthday boy’s eyes sharpen. “Who’s Lex?”
I pull Lennox close again. “That’d be my girl, right here.”
“Wait, I thought you were engaged,” Nick says, a confused frown marring his face.
Six sets of eyes settle on me, five of them full of suspicion. “Iwasengaged.” I straighten. “Lennox was actually our wedding planner.”
“You plan weddings?” Nick’s maybe wife asks. She’s got a ring on her finger, and he called her hunny, so I’m thinking I’ve nailed this description.
“She’s a rock star,” I boast, jostling Lennox. “You should have had her help with this event.”
“I would have if I’d known,” she says, cringing a little sheepishly. “Let’s talk later. We’re working on an event at the hospital that I’d love your help on.”
Lennox is giving her a tight nod as her father steps in front of Nick’s wife. “Lennox will probably be too busy helping me now that Seven is signing with our label, right, princess? His only stipulation is that you help with the tour plans.” He’s speaking about Lennox—practically to Lennox—but smiling at Ryder. His daughter is nothing more than a prop he can use to get what he wants.
The thought has my gut roiling.