KickOff Gala

FLORENA

"Oh my God!"

I jumped up and down on my bed, barely able to contain my excitement as I stared at the email on my phone.

'YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR OUR MODELING GIG. PLEASE DROP BY…'

I didn't even finish reading the rest before another squeal escaped me.

"Flora, what's wrong, honey?"

My bedroom door flew open, and Mom rushed inside with panic written all over her face. Her eyes immediately landed on me jumping like a maniac on my bed.

"Why are you jumping on the bed? Get down before you hurt yourself."

"Mom!"

Instead of getting down, I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward me.

"What are you doing?" she laughed as she stumbled onto the mattress.

"I finally got the gig!" I held my phone up in front of her. "I'm going to be a model!"

"Oh, dear!" Her worried expression immediately disappeared, replaced by a wide smile. "My daughter is finally going to fulfill her dream."

"I know!" I stopped jumping long enough to look at the email again, still unable to believe it was real. I had read those first few lines at least five times already. "And guess what? I'll be represented by Revence Agency. Revence, Mom! The same agency that represents Trinity."

"What?"

Mom's smile faltered so quickly that I almost wondered if I had imagined it.

I lowered my phone. "What's wrong, Mom? Aren't you happy for me?"

"Flora, of course I'm happy." She smiled again, but this time it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I just wasn't expecting that agency."

"Well, neither was I." I grinned. "Do you know how many people would kill for an opportunity with Revence? And Trinity started her career there. Imagine if I actually get to meet her someday."

Mom stared at me for a second before looking away. "You should let Bayden know."

I rolled my eyes.

Bayden. My older brother. The only person in the world who could get on my nerves within thirty seconds and still have me loving him to no end.

Except for Mom, nobody knew that I wanted to become a model. And I had kept it that way for a reason.

The Markevos name could open doors before I even had the chance to knock. Dad could probably make one phone call and get me into a room with people who wouldn't have looked at my application twice otherwise. Bayden had his own connections too.

I didn't want any of that.

I didn't want money to speak for me.

I wanted to know that when someone looked at me and decided I was good enough, it was because of me. Not because I was Jack Markevos's daughter or Bayden Markevos's little sister.

And now I had done it.

On my own.

Which meant I could finally tell Bayden.

A smile slowly spread across my face as an idea came to me. "We have the Frosthawks season kickoff gala tonight, right?"

Mom narrowed her eyes at me. "Why do I suddenly not like that look on your face?"

I laughed and climbed off the bed, grabbing my phone before it disappeared somewhere beneath the blankets. "That’s cause I'll tell him tonight."

"At the gala?"

"Why not?" I shrugged. "He'll already be in a good mood. New season, cameras everywhere, people kissing his ass because he's Captain Bayden Markevos." I smiled sweetly. "Perfect time to tell my loving brother that his little sister is officially going to be a model."

Mom didn't laugh. That made me stop.

"Mom?"

She looked like she wanted to say something. Her lips parted, but after a moment, she simply shook her head. "Just... talk to him before making any big decisions, okay?"

My excitement dimmed slightly. "I already made the decision."

"I know, honey. I only mean that Bayden can be protective."

"Overprotective," I corrected.

Mom gave me a small smile. "That too."

I looked back at the acceptance email glowing on my phone.

Bayden could be as overprotective as he wanted.

This was my career. My dream.

And for once, I had gotten something completely on my own.

There was no way I was letting my brother ruin it.

###

By the time we arrived at the Frosthawks season kickoff gala that evening, I was ready to tell Bayden. All I needed was five minutes alone with him.

There was only one problem. I couldn't get anywhere near him.

The ballroom was crowded with players, sponsors, reporters, and guests, and Bayden had apparently decided tonight was the perfect night to become the most popular man in Seattle. Every time I tried to approach him, someone else stopped him. Right now, he was standing across the room with two men in suits while a photographer hovered nearby.

I took a sip of my sparkling water and sighed. I had been waiting almost half an hour, and my patience was starting to run out.

"If you keep staring at him like that, our captain might spontaneously combust."

I turned at the familiar voice and found Liam Carter beside me. He was one of Bayden's teammates, and unlike Bayden, he apparently had plenty of free time tonight. His usual Frosthawks jersey had been replaced by a black suit, and he held two champagne glasses in one hand.

I glanced back at my brother and narrowed my eyes. "Maybe that's what I'm hoping for."

"Violent." Liam grinned as he offered me one of the glasses. "I like it."

I eyed the champagne suspiciously but didn't take it. "Are you seriously trying to get your captain's sister drunk at his own gala?"

"It's one glass, Flora. And I'm pretty sure you're old enough to make that decision without asking your brother."

That got my attention. I turned fully toward him, my irritation immediately replaced by amusement. "Finally, a man with common sense."

"I've been trying to tell you that for years." He pushed the glass toward me again, and this time I accepted it. His grin immediately widened. "Does this mean you're finally warming up to me?"

I took a slow sip, deliberately making him wait for my answer. "It means I wanted champagne."

"I'll take what I can get."

A laugh slipped out before I looked toward Bayden again. Still busy.

Liam followed my gaze before leaning closer. "Since our beloved captain is abandoning you, I could keep you company."

I gave him a knowing look. Of course that was where this was going. "You've been trying to do that for two years."

"And yet you continue breaking my heart."

I glanced pointedly at the very unbroken man standing beside me. "You seem to recover quickly."

"Not really. It's very serious." He placed a hand dramatically over his chest. "One date would probably cure me."

I gave him a flat look, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me laugh. "You should see a doctor instead."

His laugh was loud enough to make a woman passing us glance over. "Fine. Forget the date. Dance with me."

"No."

The answer came so quickly that Liam blinked.

"You didn't even think about it."

I lifted one shoulder in a careless shrug. "I've had two years to think about it."

"Brutal."

I smiled into my glass, thoroughly enjoying his wounded expression. Liam was harmless. Persistent, definitely, but harmless. Bayden knew he flirted with me too, which was probably the only reason Liam still had all his teeth.

"She's getting soft, Carter. That rejection took at least three seconds."

The glass stopped halfway to my lips.

I knew that voice.

There was no reason I should still recognize it after four years, but I did. My body seemed to recognize it before my brain had even caught up, my fingers tightening slightly around the stem of my glass.

Slowly, I turned around.

Nate Renasas stood a few feet away, dressed entirely in black with one hand tucked into his pocket.

For a second, I just stared.

He looked older than the last time I'd seen him this close. Broader too. His features had sharpened over the years, and the black suit fit him well enough that my eyes lingered before I caught myself.

Seriously? That was my first reaction to seeing him again?

Thankfully, the arrogant smirk on his face was exactly the same one I'd wanted to slap off him throughout most of my childhood.

That helped.

My surprise hardened into annoyance. "Nate."

"Flora." His eyes moved over me before returning to my face. "It's been a while."

The slow sweep of his gaze made me suddenly conscious of every inch of my dress. I resisted the urge to shift under his attention and raised my chin instead.

"Not long enough."

His smirk widened. "There she is."

A smile threatened to tug at my lips before I caught it. I pressed them together instead, annoyed with myself for even having the reaction.

Somehow, he could still pull the same response out of me with two words.

Liam looked between us. "Didn't know Blackridge captains were invited to Frosthawks events."

Nate barely spared him a glance. "Didn't know Frosthawks players spent team events begging women for dances."

Liam's expression tightened. "Fuck off, Renasas."

Nate's amusement only grew. "Did she say yes?"

"None of your business," I cut in before Liam could answer, already recognizing the beginning of a pointless male pissing contest.

Nate's attention shifted back to me. "So that's a no."

I let out an irritated breath. God, I'd forgotten how exhausting he could be. "You've been here for thirty seconds and you're already annoying me."

"I'm getting rusty. Used to take ten."

I rolled my eyes, but Nate only looked more amused. Apparently, some things hadn't changed at all. He still had the same frustrating ability to say something stupid and look unbearably pleased with himself afterward.

Even more annoying was how easily I slipped back into arguing with him. There was no awkwardness, no searching for something to say after all that time apart.

I crossed my arms and looked him over pointedly. "What are you even doing here?"

"I was invited."

My eyebrows shot up. "To a Frosthawks gala?"

"Try hiding your disappointment."

A disbelieving laugh escaped me. "I wasn't aware I was hiding it."

Liam snorted beside me, and Nate's gaze dropped to the champagne in my hand. "Carter bought you that?"

I followed his gaze to my glass before looking back at him, instantly suspicious. "Why do you ask?"

Before I realized what he was doing, Nate reached forward and took the glass straight out of my hand.

My mouth fell open. "Excuse me?"

He took a sip.

My eyes widened.

I stared at the glass and then at him, genuinely offended by the audacity. "Did you seriously just drink from my glass?"

"Relax, Flora."

I reached for it. "Get your own!"

He easily kept it out of my reach for another second. "I wanted yours."

His eyes stayed on mine as he handed it back.

My fingers brushed his as I took it, and an unexpected flicker of warmth shot through me. I pulled my hand away faster than necessary.

For one ridiculous second, my attention dropped to his mouth before shifting to the glass now back in my hand.

Heat crept up my neck.

No.

Absolutely not.

Nate was doing what he had always done. Provoking me because he enjoyed getting a reaction, and apparently I was still stupid enough to give him one.

Asshole.

I opened my mouth to tell him exactly that when someone spoke behind us.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"