Page 20 of Traded

Oh.I pause. “Uh. Yeah, probably.”

Nobodysees more in this place than our grumpy-as-hell equipment manager. I’m pretty sure it’s a requirement for the job in every NPHL team. They probably have a group chat full of single word responses and thumbs ups.

I suddenly wish I hadn’t interrupted him.

His eyes narrow. “Everything okay?”

“Always. You know me.” I push myself off the doorway and force a smile. “You’re probably right. I’ll head up there now. Great match, Eddie. All down to the equipment, of course.”

“Flatterer. Get out of here. You’re too young to spend your evening with a grizzled goat like me.” He waves his hand at me. “Want me to come up with you?”

“Nah. I’ll probably bump into them on the way. See you tomorrow.”

My feet are heavy as I make my way upstairs.

We probably missed each other. Easily done in an arena this size. Annoyed at myself for my own pity party, I swipe my face before following the noise down the hall.

Whoever decided on this impromptu celebration picked the swanky suite. Noise that’d give the arena some serious competition sweeps over me as I push the double doors open. The set of connecting rooms are dark, light coming from a few colored moving strobes that illuminate flashes of an impromptu dance floor and the corner bar.

I hover by the doorway until I’m spotted.

“Rosie!” Ryker bellows in my ear. I let him wrap his arm around my shoulders in a sideways, slightly sloppy hug. “Where you been? We were looking for you!”

“Who was?” My chest jumps as he jerks his thumb behind him.

Benji raises his free hand in greeting. The other one grips his usual OJ and soda. There’s a deep crease between his eyebrows, and I follow his gaze when it flickers uncertainly.

“Me and Benj.” Ryker is still babbling away, oblivious to the way every muscle has stilled. “He said we had to go look for you, so we were on our way out.”

“I’m here now.” The words are barely a croak. “I’m gonna get a drink, Ryk, but I’ll see you in a minute.”

He plants a kiss on my cheek. “Good plan. Gotta celebrate.”

Celebrating suddenly feels like the last thing I want to do.

Benji starts forward, but I duck into the crowded dancefloor before he can reach me, my heart racing.

Everyone who speaks to me is smiling.

I choke on my answers as I shift forward, inch by inch. Ethan and Katie are already dancing, and I duck my head to slip past before they can spot me.

Until I’m lingering on the edge of the dancefloor. Close to the bar.

And close to them.

It doesn’t look like anything. Not really.

But… It sure looks like my alphas left me waiting alone to hide in a corner with an omega that isn’tme.

Lauren smiles slightly as she leans in to listen to Liam, her eyes taking in the dancefloor over his shoulder.

She’s still wearing her suit from today. He hands her a full flute of champagne, those perfect neat nails gripping it tightly. And Jonas—Jonas is standing on her other side. Staring. Ather.

Lauren stops smiling when our eyes meet.

There’s no thought in my head as I stride forward. Nothing except for panic closing my chest as I slap a smile on my face and slip between them. The space is tight enough that Lauren’s forced to step back. “Is this for me?”

I swipe the glass from her freakishly perfect hands, grinning manically. “Thanks! I was really thirsty. They ran out of drinks in thefamily room.”