Breakout (A Dallas Demons Hockey Romance) by Aven Ellis Read Free Book Online Page B

times before, it has never stung as badly as Niko putting me here right now.
    “Lexi?” Niko asks, furrowing his brow. “Did I offend you by asking you to have a drink? If so, I’m so sorry, I ju—”
    I see the expression of concern on his face, and I’m mortified. It’s not his fault that I misread his interest in me. I have to fix this. Quick.
    “Niko, no, of course not,” I interrupt, plastering a smile on my face. “It’s like coworkers having drinks. Not offensive at all. Of course I’m game for that.”
    Niko studies me for a moment, and for a brief second, his face changes. His brow furrows, almost as if he didn’t expect the answer I gave him.
    No, that’s not it. That wouldn’t make any sense and besides, he’s not interested and—
    Shit. I’m delusional. And I’m having a whole conversation about it with myself.
    Ugh, I don’t need a date with Niko.
    I need to find a crappy house to rent, adopt 50 cats, and embrace my destiny as a single crazy cat lady.
    “Right, coworkers,” Niko reiterates. Then he clears his throat. “So how about the Demons Club? It will take me some time to finish up here, but I can meet you there if you don’t mind waiting.”
    “That’s perfect,” I say, thinking of the bar inside the arena. “I usually go there with Kenley while she waits for Nate after the game. So I’ll see you there.”
    “All right,” Niko says, studying me for a moment. “I’ll text you before I head down.”
    “Okay,” I say, smiling at him.
    And I keep the smile on my face as I watch him bound up the stairs to the truck and go back inside, and only when he’s out of sight do I let it fall.
    Right along with any hopes in my heart for anything other than friendship with Niko Xenakis.
    After a thrilling 6-4 win over the Baltimore Blades, the atmosphere inside the Demons Club is electric. People are wall-to-wall with drinks in hand to celebrate the win. Club music pulsates throughout the chic bar. Every tall chrome table is taken, and monitors show the post-game interviews, not that you can hear a single word that Harrison Flynn is saying.
    And you would think my attitude would match the excited vibe that is surrounding me. After all, Niko will be joining me in a bit to buy me a drink.
    Except there’s one detail that leaves a whole big black cloud over that fact.
    Niko is buying a drink to say, “Job well done, Lexi!”
    Not “Hey, Lexi, I’d like to get to know you better. How about we talk over a drink?”
    Ugh .
    “Am I missing something here?” Kenley shouts at me across the table, snapping me from my thoughts.
    I blink. “I’m sorry, what?”
    “Um, let’s see, you have a dead-sexy guy coming down here in a bit to see you,” Kenley says, “and you act like you’re waiting for a root canal.”
    Despite my mood, I smile. Kenley has been my best friend since childhood, and she can read me like nobody else can.
    “Come on, Kenley. You know why I’m like this. Niko’s buying me a drink to say thanks. It’s disappointing.”
    “No, it’s exciting. You’re getting a chance to know him better, how is that disappointing? And I’m sorry, but I don’t see him running around to buy everyone on his crew a drink. Just you. There’s a reason for that.”
    “Yes. It’s too expensive to buy everyone on the crew a drink,” I quip, taking a sip of my club soda.
    “Argh! I swear I’m going to come over there and shake some sense into you.”
    I laugh. “Hmmm, that would make for interesting pics on Tumblr. ‘Nate Johansson’s girlfriend attacks woman at Demons Club.’”
    Kenley bursts out laughing. She’s been snapped in public a lot since becoming Nate’s girlfriend, so we like to make up outrageous headlines that we could envision on social media.
    “Oh, yes,” Kenley says, her blue eyes sparkling. “Next caption: ‘Kenley Hunter Slaps Woman, Overheard Screaming About Bestie Being Blind to Attraction from Hot As Hell Producer.’”
    My face grows hot from her