OFF LIMITS

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - New Year's Kiss

MACK

I am going to murder James Fuller.

We'll be okay without him. There are a lot of good defensemen in the world. He won't be missed.

I regret promising Rhett I would be on my best behavior tonight. He made me promise I wouldn't throw a jealous fit in front of everyone if someone hit on Kat, and he also made me promise I wouldn't approach her in front of everyone.

Then, the first time I saw her tonight, she had to be on the dancefloor with everyone and their mom present. I want to kiss her, for fucks sake.

She looks amazing. That dress fits her like a glove, her delicious curves look to die for, and she's so pretty when she's laughing.

Except is Fuller making her laugh instead of me.

I was okay when I saw her get on the dance floor with Georgia. I wanted them to be friends. But then Fuller hijacked their space and now it's taking all of me to not barge in there and rip her off his arms.

But I can't. Because I promised Rhett.

And he isn't even here. I don't even know where he is.

Next to me, Cole is very much done with his date, who's acting like a stage five clinger. He invited her last minute, and I'm pretty sure this girl thinks that him inviting her to the team's new year's party means he's ready to marry her.

But his eyes aren't on his pretty date. They're on Georgia. Now I'm starting to understand why he was so okay with lying about my inappropriate relationship. But because I'm a nice guy, I won't tease him about it.

"Hey. Eyes on me," Cole's date grabs his chin, forcing him to stare at her. "Did you invite me to stare at your friends' sister all night?"

"Rhett asked us to keep an eye on her. That's what I'm doing." He replies firmly, then drifts his eyes towards the girls and Fuller again. That prompts an eye roll from the pretty blonde on his arm.

This is amazing, but I'll save it for a rainy day. My focus right now is my beautiful trouble and the fact that I need to be her New Year's kiss.

I look back at the dancefloor. Fuller whispers something in Kat's ear, and then he begins walking towards us. Not us per se, but we're sitting next to the drinks table, so I guess he's thirsty.

"Fix your face, McKenzie," he teases me, filling up a glass. "I was just dancing. I don't have any ill intentions with your girl."

Yeah, I was expecting that. He obviously caught onto it after I admitted that I have Kat's number. Completely my fault.

"You just want to mess with me, don't you?" I arch a brow. Makes sense. Fuller is a goon, he gets off on riling people up. Playing against him was a nightmare so being his teammate is way better. He's the kind of player that defends the fuck out of his teammates when someone from the other team is messing with them.

"Basically," He grins then his eyes dart to Cole, who's staring at Fuller with death on his icy blue eyes. "Why are you glaring at me? I wasn't dancing with your girlfriend."

Cole ignores him with another twitch to his jaw, then looks back at the dancefloor where Georgia and Kat are dancing and laughing together. Fuller peers over to where Cole's eyes are directed, and his grin grows. "Unless I was dancing with your girlfriend."

Another twitch on Cole's jaw, and his date is done. She unlatches herself from him dramatically. "I'm going to introduce myself to the other wives and girlfriends."