My Hockey Romance

Chapter 3 - Josie

"Excuse me!" I grab the elbow of a waitress passing by, her tray loaded up with three big plates of sloppy looking nachos, "Sorry!

I'd been trying to get the attention of someone for what felt like forever, unable to press my body through the dizzying crowd of wiggling bodies. It's claustrophobic in here, sweltering and suffocating.

She shoots me an impatient glance, shifting her tray to the other side. She says something, but the words are drowned out by the blaring music that's making my ears throb. I can't hear her at all, and she probably can't hear me either.

I haven't seen hide nor hair of my brother since arriving a few minutes ago, but I imagine he's in the middle of some big crowd of his friends somewhere. It'd always been easy for him to make friends, while I typically get all shy and flustered when meeting someone new. Even as a teenager, when most boys his age would be repulsed by the idea of a little sister tagging along, Ben always made sure to include me in his plans. If his friends argued with him, he would always pick me instead. I was never lonely as a kid, thanks to him.

"Benjamin Mills!" I say as loudly as I can, "Do you know where he is?"

The woman blinks, edging closer.

"... where the tea is?" she mouths back, hurriedly pantomiming lifting a cup to her red painted lips.

"I'm looking for my brother!" I have no idea how to mime that, so I just lift both my palms up in utter confusion.

She squints her eyes like it would help her hear me better somehow, "What would you like to order?"

I stare at her, exasperated, then shake my head.

"I'll just take the tea, please!" I mumble, feeling bad for wasting her time when clearly this isn't headed anywhere.

With a rather halfhearted wink and a grin, she vanishes through the thick throngs of people. Everyone is packed so tightly together that it's impossible to see farther than a foot or two ahead, and the lights flash so brightly that they leave stars in my eyes. I feel like I'm on a whole other planet, unable to speak the language or move under the changed gravity. I'd always been a wallflower.

I am in way over my head. No wonder Ben had been so insistent that it was fine that I skip out on coming to this party, but I'm glad I managed to make it. I'd already texted him, asking where exactly in the club he was, but I'd only gotten a random assortment of emojis in return.

Still looking for my brother, my gaze lands on a man across the dancefloor, the swarm of dancers between us parting like the Red Sea.

The guy standing over across from me is handsome as hell, the pure epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. Ebony hair hangs in dark eyes, dark stubble rough along his square jaw. If I didn't know better, I'd almost think he was looking right at me.

Surely, there's no way... A guy like that would never notice me.

My throat goes tight, my fingers instinctively curling around the hem of my short skirt to tug it lower down my thighs.

I'd had no idea at all about what to wear to this sort of club, and compared to everyone else, I was extremely underdressed. While the men wore slacks, polished shoes, and button u shirts, the other women lounged about in skin tight dresses and sky-high heels. Then there was me, sticking out again like a sore thumb in my frayed jean skirt, a shimmery pink tank top, and matching sandals I'd gotten from the clearance bin at Target. I was honestly a bit surprised that they even let me into the venue with how everyone else was dressed. Ben's going to tease me for sure when I finally manage to track him down.