“Why don’t you go first?” I ask, deciding to stir the pot, seeing if he’ll bite about what happened with Sin at the cabin.
Dom thinks for a moment before shrugging, “I think aside from Nik, my life is the most boring here. I’m not doing anything or anyone exciting. Hockey’s my focus right now.”
I narrow my eyes at him but decide to leave it be for now, considering myself and Harley are the only ones that witnessed what happened… To my knowledge, at least.
“Nothing new here,” Nik reports.
“Same. What about you, Collins? Anything new with Harley? You seem to be moving pretty quickly.” Conrad questions.
“We’re doing really well but I need to admit something.” Now is probably the best time. I need opinions on where to go from here.
“Go ahead then.” Maverick encourages, arms folded on the table in front of him.
“Harley and I technically weren’t… Er aren’t together.” I don’t even know how to describe it, so I spill it all, “She was worried the girls would fuss over her too much on our trip after everything with Benji, and we both knew everyone wouldn’t be surprised if we were dating. So… We dated or fake-dated I should say. Well it’s never felt fake to me and I don’t think it has to her either. We agreed to the holidays, and those are over but it hasn’t stopped. I just don’t know how to broach the topic with her.”
I exhale a hefty breath after I finish ranting. Then I wait for someone, anyone, to say something.
“I fucking knew it. Fork it over.” Conrad jabs Tatum in the side. I watch in confusion as Tatum slides one hundred bucks into Conrad’s hands.
“What the fuck is that about?” Dom interrogates the two of them, completely ignoring everything I’ve just said.
“I told Tatum from the get-go, I didn’t buy it.” Conrad states smugly. “Not that I didn’t buy you two having feelings for each other, but that I didn’t think it was as organic as it seemed. I knew there was something else happening there.”
“Now that you say that… It was suspiciously good timing.” Nik ponders.
“We were just waiting for you to admit it.” Tatum shrugs, “We’re happy for you even if you lied to your best friends about it.”
As I look around the table, I see my friends smiling toward me… Everyone except Dom whose eyebrows are scrunched and lips are pursed—similar to Hayden’s before he starts screaming bloody murder.
“Whatever this is,” I gesture vaguely at Dom, “... It’s weird.”
“I’m hurt.” He huffs back at me.
“Why?”
“Because everyone but me knew what was happening between you two.”
“No one knew though, they were guessing. The only people who had any actual context were Harley and I. You’ll be okay, Bud.”
Dominic hmpfhs before saying, “Is anyone else hiding anything from the group?”
I once again find myself narrowing my eyes at him and see the slightest pink form on his cheeks.
“Not necessarily hiding, but I do want to share something with you guys.” Tatum’s voice takes on a timid tone.
“Tell us.” Maverick pats Tatum on the back.
“I think it’s time for me to propose to Darcy. I’ve been working on myself, we’ve been working on our relationship, and Hayden’s about to be one. I want her to have our last name.” Tate says, his eyes watering slightly.
“That’s so exciting, man!” Nik hoots.
“I’m thinking I’ll do it at his birthday party. Everyone we love will be there, and I can involve Hayden. He probably won’t remember, but one day we’ll be able to tell him the story of how his Mama and I got engaged.” Now tears fall slowly from his eyes as he speaks.
“Oh, I’m going to be a mess.” Dom sighs, swiping at his eyes.
“Congrats, dude! She’s going to be so excited.” I chime in, a huge smile taking over my face.
“Not to steal your spotlight, but I also have news.” Maverick cuts in, his smile huge but eyes swimming with emotion. “Kodi and I are expecting our next little one.”
