Briggs chuckles, and we both watch Hadley meander on over to the cookie table where Isla is busy checking her tablet.
I make faces at the dog in my arms, and he opens his mouth as if he wants to talk but then nuzzles into my chest. This guy knows how to give marketing what they need; social media will go crazy for this.
“Not going to lie, it’s a little strange seeing you two together and being kind of sweet. I mean, you both always flirted, it was some serious foreplay we all witnessed, but this is… damn. You’re completely into this.” He speaks low so only I can hear.
“I am,” I admit honestly without hesitation.
My friend grins at me. “Maybe this will help keep your head in the game next season.” He nudges my arm because being an ass sometimes is our play.
“I’ll be better. You just need to get laid, and then you can play at my level,” I joke.
“Yeah, this is why you shouldn’t have eloped. I was counting on a hot bridesmaid who needed her night rocked.”
One of the volunteers comes to take the dog out of my arms, and I kind of miss him already as they walk away.
Briggs and I begin to walk toward the locker rooms. “I’m still debating how we can turn this all around and still have a bachelor party post-‘oops I got married,’” he comments.
My lips quirk out. “Are we talking like beers with the boys or full-out ‘Hadley would rip my balls off’ kind of party?”
“You lost your right to strippers when you signed your name in Vegas. Doesn’t mean we all have to suffer,” he teases, but then he turns serious. “Nah, we’ll check out a brewery or something. Your dad and I have already been texting to maybe arrange something.”
“I’m happy my life is turning around everyone’s social calendars,” I quip.
“I bet. Now let’s go play some hockey.”
An hour later, after getting on my equipment, some warming up, some photos with dogs on the ice, and waving to some fans who came out, I find myself near the center line to the right. This is low-key friendly, so no fancy lights, more of a practice than anything. I’m playing against my dad and Shawn, plus a few others, so nothing like making this an easy game.
I skate toward my position on the ice, and my sight sidelines to Shawn who is skating next to me.
Shawn begins to speak to me. “I’ve been trying to figure out what wedding gift to get you. I’m thinking a vibrator is probably what your wife needs since she’s with you.”
My blood begins to boil, but I know I need to take the high road. “Classy. Aiming low at a charity game.”
We both line up. Me as right defense on the blue line and Shawn on the opposite side as left defense.
The referee blows the whistle, and my sight focuses on guarding his ass, following him is not my ideal, but I have dogs to save and a wife to impress.
Telling hockey players to play for fun is kind of pointless. The retired veterans have a point to prove that they’re still young, the new players want to show enthusiasm, and wingers just want to be an ass.
We’re five minutes in and every block and chase is making me work.
My only relief is when I notice Hadley sitting in the stands watching me. It feels like extra support, makes me focus better, and she could be part of my formula to always win. I ignore any flag in my head about timelines or next season, especially when she wiggles her fingers at me because she caught me looking.
But now we’re going into another play, and Shawn is pissing me off again with his radiating aggression.
“You know, I’m confident if I’d gotten her drunk enough that she would have married me too.”
“Fuck off. That’s not what it is,” I grit out.
“Right. She’d probably spread her legs too.”
I drop my stick and shove him without thought, my protective instinct in full swing. “Do not speak of my wife that way.” My gloves come off.
“Touchy, Spears. I would be too if I had girl with a tight body like that.”
I push him again before all hell breaks loose, and we take turns in headlocks. We scuffle, and the referee blows the whistle before players are ripping us apart.
“Box,” the ref informs me as he brakes on his skates next to me. “Instigating, two-minute penalty.”
