Troves of extended family and friends come over to greet me and are startled by Wolfe at my side. A couple even ask if he was Steph’s ex, to which Wolfe just winks and makes some remark about keeping it in the family.
Suddenly, Wolfe is gone, and he’s too big to just vanish, so where the hell did he go? I turn and almost run into his elbow, then, in the process of avoiding it, I stumble backward, tripping over the uneven stones.
Wolfe grabs me like some tiny human and sets me on my feet before wrapping an arm around my middle, holding me to him like he’s put me in a metaphorical Baby Bjorn.
“Careful,” he whispers.
“What are you doing back there?” I try to laugh it off, not memorizing how every inch of him feels against me.
“It felt natural.” He rubs his nose against my temple while he speaks, sending sparks through my whole body.
“It does feel natural.” I put my hand over his and bask in it. Life would be so much easier if I could stay here the rest of the afternoon.
It’s so easy to be like this with him. I can’t let myself get used to it. We settle into seats and catch up with people we knew from high school.
“I can’t drink another one of these.” Wolfe slips down in his chair, leaning back while stretching his legs out.
“No one is making you drink them.”
Half a dozen mimosa glasses sit on the table in front of him. “If I don’t get a Dr. Pepper, I’m going to burn this place down.”
“I’d ask the planner, but I don’t want to be her last straw.” I turn to look over. “Let’s go find one.”
“Are we sneaking off?” Wolfe asks conspiratorially.
“Yes,” I step out of his arms reluctantly, but offer my hand.
A smile curls over his lips, and he grabs my hand in his massive one, half-dragging me toward the country club. It’s the lightest I’ve felt in a long time around my family. Or maybe just in general. How is this so much easier for him? I guess it would be easier being a skin he doesn’t have to live in. He’s pretending. He can leave any time he wants. I have to live here.
I exhale, putting on a smile when we take seats at the bar. “Tell me you have Dr. Pepper.”
“No, sorry, we don’t stock it,” the bartender says. “But I can get you something else.”
“No, I think we’re good.” I cringe and side glance at Wolfe. He’s a mixture of dejected and about to start a riot. “Want to go somewhere else?”
He shakes his head. “It will look bad if you leave early.”
I groan and press my face into the bar top. “Don’t remind me.”
He releases my hand but puts it on my back, stroking down it. I lean into him.
“Can we have a word?” Mark says from behind us.
“People really need to stop sneaking up on me.” I look at Wolfe for some idea of what he wants to do.
Wolfe smiles at me, then swivels around in his chair, tenting his fingers like some goddamn evil villain. I’d laugh, but I’m honestly just impressed. “Can I help you?”
“What is your fucking problem?” Mark throws out.
Wolfe cocks his head. “I didn’t realize I had a problem.”
“Are you playing dumb? Or did you just take too many pucks to the head?” Mark barely contains his anger.
“Can’t say I’ve ever taken a puck to the head, but since I’m a much better goalie than you, maybe you don’t know that.” Wolfe holds no anger in his tone, almost like he’s bored with the conversation already.
“You’re trying to hurt Steph, aren’t you?”
“I’m not mad about it, but no, I’m here to support my boyfriend.”
