“Sorry.” He shrugs.
“Way to go, Alice. You’ve been holding out on me,” Leon says.
“Hey!” she exclaims. “I’ve brought Declan around plenty.”
“How is this my fault?” I ask, wiping my mouth and setting it down on my empty plate.
“You were supposed to convince my husband to like hockey.” Leon says this like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“Declan shouldn’t be the favorite then,” Cash says. “I should be the favorite because I’m the best player.”
“Hey!”
Troy and Nick scoff at the same time.
“I like the confidence,” Jacob says. “Maybe if you play well in the first game, I’ll buy your jersey.”
“Seriously, I feel like chopped liver over here,” I whine.
“Aww.” Alice kisses my cheek. “You’re still my favorite player.”
“See? You’re covered,” Leon states. “I always go for goalies.”
A furious blush creeps up over Nick’s cheeks. He hates being the center of attention.
“He’s my favorite on the days my husband is annoying me.” Angie laughs.
“Ouch. Way to make a guy feel unloved,” Troy fires back.
“And on the days you’re really annoying me, you’re number three.”
“Number three? Who’s two?” Alice asks.
“Lydia, his sister. She plays for Boston,” Angie explains.
Alice smiles back. “I guess I’ll have to start watching her play.”
“You should. The PWHL is great. They’re supposed to be expanding next season, which I think is exciting,” Angie says.
“Who knows, maybe Denver will end up with a team and she’ll come out here,” Troy says.
“Okay, let’s start with one team.” Jacob laughs. “I need to get started with the men’s team before I start women’s.”
“Fair,” Alice says. “Maybe you can come to a game with me sometime.”
“Do I get an invite?” Leon says. “I actually like the team.”
“Sure—”
“Only if you stop bugging me about my work-life balance,” Alice interrupts.
He rolls his eyes before blowing her a kiss. “Fine. Only because I love you and I’m glad you found a husband.”
“That makes two of us,” I agree, tipping my glass in his direction.
I don’t care if it was a drunken decision in Vegas. Getting to call Alice my wife?
I’ll soak up every minute of that I can.
