I chime in with “We’ll have to make a point to do better about the three of us hanging out. After all…” I raise a brow and nod to each. “You are my two most favorite people.”
“Aww.” Shay leans into me and rests her head on my shoulder. “Isn’t she just the sweetest?”
Shane, chuckling, nods and agrees, “She definitely is.”
We then look over our menus, discussing what we’re all planning on ordering. Shay and I go with gourmet burgers with fries, and Shane opts for a grilled chicken salad.
“Gotta make healthy choices,” he says. “It’s training camp now, and Coach will chew my ass out if I gain any weight.”
“Damn, now I feel guilty,” Shay says. “Maybe I should change my order.”
Girl is just teasing; she’s not going to alter anything.
But I play along. “Oh, stop.” I nudge her with my elbow. “You look great. Plus, we don’t have to worry about gaining weight. We work for ourselves.”
“Good point,” she says. “Now that you mention it, remind me to order a big, calorie-laden dessert later.”
I nod excitedly. “Oooh, yes. I’ll get one too. Maybe even an extra I can take home. I can eat it tonight in front of Shane. You know, since he can’t have any.”
Catching on that we’re just joking around, Shane pretends to be wounded.
Covering his heart with his hand, he says, “You two are torturing me. Are you always this cruel when you get together?”
“Usually worse,” Shay informs him.
We all share a laugh just before our food arrives.
Everything is delicious, and the conversation continues to flow freely. I’m so happy that my best friend and my man are getting along so beautifully. It makes my heart happy.
After dinner, no one actually orders dessert, as we’re all too full. But we do order coffees.
Once they arrive, Shay takes a sip. Then, setting her cup down on the saucer, she mentions how excited she is for the hockey season to start.
“Oh yeah, about that,” I chime in. “I forgot to ask you, but do you want to go to the home opener? Shane can get us tickets.”
Shay’s brows shoot up. “Do I want to go? Are you kidding? Sign me up!”
“Consider it done,” Shane says. “The only question now is do you two want to sit in a luxury box or at center ice?”
Shay looks over at me and shrugs, and I ask her, “Do you want to do center ice for the first game? It’ll be like that playoff game we went to. We can always sit up in a luxury box another time.”
She nods. “Yeah, I loved those seats we had back then. But more importantly”—she raises a brow—“I’m super excited to hear I’m going to be invited to more games.”
“More games?” Shane scoffs. “Hell, I can get you girls tickets to all of them if you’d like.”
Shay lays her head on my shoulder again and says, “Willa, have I ever told you how happy I am that you’re dating a hockey player?”
We all share another laugh at that one.
But on a serious note, I’m glad I’m dating a hockey player too.
Not just any player, though.
Mine is Shane Thoma, the best boyfriend a girl could have.
“Ireally like Shay,” I share with Willa. “She’s funny and sassy and easy to be around. I can see why you two are friends and have a successful business together.”
We’re out on the back patio by the infinity pool. Willa is curled up next to me, as we’re sharing one of the wider loungers. There’s a slight chill in the air, and even though she has on a hoodie, she told me I’m keeping her nice and warm.
