Her mom frowns. “We haven’t even cut the cake! You can’t go…”
“We’re wedding crashers anyway, Mom!” Dove pulls her in for a hug. “I thought you wanted grandkids.”
Noel’s eyes widen, and she gives Dove a playful push. “I’ll save your piece, now get out of here.”
Taron only chuckles, shaking my hand. “Welcome to the family, Mav.”
“Thank you, sir.” I shake his hand. “Glad to be here.”
TheGreasesoundtrack is streaming,and Dove glances over at me from where she’s sitting behind the wheel. She announced she was driving my Rover, since I have no idea where the hotel is located or the best way to get there, and she doesn’t want to waste time.
No arguments here, and the truth is, she’s a lot more familiar with these dark, narrow, unmarked country roads than I am. Although, I think she drives a little too fast on them.
“How are you feeling, babe?” She glances over at me, her slim brows furrowed.
“Like I’m ready to get you naked,” I say, placing my hand on her upper thigh and giving it a squeeze.
Her chin dips, and she exhales a little laugh. “No, Imean, you played so hard in that last game, and you got hit a lot. Your eyebrow was bleeding… That was only two weeks ago.”
Sometimes I forget how new she is to the sport. I slide my palm down to her knee, where the hem of her skirt ends. “I’m good. Face injuries bleed a lot because the skin is so thin.”
“Maverick…” Her voice takes on a heated, warning tone as my hand moves higher up her inner thigh. “I’m driving.”
“I’m hungry for some peaches.” My pinky finger makes contact with her crotch, and I slide my hand back and forth, enjoying the way her breath stutters.
Suddenly her eyes widen, and she lets out a scream. My head snaps in time to see a large deer dashing across the road.
Dove jerks the wheel to the side, and I press my palms against the door and the ceiling of the vehicle, shouting “Look out!”
She does her best, but the Rover still skids off the road, landing with a hard thud in a deep ditch on the shoulder.
“Deeer!” she yells, putting trembling hands on her face. “Why do theydothat?”
Her breath shudders, and I can’t tell if she’s crying or not. I’m a little rattled from hitting the side of the door, and she turns to me quickly.
“Maverick? Are you okay? Dammit!” Her phone is out, and she’s dialing 9-1-1.
“I’m good!” I try to take the phone from her, but she pulls away, sliding out of the vehicle as she talks to the dispatcher.
In less than twenty minutes, we’re sitting in a curtained-off area of the tiny emergency department at the small hospital in town. The nurses took Dove away briefly beforeshe came back laughing and chatting with them to where I sit on the table in front of a doctor.
“Your husband’s pupils aren’t dilated, he’s not showing any signs of nausea or dizziness.” The guy flicks his pen light in my face again, causing me to wince. “Reflexes are all good.”
“Thank you, Raj.” Dove stretches out her hand, squeezing his arm. “My husband had such a terrible injury in March, and he was in a rough game just a few weeks ago…”
It’s the first time she’s called me her husband, and pride swells in my chest. It sounds even better than I expected.
“I saw that.” The young doctor smiles. “Congratulations on winning the Cup. I’m pretty sure my entire family woke up the neighbors yelling.”
I drop my chin, exhaling a laugh. “Thanks. My wife can be a bit overprotective.”
My wife. I love calling her that.
“With good reason.” Dove slides her hand into the crook of my arm, pulling me close and gazing up at me. “We woke up all of downtown. Everyone in Lagniappe was so excited.”
“I have those results, Dr. Patel.” The nurse hands him an iPad, and his dark brow furrows. “Results?”
He looks down at the screen, scanning it quickly as he speaks. “I’m sorry, Dove, it looks like there was some mistake. My assistant gave you a…” His voice trails off, and his brown eyes blink up to us. “I’m happy to say your baby wasn’t harmed in the accident. Vitals all look good.”
