"It's true." I clasp Harlan on the shoulder. "She's perfect for you."
Harlan has always been a little too serious and a bit of an obsessive pain in the ass at times. Sophie is as dedicated and driven as he is, but she's also full of life. She keeps him on his toes and doesn't just bow to him. He needs someone like her, someone fierce enough to call him out when he deserves it and soft enough to let him lead when he's earned it. Sophie is good at both.
"Yeah, she is." He smiles that same fucking smile he always wears when he talks about Sophie, like he can't believe she chose him. And for a split second, I'm envious as hell, not because his ballerina chose him; God, no. I've never been interested in Sophie like that. But I'm jealous as hell that he found his person.
Part of me always thought I'd be the one to get married and start a family first. It's what I've always wanted. Unfortunately, it just hasn't been in the cards for me.
Anytime I tried to date, I spent the whole fucking night just waiting for it to end. No one ever made it past the first date. No one ever made it to my bed, either. The whole world would probably lose it if they knew that I'm a twenty-seven-year-old virgin, so I don't publicize it, but it's not something I'm ashamed of, either.
I've seen plenty of teammates fall into bed with anyone willing. That never interested me. I've always wanted what I thought my parents had when we were kids, back before I realized my mother was a lying, hateful bitch. My dad doted on her, worshipped the ground she walked on. That only changed whenshe decided our baby sister was her competition instead of her child. Until then, Dad would have done anything for her.
And I've always wanted to be a man he would have been proud to call his son. His fairytale didn't work out. Maybe it's stupid to think it can be different for the rest of us, but that's what I've always wanted.
If happily-ever-after isn't meant for me, though, at least my siblings will know what it's like to love like our dad did. I can live with that.
Harlan pushes open the door, and we step into a massive fellowship hall, decorated in the same dusty blue and ivory color scheme. Thousands of fairy lights twinkle overhead, with more photos of Harlan and Sophie hanging from gossamer strands along the back wall. A massive dining table dominates the center of the room, with floating candles and floral arrangements stretching down the center.
Their closest friends and family are clustered in groups, scattered around the room, chatting and laughing. Most are holding wine goblets or beer bottles.
I shoot Harlan a questioning look. "Since when could you drink at church?"
"Since we signed a contract, took out insurance, and jumped through nine hundred hoops to ensure we were abiding by their rules," he mutters. "Only beer and wine, and only for tonight. It's why we opted to have the reception at a different location."
"Ah," I say, shaking my head. And then I catch sight of the woman standing beside Sophie, her head thrown back, her blue eyes shining as laughter spills from her lips.
Fuck.
She's short, her midnight blue dress fitted to her curvy body in a way that has my pants growing tight. The way the light catches on her creamy skin gives her this ethereal, unreal quality, likeI'm not really seeing her at all. Except she's absolutely standing right there, her soft laughter spilling across the room.
"Who is that?" I ask my brother, nodding at her.
"Who is…oh." A grin stretches across his face. "That's Tia Monroe, Kingston's baby sister and Sophie's Maid of Honor. They got close when Tia was staying with Kingston and Evie over the summer." His hand clamps down on my shoulder. "You're walking her down the aisle."
Fuck me. That's Kingston Monroe's baby sister?
She looks nothing like her brother. For one, she's absolutely gorgeous. For another, she's tiny. Kingston is damn near as big as I am. The man is a beast in skates. She looks like a harmless little angel.
One I'd really like to—
"Just a word of warning," Harlan says, like he's reading my mind, "but she doesn't date hockey players. Do yourself a favor and don't hit on her if you don't want to get your feelings hurt."
"Why doesn't she date hockey players?"
Harlan shrugs like it's not his business. "Fuck if I know. Sophie just said she doesn't like hockey players."
"Why doesn't she like hockey players?" I ask.
"Again, how should I know?" Harlan asks.
I stare at him levelly for a heartbeat. "Has anyone ever mistaken you for a font of information?"
"Nope," he says, shrugging like the insult doesn't bother him at all. Hell, it probably doesn't. There are three things Harlan cares about: our family, Sophie, and hockey. Anything else just doesn't fucking matter to him. Until Sophie, he didn't even like most people.
Frankly, it's inconvenient as hell.
My gaze flicks back to Tia, my dick throbbing. Why doesn't she like hockey players? Better question…how the fuck do I change her mind?
An hour later, I have no plan, but I decide to approach her anyway to introduce myself while everyone else is still eating. She's standing at the back of the room by herself, examining the photos of Harlan and Sophie hanging along the back wall.
