Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 148473 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 742(@200wpm)___ 594(@250wpm)___ 495(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148473 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 742(@200wpm)___ 594(@250wpm)___ 495(@300wpm)
Here’s hoping that throws them off the scent.
“Sure, Callahan,” Max says, like he believes me, then tosses me a private look that says something’s up. But he won’t press now, and I appreciate the tact—if that’s what it is.
Wesley pipes up from his stall, “And just to show there are no hard feelings about us all being snubbed from your special day, we made you a ‘Top Five Things To Do Now That You’re Married’ list.” Sheepishly, he adds, “Josie loves lists. She got me addicted.”
I groan and drag a hand down my face. These fuckers. Why did I not see the DickNose board coming?
The team captain strides to the corner of the locker room and taps the whiteboard with his stick. I stand at my stall, arms crossed like I can brace myself for the hell of all hell they’re about to give me. He clears his throat and brandishes his left hand, speaking in a voice full of authority. “Number one: Get a silicone ring for when you’re on the ice because gold isn’t going to cut it in the rink.”
Oh.
I glance down at the simple gold band on my finger, then at his silicone one. That’s actually a good point. “I hadn’t even thought of that. Fair enough,” I mutter.
Max joins Christian and points to the next item. “Number two: Get her a diamond. Pretty sure she didn’t have one in the photos. And you can thank Everly for noticing that.”
My pulse spikes. Why didn’t I think of that either? But if I play this wedding off as an elopement, we’re good. When you elope, engagement rings probably aren’t top of mind, but…yeah. I’ll still have to fix that. Fast.
“We eloped, but you’re right. Good thinking,” I add, grateful for these guys.
Wesley grins as he taps the board now. “Number three: Start doing cute couple shit. Farmers markets, carving her name into a tree, swinging at the park. You’re in your domestic phase now, Callahan.”
I groan, rolling my eyes. I might be known as the resident good guy, but no way am I going to embark on a saccharin tour of couple Pinterest. “I’ll save that for you and Josie. Next.”
“Watch your mouth. Josie and I are aces at cute couple shit,” he says.
“They are,” Christian grumbles.
Miles takes his turn, lifting a finger, dark eyes serious. “But don’t wait too long for number four: Make it official on social media. You can’t go under the radar too long.” There’s a heaviness to his voice, maybe even regret. He’s definitely speaking from experience. Then he adds, like a warning, “Nothing counts until it’s on social, right?”
Pretty sure they’ve guessed this whole thing is fake, but I keep my game face tight. Because their advice is solid, and I appreciate how, in their messed-up way, they’re looking out for me. “Got it.”
Hugo rises from his stall, heads over to the board, then nods to the final item, his tone dripping with innuendo. “Take it from me because my life’s goal is keeping my wife happy—give her a hat trick before you score even one goal for yourself.”
Christian, Max, and Wesley raise their sticks in agreement. So does Rowan Bishop, one of of our defenders. He’s here too, watching with amusement on his usually grumpy face.
“Well, thank you. You’re all the best marriage counselors a guy could ask for,” I say.
The room erupts in laughter, and I flip them off as I grab my gear. I’ll talk to Maeve about all this stuff tonight when she’s done with her catering gig. It’ll be fine. We’ve been in sync on everything. We’ll be in sync on these housekeeping details too.
I sit on the bench and lace up, then Rowan smacks his forehead. “Wait. How the fuck did we miss this?”
I turn to him and arch a brow. “Miss what?”
He’s shaking his head like he’s disappointed in himself. “Let us know when you move in together. A friend of mine owns a moving company. Happy to hook you up.”
My brain short circuits. “Move in together?”
“It’s that thing people do when they get married,” Wesley deadpans.
“Or when the captain asks you to do him a solid,” Christian chimes in with a smirk and a shake of his head.
“And thank you for that,” Wesley says to Christian. That’s how he wound up with Josie, the love of his life. He volunteered a spare room when the captain asked if any of us had a place for his sister to stay at the start of last season.
Hugo turns to me with some concern on his face. “You are moving in together?”
I hadn’t given it any thought, but since my teammates quite possibly think I’m really married, I play it off, rolling my eyes. “Obviously.”
Before I head to the tunnel, I glance at the board one last time. It’s like the to-do list I didn’t know I needed.