Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 95107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
I wrinkle my forehead. “Sure. What’s up?”
“G said you were floating the idea of proposing to Allie at the wedding tomorrow.”
I instantly shoot Garrett an accusatory glare. “Seriously, dude?”
“Yeah, I’m not apologizing,” G says, unfazed. “I had to warn him in case you ignored our advice and went rogue.”
“Asshole.”
“Hey now,” Tuck interjects, his Southern drawl becoming more pronounced. “I’m not pissed. If anything, I think it’s a good idea.”
Garrett and Logan gawk at him.
I blink in surprise. “Really?”
“Yeah.” He brings his glass to his lips, watching me over the rim as he takes a sip. I don’t see any bullshit whatsoever in his brown eyes. “It’s kinda romantic.”
“That’s what I said!” I exclaim, feeling vindicated.
He sets his glass in the drink holder beside him, then rests both forearms on his knees and leans forward, his expression serious. “I think you should do it.”
“Wait, really?”
“Why not? Sabrina and I would love to share our wedding with you. And it opens so many other doors, y’know? Think about it. All your great achievements, we could share together. Like, when you and Allie get married? We’ll be right there with the announcement of our second child. And when you share Allie’s pregnancy? We’ll be there announcing our new house.”
Logan chokes on his champagne mid-sip.
I narrow my eyes. “Point taken.”
“No, wait, it gets even better,” Tucker says enthusiastically. “When Allie gives birth to your first kid, guess who’ll be there! Me again, there to introduce you to our new dog, who I’ll name after your baby to honor you. And when your kid grows up, graduates college, gets engaged, and has a wedding of their own, I’ll be sitting there in the front row. Faking a heart attack.”
Logan shakes his head in utter astonishment. “Holy shit. Tuck is a sociopath. Didn’t I always tell you that gingers are crazy?”
Garrett breaks into hysterics.
“All right, I get it,” I mutter.
Tucker’s smile is downright lethal. “Do you, Di Laurentis? Because if you upset Sabrina tomorrow by asking Allie to marry you, I will be there. I will always be there. At every corner, ruining every important moment of your life until the day you die. And then, when you’re on your deathbed, I’ll commit suicide right before you go, just to steal your thunder. What do you think, man? How does that future sound?”
Garrett gives me a smug look. “Told you so.”
Welp. He was right. And so was Logan, apparently. Like, Tuck is just sitting here now, drinking champagne and smiling at me as if he hadn’t just threatened to commit suicide on my deathbed.
Gingers are psychotic.
Fifteen minutes later, the limo slows down as we near our destination. When Tucker tries to peer out the window, Logan slugs him in the arm and chides, “Not allowed.”
“Are we going down a ramp?” Tucker’s forehead knits with curiosity.
“Don’t you worry about that, little man,” Garrett says mysteriously.
“Little man?” He snorts. “I’m as big as all you assholes.”
I reach into my shirt pocket for the bandanna I shoved in there earlier. “All right, blindfold on.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “No fucking way.”
“So distrustful,” Logan tsks.
Garrett grins. “We promise this won’t end with you being thrown in a pool of Jell-O or anything.”
Tucker appraises the group for a moment. He must decide he can trust us, because he nods and dutifully allows me to secure the blindfold. I tie it extra tight as revenge for his psychotic monologue.
After we hop out of the limo, Logan takes Tucker’s arm to guide him so he doesn’t fall flat on his face. As we walk toward the team entrance of TD Garden, I’m bouncing up and down like a kid on a sugar high. Tonight isn’t only for Tuck. It’s for all of us.
Voices bounce off the concrete walls as we head down the tunnel toward the locker rooms. We were given access to the visitors’ area, which was the best that Garrett could swing, but I’m sure as shit not complaining. The organization went above and beyond to grant Garrett this request. Clearly being the top scorer on the team has its advantages. I wonder what they’d give him if he was the top scorer in the entire league. Maybe the key to the city. But so far, the honor of the league’s top scorer this season goes to Jake Connelly over in Edmonton. There’s a reason Connelly’s nickname is lightning on skates. His rookie season has been explosive.
We reach the locker room door. When Garrett raps his knuckles in an elaborate knock, the voices beyond the door instantly go silent.
A blindfolded Tuck warily moves his head back and forth. “What the heck is going on…”
Chuckling, Garrett opens the door, and Logan and I guide Tuck inside. I almost squeal like a teenage girl at the sea of familiar faces that greet me. It takes all my willpower to stay quiet, and I see my excitement reflected in everyone’s eyes. I hold my finger to my lips, indicating to the group to keep their mouths shut.