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 can’t wait till we’re both in the city together again,” Summer says as if reading my mind. “Actually, not just both of us—all of us!” she corrects, her expression shining brighter. “I’m excited to drop by Nicky’s office for surprise lunches and shopping trips and watch him make up excuses why he can’t go.”
Summer gets a kick out of tormenting our workaholic older brother. And tormenting me. And her boyfriend. Basically, she’s a holy terror. But we all love her.
A murmur ripples through the crowd.
“They’re here,” someone says.
All gazes focus on the double doors in the arched doorway. A moment later they fling open, and Jamie Tucker glides into the ballroom looking like an angel princess in a white tulle dress with a full skirt. There’s a silver tiara tucked into her auburn hair, and a beaming smile on her cherub face.
Tucker’s mother, Gail, scurries after the toddler, chiding, “Jamie! You were supposed to wait for the signal.”
Laughter breaks out, which turns into gasps when Sabrina and Tucker appear.
“Oh my God,” Allie breathes. “I know she probably hates everyone staring at her, but look at her.”
She’s right. Sabrina is exquisite in a simple white satin gown with a scooped neckline that reveals some pretty delectable cleavage. Her dark hair cascades over one bare shoulder, a section of it clipped to the side with a diamond pin. Even though she’s wearing impossibly high heels, Tuck stands at well over six feet and still towers over her. They’re holding hands as they enter the ballroom. Sabrina’s blushing and Tucker’s beaming, and I deeply envy him in that moment.
I squeeze Allie’s hand, and when she squeezes back and slants her head toward me with a smile, my heart clenches tight. How did I get this lucky?
“That’ll be us someday.” I don’t want to give away the surprise, but I can’t help whispering the teasing words in her ear.
She laughs softly. “One day,” she agrees. “Well into the future, though.”
I falter for a second. I want to ask her to define “well into the future” but that would tip my hand, so I maintain my light tone. “I don’t know… I wouldn’t be against seeing you in a wedding dress sooner rather than later. You’d look smoking hot.”
“Obviously,” she replies, and I grin. Her self-confidence rivals mine. It’s one of the reasons I love her.
“Want me to call Vera Wang?” I offer graciously. I’m only half-joking. With my family connections, I could easily get Vera on the line.
Allie’s expression grows thoughtful as she studies my face. I don’t know what she glimpses there, but whatever it is brings another laugh to her lips. “You might want to hold off on that. I mean, it’ll probably take you a while to convince my dad.”
Her dad?
She notes my blank look. “Oh, sweetie,” she tsks, blue eyes dancing. “You know you’d have to ask for his blessing.”
My stomach sinks. Oh sweet baby Jesus. I have to ask for his blessing?
Don’t get me wrong—Joe Hayes and I have developed a tentative friendship over the years. I mean, he still calls me “pretty boy,” but I know he likes me.
Enough to marry his little girl, though? His only child?
Oh, fuck.
Taking pity on me, Allie laces her fingers through mine and tugs me forward. “Come on, let’s go congratulate the happy couple.”
And here I thought that skating in TD Garden with my old team was the greatest night of all time. This wedding reception? Fucking tops that. After a mouth-watering dinner and some of the most hilarious speeches in wedding history, the live band takes the stage and the dance floor comes alive. After a few songs, though, I abandon Allie and she dances with her girlfriends while I try to catch up with as many old friends as I can. Because who knows when or if I’ll see them again after tonight.
When college graduation had been looming, I’d worried we’d all drift apart. And some of us have. Birdie and his longtime girlfriend Natalie got married and moved to Oklahoma. Traynor lives in LA and plays for the Kings. Pierre returned to Canada.
Losing touch with college friends is simply one of those depressing inevitabilities of life, but I’ve also been lucky that many of these guys are still in my life. I see Fitzy frequently because he’s dating my sister. Hunter and I still text all the time, so I’m up-to-date on his life. I’ve met his girlfriend Demi, who couldn’t make it tonight, and I know they’re moving in together, sharing a house with his teammate Conor and Conor’s girlfriend. I talk to Garrett and Logan and Tuck and see them far more often than I thought I would.
There’s really only one close friend I can’t see, can’t speak to, and that’s Beau Maxwell, because he’s gone. I think Beau would’ve had fun tonight if he’d been here.