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Brett

SOPHIA: I just heard the news! Congrats, COACH!!!

brETT: Soph, I coach now.

SOPHIA: Not for a PRO TEAM!!! Why didn’t you tell me you were talking to the Triumph? And why did Noah have to be the one to tell me???

T hank fuck, the beach was deserted, because for once in my life, quiet and solace didn’t sound all that bad.

Even for just a few minutes. I’d come out after making sure my lawyer sent my signed contract to coach in Montreal to let it sink in.

After five years coaching in the minors, head coach status achieved.

Growing up with two little brothers and Sophia meant noise. Tons of noise. And Soph gave as good as she got. Texting didn’t stop her from being...Soph.

Noah might only be a few years younger than me, but, damn, he never could keep his mouth shut.

He better be fucking grateful he wasn’t close enough for me to call him out for blabbing the news.

The little shit. And then thank Kev and Mel for getting married so he wasn’t in reach for me to throttle him.

But now that I was his coach, I could get my revenge on him in other ways. Like hiding his tape. Although, that might break his heart. Even I was n’t that much of an asshole.

After all, I was the reason he taped his goalie stick.

Most didn’t because of the added weight, but when he was younger, he had a rough time of it.

So, like any good big brother, I did what was necessary to get his confidence back.

The grip tape only added a little extra weight, but Noah had been playing with it on his stick for almost his entire career.

And was a damn good goalie. Was I proud?

Hell yes. Was I peeved he spilled my secret to Soph before I had a chance? Also hell yes.

Not enough to really kick his ass, but still exact a little revenge on the practice ice.

But here I was. Surprise beach wedding. Best friend and groom, Kevin from college, had made me promise to stand beside him if he ever asked the woman he loved to make it legal.

The bride? My ex girlfriend turned good friend, also from college, who teased that she was the one who really didn’t get away.

It wasn’t as if we’d been together in any capacity the last ten years, but it still fucked with my head.

They’d been together far fucking longer than Mel and I had, but for some reason, it brought up things I’d much rather ignore.

brETT: I figured you had enough coach drama to last you a few weeks until contracts were signed.

SOPHIA: Haha . Funny. Seriously, though. Congrats . See you soon, Big B. Love.

brETT: Love ya Baby L.

SOPHIA: *eye roll*

brETT: You’ll always be the baby. Noah’s never been smaller than you. Not sorry. Ceremony time.

SOPHIA: Give my congrats to Kev! And don’t forget to eat cake for me! Max says congrats!

brETT: Will do.

I let out a heavy sigh as I pocketed my phone and contemplated my lonely existence for a brief moment.

Even my baby sister had someone. Of course, her someone was the head coach for the Seattle Revenge who just so happened to be her favorite player until he retired. And that fucked with my head even more.

Sophia and Max. Kev and Mel.

And then there was me. Nary a plus one in sight, and I was the fucking best man. Which, a few months ago would’ve made me think of the possibilities, but instead, here I was, getting all existential and shit.

Perfect, dream job, and no one to share it with.

The waves crashed on the shore, a comforting reminder that, as alone as I felt, the world was filled with fucking wonders and lonely people staring at them at the same time I was.

Fuck this.

I needed a drink or five, and a tight, wet pussy to slide my dick into and forget all this melancholy bullshit.

Phone in my pocket, I headed down the beach towards where white lights strung like sparkling stars, chairs faced a small distressed wood platform set up for Kev and Mel to exchange their vows surrounded by white flowers, and got ready to fulfill my duties as best man.

Kev snuck up next to me like a damn ninja, and nudged me with his shoulder. “Hey. Mel and I appreciate you being here and doing this.”

“Shut the fuck up. Where else would I be? After setting the two of you up after grad? I practically created this moment.” While not being drafted by any pro teams. My lack of judgment greatly increased by the alcoholic haze I decided better suited my not-playing-hockey ever again state than remaining sober.

Melanie and I hadn’t dated since sophomore year when we figured out kissing was about as far as we wanted to take things.

Not a single spark. Even alcohol hadn’t helped.

She reminded me of Sophia way too much for anything more than platonic feelings developing, and we decided we were better friends than anything else.

When I caught Kev staring at her like she hung the fucking moon after a few drinks, I decided to take action.

Inebriated as fuck action, but action nonetheless.

Drunk yet somehow still coherent enough to understand what I was doing, I locked the two of them in my room and sat up on the roof with a bottle.

All night.

The hangover fucked me up enough that I stopped feeling sorry for myself and was about to do…

something, no idea what, but something…when I opened the door to my room and headed in without a thought of the two people I.

Locked in the night before. To Kev and Mel having insanely hot sex.

I yelled, covered my eyes as they scrambled to cover up with my comforter and realized Mel deserved to get laid by someone with their kind of chemistry.

Just not in my damn bed.

“You still owe me a new comforter.” I reminded him, stuffing my hands in the pockets of my dress pants with a shake of my head.

He grinned. Cuffs in place, impeccable and ready to commit to forever. “We still have it.”

“Dude.” I groaned, scrubbing my hand over my face.

“Memories.” He smirked.

The sun sank lower nearing the horizon, painting the sky fantastical shades orange and red. Lights from the beachfront hotel behind us cast a silhouette on the marital bliss set up. Full on romantic scene from some cheesy romcom. It fucking suited them perfectly.

Not sure how to voice the thoughts running through my head, I stuffed my hands back in my pockets and cleared my throat. And instead of giving my melancholy a voice, I asked, “So, we doing this, or what?”

He nodded and clamped a hand on my shoulder with a grin. “Hell yes.”