Page 37

Chapter thirty-five

Holt

“Brod?” Wes calls once we’ve reached the landing on the second floor. “Hunt?”

“In here.” Hunter sticks his head out of a doorway.

“Hey, guys,” I say.

“Hey, Holt. Wes,” Brody greets us. “Want a drink?” He points at the bottle of bourbon and glasses set out on the dresser.

“I want to hug the groom first,” Wes says, walking over to him and wrapping his arms around him.

Brody pats Wes awkwardly on the back. I can’t help but chuckle. Brody is not a hugger.

“How are you feeling?” I ask to break the weird tension that Wes has created.

“Ready to make Aubs my wife.”

There’s a knock on the door, and a guy, who I assume is Brody’s older brother, based on the resemblance between the two, pokes his head into the room. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Come on in.” Caleb says.

He steps into the room with a young boy, and introductions are made.

“This is so cool,” Brody’s nephew says, his gaze darting around the room.

“I mean, Uncle B being a hockey player is one thing.” He waves his hands around as if having an uncle who was a professional hockey player is an everyday occurrence.

“But the kids in my class are going to be so jealous when I tell them I met more of the Storm.” He practically vibrates with excitement.

“We’ll have to take a picture for you. As proof,” Hunter says.

“Some of us are retired,” Brody points out.

“Uncle B, you’re a coach now,” his nephew says with an exasperated sigh.

I laugh. I like this kid.

“Let’s have a toast to the groom before we get this show on the road,” Hunter suggests, pouring us each a glass of bourbon, and passing Brody’s nephew a mini can of soda.

“To the husband-to-be, and my little brother,” Brody’s brother says before gesturing to Caleb.

Shit, I didn’t know we were all saying something.

I rack my brain trying to come up with what to say. I hate being put on the spot like this.

“To the best alternate captain we could have asked for,” Caleb says.

“To the best left winger, and future hall of famer,” Hunter adds with a wink.

“To a great addition to the coaching staff,” I say.

“To one of our best friends.” Wes gestures at Hunter and me. “Even though he resisted our friendship for a while.”

“To the best uncle.”

“Gee, thanks guys.” Brody lifts his glass, glancing at all of us, and I swear his eyes are glassy. “To the best friends a guy could ask for.”

“Cheers,” we all yell, and down our drinks.

“Alright. Let’s get you wifed up,” Caleb says, collecting our empty glasses.

We file out of the bedroom, down the stairs, and out the back door to where everyone has found a place to sit. Most of the guests are current or past members of the Storm family.

“Over there,” I tell Wes, pointing to where Becca and Hadley are sitting in the middle of the second row with Sutton and Ansley.

I slide into the seat next to Becca. She grins at me and links our hands together. Wes ends up sitting next to my sister, who glares at him then scoots as far away from him as she can .

Oh boy.

The “Wedding March” starts playing, and everyone gets to their feet, waiting for the bride to appear. I turn my attention to Brody, who is standing with the Justice of the Peace at the end of the aisle.

I’m so happy for my friend. If anyone deserves their happily ever after, it’s him and Aubrey. I remember how adamant he was a few years ago that they were just friends and that he didn’t have feelings for her. Pretty sure he was the only one who believed that lie.

Brody’s expression shifts, and he stops fidgeting, standing straighter and breaking into a huge smile.

Aubrey must be walking down the aisle. I turn toward the house, and there she is, on the arm of a man who I assume is her stepfather.

She’s radiant in a pale-pink knee-length dress with a bouquet of roses in her hands.

They slowly make their way down the aisle to Brody, and everyone sits back down.

They exchange vows, and before I know it, the officiant pronounces them husband and wife. They share a kiss that’s probably a little more than PG, but hey, it’s their wedding. We clap as they make their way back toward the house for pictures.

“I’m so happy for him. For them,” Sutton gushes as we make our way out of the aisle.

“Me too,” I agree.

Becca and I make our way over to the bar while the rest of our group wanders off.

“That was a beautiful wedding,” Becca says, accepting her glass of Sprite from the bartender, a few minutes later.

“It was.”

I nod my thanks when he hands me my beer, and drop a twenty into his tip jar. We take our drinks to one of the empty high-top tables.

“What kind of wedding do you want?”

Me and my big mouth. I take a drink of my beer, cursing myself for asking that question.

“I never really thought about it.” She tilts her head, studying me over her glass. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

I almost choke on my beer. It takes me a few seconds to recover .

“No. If I was asking, you’d know.” I pause, watching all of my smiling, laughing friends and teammates. “Maybe this is too soon and we shouldn’t be having this conversation.”

Brody’s wedding is making me want to get married, too.

Something I didn’t think I wanted. Even though Kat hinted about us getting engaged all the time.

She even talked about her dream wedding reception at the country club her parents belong to.

The fancy church ceremony she wanted, even though neither of us went to any sort of church regularly.

How she wanted to invite hundreds of guests.

Every time she talked about it, a knot would form in my stomach. I always thought it was because I didn’t want to get married. Now, I know Kat was the problem. My gut always knew deep down I didn’t want to marry her, even if my brain hadn’t realized it.

With Becca it’s different. I will do everything in my power to keep her in my life for the rest of my time here on earth. Make her my wife one day. There is zero doubt in my mind that I am falling in love with her. I really hope she feels the same way.

“I think I’d enjoy a wedding similar to this. Casual. Laid back. Fun. Nothing too fancy,” Becca says, breaking into my thoughts.

“Me too,” I agree, wrapping my arm around her.

Brody and Aubrey decided not to do a formal dinner, nor assigned seating, so we find an empty table and set our drinks down before filling up our plates at the buffet.

Hadley, Sutton, and the rest of the crew eventually join us.

I smirk at the way Sebastian follows Sutton around, pulling out a chair for her when they reach our table.

I’ll give it to him; he never gives up. She thanks him but then turns to chat with Ansley.

We eat and talk, and I lose track of time, enjoying the afternoon with my friends. Eventually, the band begins to play.

I lean closer to Becca, whispering to her, “Dance with me?”

“If you insist.”

“I do.” I get to my feet and help her to hers.

We make our way to the dance floor, and I pull her close to me. We sway gently even though this is most definitely not a slow song.

“This is nice,” she murmurs against my chest .

I grin. “I agree.”

We spend the rest of the evening dancing and hanging out with our friends at the table, chatting and telling stories.

It’s almost midnight when we finally head home.

A long day, but definitely worth it.