Page 49

Chapter thirty-two

We just witnessed a legally binding marriage and a prelude to murder

Zoe

T he Storm might play like a team, but they brunch like a circus.

Jake and Charlie’s house is packed. There are too many hockey players in one kitchen, too many children underfoot, and baby Theo, barely a month old and dead asleep in Charlie’s arms as if this chaos doesn’t faze him.

I’m sitting sideways in Chase’s lap, legs draped over his, his arms looped around my waist. He keeps sneaking kisses to my shoulder like no one’s watching, but everyone is.

It’s just that no one cares, and I love that.

I don’t have to be mindful of pretending I’m faking it too much, because they all think it’s real.

No one’s going to rat us out to Pulse or Storm for being too affectionate, because as far as they’re aware—apart from Charlie, of course—we’re completely legit. Which is both a blessing and a curse.

“Okay, but who the hell made this?” Logan holds up a slice of French toast with the awe of a man who’s never cooked in his life. “I wanna marry it.”

“I did,” Ryan says, smug as hell. “Ten outta ten, no notes.”

“That’s a lie,” Claire says, sipping her coffee. “You forgot the nutmeg again.”

“It’s brunch, babe,” Ryan says. “Not MasterChef .”

“Still,” Claire shrugs. “Nutmeg.”

“Just let me have one win. ”

“You did,” Reid says, deadpan. “You locked her down before she realized she could do better.”

Laughter rolls down the table, and Jake gestures with his fork. “Logan can’t marry the toast anyway. Meadow already proposed to him this morning.”

“She also tried to marry the blender,” Charlie adds, bouncing Theo on her shoulder. “She’s been super into wedding stuff since Jake proposed.”

As if summoned by the scent of chaos itself, Meadow suddenly appears. Curls askew, one sock half-on, dragging a sparkly tulle scarf behind her. She marches right up to Logan and plunks a plastic tiara on the table in front of him.

“Logan,” she announces. “We need to do the wedding.”

He blinks down at her. “The wedding?”

“Yeah, me and you and Lulu,” she replies, like it’s obvious.

“Uh…” Logan glances helplessly around. “Right. So I’m marrying you and Lulu’s… what, the celebrant?”

“No,” Meadow says, exasperated. “You’re marrying Lulu. I’m the sparkle boss.”

The entire table starts chuckling, and Reid seems to choke on his cinnamon roll. Eli is frozen mid-chew, staring at Meadow like she just set fire to the Stanley Cup.

I breathe out a laugh, feeling Chase’s grin on my neck. “Oh, this is gonna be good. ”

Lulu, to her credit, leans her chin on her hand and smiles at Logan beside her, playing along. “Wow,” she says. “Didn’t even have to buy me a drink first.”

“I—what—no—” Logan’s ears go pink. “I’m not—I thought—”

Meadow interrupts, fully committed to the bit. “You guys match, ” she explains. “You’re tall, and she’s pretty. It’s perfect!”

Charlie has to turn her face away to stop laughing as Meadow tries to stuff the tiara into Logan’s hair and then darts out of the room for more props.

Lulu doesn’t flinch. “Careful, don’t mess up your perfect side part.”

Logan gives her a look, adjusting the tiara with two fingers. “You’re not helping.”

“I never said I was.”

“You’re supposed to be the celebrant. My wife-to-be was switched on me without my consent.”

She shrugs. “Plans change. You heard the sparkle boss.”

Logan closes his eyes slowly. “Lulu.”

She blinks, all innocence. “Yes, husband?”

A strangled sound comes from Eli’s direction, and I watch as Tamara’s hand flies out to grip his forearm, restraining him on instinct.

“Don’t make me commit a crime,” he says calmly.

“Oh, relax,” Lulu says, reaching for a piece of fruit. “I’d never marry a man with beige bedsheets.”

“I do not have—” Logan’s voice cracks. “You don’t even—they’re off-white . Cool toned.”

Jake barks out a laugh. “Oh no, my guy. That’s worse.”

Logan turns back to Lulu, flustered. “You wore a shirt last week that said Make ‘Em Cry in a Miniskirt. I don’t think you’re allowed to judge me.”

She sips her mimosa and shrugs. “And yet here we are, almost married.”

Meadow reappears moments later with a stuffed bunny, a half-eaten croissant, and the look of a girl with a vision.

“Okay,” she declares, climbing onto a chair. “Everyone, be quiet. It’s time for the ceremony.”

Logan looks up again, face completely stricken. “Wait, what?”

Meadow points at him, suddenly a mini general giving orders. “Stay next to Lulu. You’re the prince. She’s the sparkle queen.”

“Oh my god,” Logan mutters. “I’m in a fever dream.”

“Say your vows,” Meadow demands.

Lulu, completely unfazed, turns to face Logan with a solemn expression. “I promise to keep you in line, improve your wardrobe, and never let you leave the house with unblended sunscreen again.”

Logan stares at her, mouth slightly open. “That was specific.”

“I take marriage seriously,” she says sweetly.

Reid snorts into his coffee. “This is the best brunch I’ve ever been forced to attend.”

Chase leans closer to my ear. “If she makes Logan kiss her, Eli’s gonna combust.”

I hum with a nod, my eyes flicking to Eli, who looks as though he’s trying very hard to remember this is all a show constructed by a child under five years of age.

“I’m waiting,” Meadow says, arms crossed now. “Say your vows, Mr. Prince.”

Logan runs a hand down his face. “I swear to be confused by everything you say, overwhelmed by everything you wear, and terrified of your brother until the day I die.”

“Perfect,” Lulu sighs. “I’m so moved.”

“I’m so done, ” Eli mutters.

“Do you promise?” Meadow asks, hands clasped together.

“Of course!” Lulu’s grin is wide.

“No!” Eli barks. “She doesn’t promise anything!”

“I do,” Logan says quickly, holding both hands in the air before Lulu can get another word in. “Please don’t stab me.”

“Yay!” Meadow cheers. “You’re married!”

She beams and throws a handful of napkin shreds in the air as confetti. Just as Logan starts to breathe again, clearly relieved it’s over, Meadow lifts a finger.

“And now you kiss!”

The entire table goes silent as Logan blinks. “I’m sorry—what now?”

“You have to kiss ,” Meadow insists, hands on her hips. “That’s the rules.”

“ Nope. ” Eli shoots to his feet. “New rule. No weddings. No sparkle bosses. No Lulu within fifteen feet of Miller, ever again.”

Lulu tilts her head at Logan, completely unfazed by her brother’s outburst. “You heard the mini boss.”

“I, uh, your brother is—” Logan looks across the table and sees Eli staring at him, about ready to crawl across the brunch spread with a steak knife.

“I SWEAR TO GOD,” Eli bellows, pointing. “If your lips get within five inches of her—”

“Relax,” Lulu says breezily. “We’ll save the wedding night for the sequel.”

Reid actually chokes on his mimosa and needs Ryan to slap his back, while Jake cackles into a napkin.

Logan’s face is scarlet. “I hate all of you.”

Meadow, clearly disappointed, sighs and hands him her stuffed bunny. “Fine then, you can kiss Missy Bunnikins instead.”

Logan holds up the bunny with a look of dismay and quickly pecks it. “I don’t know what’s happening anymore.”

“Pretend I’m Missy Bunnikins,” Lulu clarifies, deadpan.

Eli collapses back into his chair, eyes glassy. “I need to get my sister a new job in another state. With no Wi-Fi.”

Meadow climbs down from her seat, satisfied with her work, and Logan slumps back into his chair, exhausted from surviving a near-death experience.

Lulu slides back into her seat with a wink and pops a strawberry in her mouth.

Across the table, Eli is still muttering something about his sister joining a convent.

Chase’s hand finds mine under the table, his thumb dragging idle circles across my wrist.

“You good?” he murmurs, chin brushing my shoulder.

I nod, still laughing softly. “I think we just witnessed a legally binding marriage and a prelude to murder all in under ten minutes.”

He hums a laugh as Charlie starts to stand, gently rocking Theo in her arms. She catches my eye with a small smile and tips her chin towards the living room.

“Wanna hold your godson?”

I blink. “Wait— godson ?”

Charlie just smiles like it’s obvious. Chase’s thumb stills on my wrist, and I swallow as my heart does something weird and fluttery.

I nod. “Yeah. Yeah, of course I do.”

Chase loosens his grip and lets me up without a word, and I follow Charlie into the living room, my hands already aching to hold something good.

I’ve always been Auntie Zoe in this group—especially to Noah and Meadow. But Theo’s different. He’s new. Barely over a month old and still smells like baby shampoo and dreams.

Charlie passes him to me without a word, just drops him into my arms like she knew I needed it. Now he’s sleeping against my chest, all warm weight and soft breaths, one tiny fist curled under his chin, judging brunch from the safety of his nap.

My hand brushes gently over his back as I get comfortable on the couch, just me and him. But I feel the moment Chase walks in, his whole body shifting behind me as if he’s trying to breathe quieter, just to watch longer.

I don’t look at him, but I can feel the smile creeping onto his face as he comes around to the side.

“What,” I mutter without moving.

“Nothing,” he says quickly. “Literally nothing.”

I glance over at him and see his face soften.

“Oh my god,” I whisper, adjusting Theo against my chest. “You’re feral.”

“I’m not.”

“You’re having a full-blown husband fantasy right now.”

“I—” Chase blinks. “That’s not—shut up.”

I smirk. “You’re picturing it, aren’t you? Me, you. Tiny Golden Retriever babies running around with chubby thighs and snack crumbs in their fists.”

He groans, dragging a hand down his face. “Stop. I will propose to you right here in front of your godson and ruin the vibes for everyone.”

I raise a brow. “You are so emotionally unwell.”

“ For you. ”

Charlie snorts from across the room. “Can you two save the foreplay for literally anywhere else?”