Page 24 of Maverick (Playing For Keeps #2)

MAVERICK

Three Years Later

Holy bridezilla.

If I thought Stetson was already a diva, that didn’t hold a candle to how he behaved on his wedding day. I’d been running around all morning, managing disaster after disaster—and trying to keep him from finding out about them.

The venue was in the Middle-of-Fucking-Nowhere in Georgia, where even GPS systems didn’t work, so nearly everyone got lost. If we hadn’t been staying there, I was certain that I would have been among them.

I’d been working with Barrett’s brother all morning, directing people to the right place.

One of us chased down the photographer, the other the florist, and we took turns with the guests.

Getting dressed proved a whole other issue when Stetson’s hands shook too violently for him to button up his shirt. “Relax,” I told him, rushing across the room to do it before he had a complete meltdown. “This is supposed to be a happy day, remember?”

My best friend closed his eyes and took one of those deep breaths I’d seen him practice time and time again throughout this entire process. “I just want it to be perfect.”

“And you know what? A venue isn’t going to do that. Neither is a meticulous schedule, powder blue linens over Daphne blue, or yelling at a poor server for dropping a box of cutlery and scaring you.”

Stetson’s cheeks turned a deep red. “Remind me to find him later and apologize.”

I’d already done it for him, but I’d be sure to have Stetson throw in extra on the staff’s tip.

“What is going to make this day perfect, is you and your men. At the end of the day, you’ll have two amazing husbands who get to deal with your shit every day for the rest of their lives.

” I fastened the last button on his shirt, then flipped his collar up to work at his tie.

“Thanks, Mav,” he said, swallowing against the tightness in his throat.

“Don’t mention it. Can I get dressed now? Or do you want your best man walking around in his underwear?”

“Hell no. With those thighs? You’ll steal all the attention.”

Snickering—and grateful that my shirt covered exactly what underwear I was wearing—I returned to my side of the room.

The last few years had been a whirlwind for so many reasons.

Reese and I had officially moved into Quinton’s place.

He still appreciated his own space, so he’d set up his own bedroom on the top floor.

More often than not though, we fell asleep in the same bed.

They’d also been interacting more with each other, which warmed my heart.

Every time I walked into a room and found Reese in Quinton’s lap, or caught Quinton stealing a kiss, it solidified that the three of us just…

worked , even if it took them another year to utter the “L” word.

We’d also kept up the private training sessions, and my skills had improved almost faster than I could believe.

Our chemistry in the bedroom translated to the field, which rocketed us right toward a Super Bowl win—the Yellowhammers’s first in fifty years .

Each one of us could predict the other’s move before it was made, and it made for what our teammates called “The Dream Team.”

That was another development: We were now out to everyone.

We thought we’d waited for the clubhouse to empty out before we made the risky decision to fool around in the showers.

Jake had doubled back because he’d forgotten something and caught the three of us stumbling out, red-faced and hands all over each other.

For a long moment, we just stood there staring, each waiting on someone else to make a move until Jake broke the silence by throwing his hands up.

He shouted, “I don’t want to know!” before he grabbed what he needed and left.

And that was the end of it. We got the occasional light-hearted joke but for the most part, the support we’d received had been almost overwhelming. Now that we had Quinton to keep us in check, Reese and I didn’t get into fights on the field anymore.

We’d talked about taking the next step—on more than one occasion.

We’d talked and talked and talked… We’d gone ring shopping and even started deciding on specifics once we saw the headaches Stetson had in his planning.

If one of them didn’t pop the damn question soon, I might have to muster the courage to do it myself.

While Stetson finished fussing over his hair, I took a moment to check my phone—and to discreetly slip both of my guys a picture of the lacy panties I wore underneath my suit.

I tended to prefer them over boxer briefs now.

Not only were my guys utterly unable to resist putting their hands on me at every opportunity, but the lacy garments had also become a comfort for me.

When Reese or Quinton couldn’t physically reassure me, the panties gave me the reassurance that I needed.

“Is everyone here that needs to be here?” Stetson asked, startling me.

“Yes, and everyone’s in place.” I shut off my phone and fastened up my pants. Spinning around to face him I asked, “Are you ready? ”

Stetson stared at himself in the mirror, tugging at the sleeves and lapels of his black jacket. It was clear that he was uncomfortable. As much as the guy liked to turn heads, he’d much rather do so in his uniform. Another deep inhale, and he turned around. “I don’t know. Am I?”

“Stetson Holloway,” I scolded. “You’ve never been nervous in your life. Why now?”

“Because I don’t want to screw anything up,” he admitted, then blushed as if he hadn’t meant to do so.

“You probably will, but so will they. I think if anyone can handle it, it’s the three of you.” With a hand on his shoulder, I urged him toward the door. “Now, whatever is going to happen with this day is done. Your only job right now is to get married. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.” Then with a bratty smile, Stetson tossed over his shoulder, “Or do you prefer ‘Daddy.’”

“Go, before I kick you all the way down that fucking aisle,” I growled, giving him a playful shove toward the ceremony doors.

As I walked ahead of him, I resisted the urge to seek out my men among the guests. I felt their eyes on me though, and an involuntary grin quirked the corners of my mouth.

Since there were three grooms, the space had been set up differently.

Instead of the traditional aisle down the middle, the guests sat in a circle surrounding the altar.

Levi and Barrett already stood there and as I joined them, soft music started and the doors swung open.

Levi’s eyes watered, and Barrett’s mouth eased into a gentle smile.

I watched the tension visibly melt from Stetson’s body, and I knew that it was all he could do not to run down the aisle.

I gave my best friend encouraging smiles where needed, and handed over the ring when I was asked, but I couldn’t have repeated a single word that was said.

My attention was elsewhere. More specifically, drawn to the two sets of eyes watching me .

God damn , my men looked good. Both Reese and Quinton both wore khakis with white button-downs, popped open at the top to tease at the skin beneath.

Quinton had his locs tied back, and Reese’s blond hair was swept away from his face.

Both looked at me with such intensity in their eyes that I barely resisted squirming on the spot.

Clapping snapped me out of it, and I refocused my attention just in time to see Barrett and Levi plant a kiss to either of Stetson’s cheeks.

He grabbed Levi first, pressing their lips together before giving the same treatment to Barrett.

That time, I didn’t bother fighting the tears. They poured freely down my cheeks.

The second I was tapped out of my best man duties, I made a beeline for Reese and Quinton’s table. Stetson rushed past me, pressing a Crown and Sprite into my hand and shouting that it was my turn to relax.

Quinton took charge then, tugging at my jacket until I perched on his knee.

On instinct, my left hand searched for Reese.

He tugged his chair closer until I could brush a rogue strand of hair out of his eyes.

Quinton leaned in, growling in my ear, “You know you’re in for trouble for sending that picture earlier, aren’t you? ”

Oh, I counted on it. “Yes, Daddy.”

I was comfortable. I watched everyone on the dance floor, trading hidden touches and lazy kisses with Reese and Quinton when we thought no one was paying attention.

Exhausted and sore from being on my feet all day, I didn’t intend on moving for the rest of the night.

So when Barrett hauled me out of my seat, I stumbled after him, confused. “What’s going on?”

“Just stand right here,” he said. “Don’t move.”

I had a front row seat to Stetson’s… horrible rendition of “Single Ladies.” Despite being grumpy about being pulled away, I laughed so hard that my eyes watered. He mock-tossed his tie once, twice—and then he stopped and turned around. Beyoncé grew quieter and …

Wait… that was my favorite song—“How Could I Not” by Spencer Crandall.

What the fuck was going on? My smile faded and my heart leapt into my throat.

When Stetson made a beeline for me , the foolish organ stopped beating entirely.

He looped his blue silk tie around my neck, utilizing the ends as reins to tug me down to his level.

“Before you even ask, they cleared this with us.” He released the fabric, but my legs refused to move. “Turn around, babe!”

Slowly, I pivoted on the spot. The crowd parted down the middle, and Quinton and Reese were headed my way.

“What’s… Oh, shit!”

Both men dropped to one knee, and my words caught in my throat. My vision blurred. My hands flew up to cover my mouth. Each of them opened up a small velvet box, both of which held identical thin, gold bands. The music faded away, and Quinton spoke first.

“Maverick, I knew you were something special the first time we met, but I couldn’t even pretend to predict how you’d change my life.

You’re one of the kindest, most selfless people I’ve ever known.

I fell head over heels in love with you before I could catch myself, but you’ve become so much more than my partner.

You’re my best friend, and I couldn’t imagine living another day of my life without you. ”

I waited, but the question I thought I’d hear didn’t come. Instead, Reese opened his mouth.

“Mav, the day you decided to give me a second chance, I became the luckiest man alive.”

“I’ll sa— mmph .”

We laughed, Stetson’s interjection muffled by his husband’s hand over his mouth.

Reese continued. “You not only gave me another chance to love you the way you deserve, but you gave me two amazing partners. There’s no one else I would rather live this life beside.

I don’t know how I’ll ever show you how much I love you and how much you mean to me, but I’ll spend the rest of my life trying. ”

Then, together, “Will you marry us?”

I was sobbing now— ugly crying. I couldn’t hear a sound over the cheering around me, couldn’t see a thing through the tears in my eyes. I scrubbed my hands over my face, attempting to clear my vision and catch my breath so I could answer, but none of it worked.

So I dropped my hands. A camera flashed next to me—the photographer. I choked my response. “It’s about damn time.”

Instead of taking the rings right away, I threw myself at Quinton.

He caught me around the waist and I sat on his knee, hauling him into a messy, tear-stained kiss.

My lungs ached, but I gave up taking a breath in favor of fisting the front of Reese’s shirt and bringing my mouth to his.

It was a mess— I was a mess. Our clothes were disheveled.

We were all covered in snot and tears, but the moment was perfect.

Completely and utterly us.