Page 111 of Use Me

“Get it.” Tommy laughed.

“We’ll see. Do you have to go back to work?”

“Nope. Jett’s handling everything.”

“Okay. Then let’s go to our people.”

“Our people already know.” I nodded goodbye at Tommy.

“True. Let’s go show them my ring!”

For the past six months, Ashtyn, her mom, my mom, and Ashtyn’s girlfriends have all been planning our wedding. Ashtyn mentioned she had some ideas on Pinterest and the girls went crazy. I stayed out of it. The only say I got in the matter was …

Who was I kidding? I didn’t have a say in shit, and I was okay with that because all I cared about was marrying Ashtyn.

After the season ended, the Blackhawks were in the playoffs, but in the end, they didn’t make it past round two and therefore, didn’t go to the Stanley Cup. This year, the season was starting out strong and I was hopeful it would be their year. In my time off between seasons, I spent my days on the golf course with the guys followed by my nights with my fiancé.

Life was good.

I had my girl, my boys, and Romi had her baby. I was now the proud uncle of a little girl who I couldn’t wait to spoil. Romi and Shane named her Margaret. I was going to call her Maggie or Mags. It was already a done deal.

Today though, I was making Ashtyn my wife. Our entire relationship has been on overdrive, but with all the action we’d faced, making her my wife on the anniversary of us meeting was the best fucking date ever.

Corey was still MIA, so to be safe, Ashtyn and I didn’t have the traditional bachelor and bachelorette parties because we didn’t know what Corey was capable of. I didn’t feel like getting shot again, and with my luck, even with a large crowd somewhere, he’d open fire.

Being at home with Ashtyn was all worth it, though. While she addressed envelopes, we’d watch movies. When she’d look online for wedding dresses she liked, we’d catch up on our DVR. When she was making the seating chart, we’d cook dinner together. And when we were picking our first dance song, we danced on the back patio under the stars.

Life was definitely good.

Especially today.

“Here.” I looked in the mirror of the bathroom I was standing in to see Kenny walk in. He was holding a drink. “Thought you could use a seven and seven.”

“Thanks.” I took the drink from him, took a sip, and then turned back to the mirror to straighten my black tie. I’d rented a suite at the Westin down the street from the venue, and Kenny, Jett, Clark, and I were using it to get ready before heading to the sports museum so I could get hitched. Ashtyn was in a suite of her own on a different floor getting ready, though my executive suite would be used to consummate our marriage—all fucking night.

“You getting nervous?”

“Should I be?”

Kenny shrugged. “I’ve heard some guys do.”

“Not me, man. This is my girl.”

“Well, drink up and let’s seal your fate.”

I rolled my eyes at his joke and chugged my drink, ready to start the next chapter of my life.

Not only had Ashtyn agreed to get married in a sports museum, but it was her idea. My love of sports was rubbing off on her.

The guys and I walked into the Chicago Sports Museum, and we were greeted by a guy in a black suit.

“Mr. Cole.” He stuck out his hand. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” I said, shaking his hand. “Kenny, Jett, Clark, this is Matt. He’ll be in charge of security tonight.”

Two more guys dressed in black suits walked out from the museum. “Only people in there are workers setting up for the wedding, and the minister.”

“Perfect,” Matt replied. “This is Noah and Liam. They will help me be the eyes and ears tonight.”