Page 41

February

T he elevator doors open in Jax’s penthouse suite and as we step out, I’m stunned silent, frozen in place as I take in the space. I swear, Jackson Wilson could have a career in event planning after he retires from hockey.

Jax comes out of the bedroom in a navy pinstripe suit with no shirt beneath the jacket, shooting us a wide grin when he notices us. “It’s about time the guests of honor arrive. Come here, sis, bring it in,” he says to me as he encases me in a tight embrace.

“Alright, that’s enough,” Bennett huffs out beside us, causing me to snort out a laugh.

“Down boy,” I tell Bennett and he quirks a brow in response and the challenging look in his eyes is extremely sexy.

“You two,” Jax says pointing to the two of us, “are so fucking perfect for each other. You’re the kind of couple they write love songs about. ”

I can’t be sure, but I think Bennett mutters, “You’d know a thing or two about that.”

Jax must’ve heard him because he replies with a gruff, “I don’t have nearly enough whiskey in me for that topic, B.”

Before I can push Bennett for answers as to what the heck that was about, the elevator doors open and out struts a platinum blonde bombshell.

“Scar! Oh my gosh, it’s so good to see you again!” Her curly blonde hair bounces with each step she takes toward me.

“Walker! I’m so glad you could make it,” I tell her, wrapping her in a hug.

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Besides, I hear there’s a ton of tall and athletically gifted men in town this weekend.” She shoots me a wink as she steps out of my arms.

“Absolutely not!” Bennett and Jax shout in unison.

Walker rolls her eyes. “You do realize I’m a grown ass woman and can do whomever I please.”

I would say she meant whatever, not whomever, but from what little time we’ve spent together hanging out or chatting over FaceTime, I know Walker meant what she said.

Jax groans. “Come on, Dubs. Don’t give me a heart attack this weekend. It’s supposed to be my All-Star break, and having to protect you from assholes doesn’t sound like my idea of relaxing.”

I find it cute that they nicknamed her Dubs because her name is Walker Wilson.

When Bennett told me about her and their childhood, I expected Walker to be a total tomboy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

She has that old money prep style—she wears mini dresses or skirts every time I see her and she’s always got a bow in her hair.

She calls it the “Hamptons grandmother aesthetic” and it totally works for her.

It’s only as the three siblings continue to bicker about the boys being overbearing older brothers that I notice the rest of the group has also arrived.

Kenna rushes up to me and squeezes me into a big hug. Being five foot seven, I’ve always felt decently tall compared to my friends, but with Kenna being six foot, I feel small. Though, not as small as when I’m beside Bennett.

“Are you ready to celebrate?” Kenna asks.

“So ready,” I tell her, though she doesn’t know just what we’re about to celebrate yet.

Dakota and Alexa both give me hugs next. “I’m so glad you were able to make it!”

“Me too! It helps that I’m covering the All-Star game this weekend and the skills competition,” Alexa explains.

Dakota’s hug is more of a back pat due to her growing bump being in the way. “How are you feeling after the flight?” I ask her. We all flew out here together and witnessed how sick she was on the plane. I felt so helpless the entire flight.

A soft smile spreads across her face. “Much better, thanks for asking. Carse got the twins settled with his parents while I took a nap so now I feel like a whole new woman.”

As we’re grabbing drinks, Jax tells Dakota and Kenna he had a special mocktail concocted for them. Bennett drinks his typical whiskey while I decide on a dirty martini. I’m sticking to just one for now so I have my wits about me for what’s to come.

Leaning down to whisper in my ear, Bennett asks, “Should we tell them now?”

“Someone’s in a hurry to tie me down,” I quirk, playfully bumping my shoulder against his .

Bennett hums in my ear. “You have no idea, baby girl.” He sets down his drink so he can wrap both of his arms around my waist. Standing behind me, I melt into his embrace.

“Scarlett and I would like to make an announcement.” I give his arms a reassuring squeeze and he holds me just a little bit tighter. “We’re getting married,” Bennett declares.

“No shit, Captain Obvious. That’s why we’re here celebrating the last of your days as a bachelor,” Jax says in an annoyed tone.

“Tonight.” That one word leaving Bennett’s mouth has everyone stunned silent.

Clearing my throat, I add, “And we’d love it if you would all join us for our ceremony and then celebrate with us after.”

Griff just fist pumps and turns to Carse, holding out his hand. “Pay up.”

Carse bats Griff’s hand away and scoffs. “No way, they haven’t actually signed a marriage certificate yet.”

“Don’t care. You said they wouldn’t get married this weekend and what did I say?”

“ When in Vegas ,” Carson mocks.

“Oh, come on. Don’t be a sore loser, Carsey,” Kenna scolds her twin brother. “My hubby won fair and square. Besides, you’re taking away from their moment.” She turns to face us, brimming with excitement. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re getting married!”

“We’re all so happy for you!” Dakota agrees, raising her mocktail toward us in cheers.

The group sends us a chorus of cheers as we celebrate and partake in a few of the party games Jax had planned.

“Should we go get Gunner and Gemma now?” Bennett leans in to ask me .

Running my fingers over his knuckles, I look up at him through a lust-filled haze and nod in reply. Being around him for hours on end and only getting to look at him in his suit without getting to touch him the way I’d like has been torture.

We tell the group where we’re headed and where they should meet us in thirty. As we’re making our way out, I see Jax and Walker whispering, and I definitely wouldn’t put it past them to have something up their sleeves for later.

My grandmother opens the door to their hotel suite and asks, “Is everything okay? We weren’t expecting to see you until morning.”

My giddy smile must reassure her, but just in case, I tell her, “All is well. Perfect, actually. Where are Gemma and Gunner? We’ve got some news to share with you all.”

“They’re just eating dinner with us. Come on in.” My grandmother waves us in and we follow her down the hall to their kitchen and dining room.

“Scar! Benny!” Gunner shouts as he tumbles off his chair and runs straight into Bennett’s arms. “What are ya doing? Thought we were having a slumber party here tonight.”

“You still are, Champ, but Scar and I have some news to share.” As Bennett holds Gunner, I turn to face my grandparents and Gemma.

Clearing my throat, I announce, “Bennett and I have decided we’d like to elope tonight. We would love it if the four of you would join us as witnesses to our ceremony.”

My grandmother gasps and claps her hands together. “Oh, Scarlett! That’s lovely news. We’d be thrilled!” She stands from the table and wraps me in her arms.

“We’re still planning to do a reception in Paris,” I tell them. “We just didn’t want to wait that long to be married.”

“That sounds lovely, Firefly,” my grandfather says, and hearing his approval nearly brings me to tears.

I hadn’t thought of it until just now, but I realize a huge benefit of us getting married is that he’ll be in the right frame of mind.

Who knows how much his dementia will steal from us by the time July comes around.

He wraps me in his arms and I bask in his embrace, sending a silent prayer that he’ll be able to join us in July.

“Love you, Pop Pop,” I say through the emotion squeezing my throat.

He pulls back and takes my hands in his. “Love you more, Firefly. Now let’s get you married.”

Gemma comes barreling over to me and Bennett and wraps us in a group hug with Gunner still in Bennett’s arms. “Family hugs for the win,” Gemma says and my heart swells.

I pull Gemma in for a hug just the two of us and ask, “Will you be my maid of honor, Gems?”

She rolls her eyes at me. “As if I’d ever let you ask anyone else. Of course!”

While the four of them get changed, we tell them to meet us at the chapel so we have time to make a quick stop at a jewelry store down the strip.

“This place has to make a killing,” Bennett murmurs as we walk into the jewelry store only a block away from the chapel.

“I’m sure it does. We’re most definitely not the first to make a last minute decision to get married here and be in dire need of rings.”

“So, what are your thoughts on me having two rings? One for everyday use and then a silicone one for when I’m on the ice?” Bennett asks me as we sit with a salesperson.

“I love that,” I tell him as we browse through their selection of tungsten and then silicone rings for him. He decides on a charcoal tungsten ring and a black silicone one. I, on the other hand, have no clue what my wedding band should look like.

“How about this one?” Bennett asks, holding up a gold band with intricate marquise and round-cut diamonds in a half eternity band. “It kind of looks like a tiara a princess would wear but for your finger,” he says as he holds it up for me to try on, which has me giggling at his description.

I slide it onto my finger, noting how it fits perfectly, and admire it next to my elongated cushion-cut engagement ring. “They look like they were made for each other,” I admit.

“You’re tossing me a beach ball with that one, aren’t you?”

I wrinkle my brow in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Come on, you can’t say that and expect me not to say ‘kinda like us.’”

“God, have you always been this cheesy?”

“Never in my life.” He shakes his head in spite of himself.

“You’re right—you’re the perpetual grump turned down bad simp.”

“Should I put that in my vows?” he muses.

My eyes widen at that. “I don’t know, are we writing our own vows?”

“We can. Or if you’d prefer, we can save our written vows for Paris,” he suggests.

“I think we save them for Paris. That way I have more time to come up with them.”

“We’ll take these three rings, please,” Bennett tells the sales person. “I’m shocked that we were able to find bands that fit us both.”

“It was meant to be, my love,” I tell him before pulling him in for a kiss.

He cups my chin and his hazel eyes are intense as he searches mine. “Are you sure about this? Tonight? We can wait if you’re not sure.”

I nod and give him my most assuring smile. “Positive. I’ve never been more sure. ”

“No second thoughts or cold feet?”

That earns him a giggle. “Toasty warm feet and a clear mind.” I pause, now internally freaking out. “Why, do you?” I question.

He smiles back at me with an effortless confidence. “I’ve never been more sure either. Let’s do this.”

“Shall we make this official then, Mr. Wilson?” I ask him, taking his hand in mine as we leave the store. Bennett’s holding a shopping bag with our wedding bands in tow, and things are now beginning to feel real as we walk hand in hand down the strip to the chapel.

My soon-to-be husband brings my hand to his lips and peppers kisses along each of my knuckles. “I can hardly wait to make you Mrs. Wilson.”