Page 60 of Hockey Boy
Eyes narrowed, I shoot daggers at her. “What?”
Beckett shakes his head. “That’s okay. We’ll find somewhere else.”
Gavin rests his elbows on the table and clasps his hands, pressing them against his mouth. “I think this is a great idea.”
Liv snorts, the bun on top of her head bobbing. “You would.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Millie asks, scanning the group. “Am I missing something?”
“Oh, just that Gavin likes to force people to move in together when they aren’t ready,” Beckett huffs out, glaring at his next youngest brother.
Aiden throws an arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. “Well, that’s not us, is it, Lex? We’re ready for it all. So sure, I’ll move in with my girl, and Jasper can have War’s old place.”
“You sure?” Gavin asks, his tone full of challenge. “If it’s not that serious, you can always get your own place—notin the hockey building. Lord knows I pay you enough.”
“It’s serious,” Aiden counters.
I stomp on his foot and twist my heel. What the hell is this guy thinking?
“So serious,” he doubles down, hiding a grimace of pain by bringing my hand to his mouth and pressing a kiss to it. “Right, Princess?”
Butterflies flutter in my stomach, even as it sinks. What the hell am I supposed to say to that?
There’s only one thing I can say if we want to keep up this ruse. So with a lump lodged in my throat, I whisper, “Right.”
Sensing that I’m desperate for a topic change, Millie claps once, garnering the attention of the group.
Gavin fixes his focus on her, his expression oozing affection.
“Sara, Liv,” she says, “I was hoping you would agree to be my bridesmaids.”
“Really?” Sara squeaks, her eyes welling with tears.
Millie nods. “You’ll be my sisters, and I’ve never had sisters.”
“Me neither,” Liv replies, swiping at her own misty eyes. “But I’m so happy I’ll have you both.”
“I want to ask Winnie to be a junior bridesmaid,” Millie says.
Beckett wraps an arm around his wife and presses a kiss to her shoulder. The move makes the ache inside me grow. This is just so beautiful.
“That’s really sweet,” Liv says. “Maybe that’ll cheer her up enough to get her out of her room.” She lets out a soft sigh. “She’s only eleven, and I’m already dreading the teenage years.” She’s focused on me, likely because everyone else in the room knows Winnie, and I don’t.
“I don’t miss that age at all,” I admit.
Sara lets out a loud sob and clutches her chest. “Me neither.”
“Why are you crying?” Millie asks.
“I’ve never had a sister either,” Sara says, hiccupping, and tips her head toward me. “Other than this one. Thank you, Millie. I’d love to be a bridesmaid.”
“Perfect.” Millie’s soft smile grows wide. “For your first duty as bridesmaid, I need you to say yes to my next request.”
“Whatever you want, it’s yours.” Sara bobs her head, her tears replaced with determination. “Even if it’s getting this guy to dance at your bachelorette party. He’s got a glittery dick, so I can understand why you’d prefer to watch him shake it rather than your fiancé.”
“Crazy girl,” Brooks bellows, throwing himself back in his chair, his arms tossed in the air.
Gavin roughs a hand down his face. “My penis doesn’t need glitter. It happens to work just fine.”