Page 102 of The Home Game

Matty had thought about inviting guys from the team but he knew they’d try to talk him out of doing this. Dom would blow a gasket when he found out and Dustin would worry and Nico would give him shit and … no. It was easier this way.

Matty probably should have at least told them what he was planning but then he’d feel obligated to invite them and he knew damn well what this team was like. First it would be a couple of guys and then it would be the whole fucking team, and their spouses and partners and kids.

There was a maximum number of twelve guests allowed at city hall weddings and picking who could be there and who couldn’t felt wrong,

Besides, Matty had done the whole giant wedding thing once.

It had been a good day. Courtney had been beautiful and the whole thing had been fancy and perfectly planned.

Dustin and Dom and a handful of other guys had stood up for him, the rest of the team had been there, and the reception and after party had been filled with the high energy chaos that were always a part of hockey weddings.

Matty had a vague, drunken memory of doing body shots off his new wife and, later, standing on a chair, bare-chested, whipping his tuxedo shirt around in the air.

It had been fun.

But in the end, the whole day had been meaningless.

It had been a perfect wedding to the wrong person.

Today would be very different.

And honestly, he kind of liked the idea of it only being immediate family this time.

Of course his team was his family too, but … but keeping it small today felt right. And so much simpler.

“I’m here, I’m here!” Enzo said, jogging up with a smile. “Sorry. Parking was awful.”

“No, you’re fine. Let’s head up to the third floor now though. We don’t want to be late.” Eliza herded them toward the elevators.

Enzo fell into step beside Matty. “You’re doing a good thing for them today,” he said softly. “And I’m not just saying that because this means I’ll have a Fisher Cat player for a son-in-law like I’ve always wanted.”

Matty laughed quietly at the joke. “Yeah?”

“Antoni’s strong. He could manage this alone if he had to. He was doing it alone for the most part. But it’s better he has you. Maybe this isn’t”—Enzo’s voice dropped to a whisper—”exactly the relationship the world will think it is, but I can see how much you care about Antoni and the kids. And right now, that’s what they need.”

Matty pressed his lips to Reese’s hair. “I do care.”

“I can see that. But I have to say, if you hurt them, I hurt you. And I know that sounds ridiculous when you could lay me out flat with a single punch but …”

“No, I get it,” Matty assured him. “I’d stand there and take it because I’d deserve it if I hurt them. But I’ll do everything I can to be everything they need.”

Enzo reached out and squeezed his shoulder. “Good man.”

Matty thought of his own parents and the fact that they weren’t here. He’d thought about calling them and flying them up for the weekend. But they’d balk at the use of a private jet. Even if he’d booked them economy tickets on a commercial flight, they’d tell him it was too extravagant.

They hated to travel and they’d hate him marrying someone for these reasons, even if they were the right reasons. And Matty could never lie to them about the truth. They’d see it on his face in a minute.

So better to call them after and tell them what he did and beg for forgiveness rather than ask for permission he’d never get.

The wedding chambers were actually quite beautiful.

Simple, with stone floors, a soft creamy color on the walls, and a big window overlooking the city of Toronto. There was a potted tree and some framed art. A few short rows of wooden chairs were arranged with an aisle down the center.

Waiting for them was a man dressed in robes that kinda reminded Matty of the ones he’d worn for his high school graduation.

“Mr. Carlson? Mr. Bianchi?” he said with a warm smile. “I’m Dave Lloyd.”

Matty and Antoni shook the officiant’s hand. They’d been emailing back and forth with him all week about the details of the ceremony. “I’ll need your marriage license, please, so I can prepare the register.”

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