Page 24 of One Pucking Heart

“Gotta get into character.” I give her a peck on the lips.

“Beckett,” she warns.

I shrug. “Get used to it, babe. We’re doing this. Come on.”

The team met Elena at the hospital and of course have seen her in the gym with me as they’ve come in and out of skills sessions this summer, but no one has really had the chance to get to know her, so her arrival starts a flurry of conversation.

Standing back, I watch as Elena fields question after question from the guys. I tried to warn her that we’re a tight-knit group and always up in everyone’s business. She thought I was intrusive from the get-go, but I told her the Cranes are a family, and she’d have to get used to it. I’m happy that I’ve had weeks to prime her for a social gathering such as this. She’s handling the inquiries into her life with more patience than she had for me, and I’m proud of her. I know it’s difficult for her to share anything about herself, but I want the guys to like her. I don’t think she’s ever found somewhere she truly belonged where she felt comfortable and at ease, and I want the Cranes to be that place for her like it is for me.

Drink in hand, Bash stands at my side. “So what’s it like working with the hot doc?”

“It has its perks.” My lips lift to one side.

“It doesn’t seem real yet. How did we go from years with Hootie to that beauty? It’s messing with my head.”

“I know what you mean, and yeah, she’s easy on the eyes, but she’s smart as hell, man. She knows her stuff. It’s crazy to think we had such an incompetent doctor before.”

“Are you working with the PTs or just her?”

“Mainly just her. She’s kind of a perfectionist when it comes to her patient care and wants to oversee everything.”

Bash runs his hand through his sandy-blond hair and huffs out a laugh. “Lucky ass bastard.”

Injuring my knee in game seven of the first round of playoffs was far from lucky, but I get what he means. Sebastian Calloway is the youngest on our team at twenty-four, and it can be obvious. Some would argue that Bash and I are on the same maturity level, but they’d be wrong. I’ve had three additional years of life experience, and it makes a difference. On the ice, though, the guy is far from inexperienced. He’s incredible. He was drafted to the Cranes right out of college, like most of us were, and has been our starting center since. We’ve had an amazing team the past two years, and I credit a lot of that to Bash. He was the final piece we needed.

It’s rare when a team has the magic, as we like to say. We have the perfect combination of skill, drive, and personalities to create an epic force of a team, which is why our performance in round one of the playoffs was so disappointing. It’s the worst we played all year, and it doesn’t make sense because we all wanted it so badly. Maybe we psyched ourselves out and overplayed. It was our year. We all felt it, and we blew it. But as Cade has reassured me many times, we’ll redeem ourselves this year. It’s true that we’ll all be hungrier than ever.

There’s repetitive clinking against a glass, drawing our attention to the far end of the living room where Cade and Iris stand.

When the crowd has quieted, Cade tells everyone that he and Iris are engaged and have plans to marry in September. The room goes wild with celebration. Cheers of congratulations sound out as a group of people rush the happy couple. A giant smile is plastered on my face, and true joy fills my chest. Cade and Iris look so happy as they should be.

My smile drops, and I look at Elena, who looks at me with an expectant stare. Shit. It’s time.

I hold up a finger, indicating I need a moment, and go in search of my parents. They’re often scarce at our parties because, as my mom says, they don’t want to interfere with the young kids’ fun. I find them in the first place I look, my dad’s office.

“Hey. So Cade and Iris just announced their engagement.” I step into the smoky room where a lit cigar rests between my father’s lips.

Mom turns around, a drink in her hand and a grin on her face. “We heard! So exciting. I’m so glad you all get to celebrate with your friends.” She always refers to the team as “my friends,” and while that’s true, the way she says it makes it sound like they’re my little buddies from grade school. My mother is adorable.

“Well, I was wondering if you could join us in the living room. I have an announcement I’d like to share, too.”

“Really?” Her eyes light up. “What is it, sweetie?”

I wave them forward. “Just come. You’ll see.” Ripping the Band-Aid off quickly and telling everyone at once seems to be the best way to do this.

Elena waits for me on the outskirts of the group celebration. I take her hand in mine. “Ready?”

She pulls in a breath through her nose, her lips pressed in a line, and she gives me a nod.

As we snake our way through the partygoers, it dawns on me that I’m not nearly as nervous as I thought I would be. Thanks to Bash and the bottle of rum, I’m feeling pretty good.

I take a step up onto the base of the stone fireplace to get a little height above everyone. Releasing Elena’s hand, I clap mine together and whistle. “Hey, guys!”

Dozens of faces turn in my direction. I make eye contact with my parents, Cade, and Iris, who all wear looks of curiosity.

“First, I just wanted to thank you all for coming out tonight to celebrate Cade’s and my birthday.”

Someone bellows, “Cheers to twenty-seven,” which is followed by some hollers and “Happy birthday” shoutouts.

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