Page 15 of Play Dirty

“I’m sorry.” I put my hand on his arm. “I’m not laughing at you. It’s just that I was just thinking that I’m so glad to be done with weddings for the summer since I don’t know Blake or Rowan.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I understand. I’m not really excited about going either but?—”

“Don’t be silly.” I squeeze his arm before I can stop myself. “You owe me a dance.”

His eyes darken a little. “Is that so?”

“Uh huh.”

I stare back.

I should be more careful with my emotions, but there’s no way I’m turning him down. For whatever reason, I’m drawn to him. I don’t know if I’m ready to date, like go out with a guy with romantic intentions, but I also feel safe around Marty. I can’t explain that because I have no reason for feeling that way—I just do.

“So…is that a yes?”

“If we’re going as friends, then yes. I’d love to be your date. For another wedding.”

“That neither of us wants to go to.”

“But there will be dancing.”

“And champagne.”

“Probably good food.”

“Good music.”

“Good company.”

We grin at each other.

“Why do we hate weddings again?”

“We don’t. We’re just in a grumpy phase of our lives.”

“You can say that again.” He smiles and I smile back.

I’m going out on a friendly date with Marty.

A baby step toward finding myself again and getting past my trauma.

My friends are probably going to have a lot to say about this, but that’s okay.

I’m kind of looking forward to having something to talk about other than my hunt for a new place to live—and weddings.

Chapter5

Marty

Blake and Rowan’swedding is a lot more laid-back than Coach Vanek’s or Ivan’s. They were originally going to elope, but Gabe and Harper invited them to have it at their house and things snowballed from there. It’s still pretty relaxed, though. The wedding party consists of Bodi Michener, a hockey player friend of Blake’s, and Bristol Carpenter, the team’s head of media relations, who’s close friends with Rowan. Rowan’s dad is giving her away, and there are only about fifty guests.

Blake has been playing on our team’s minor league affiliate, the Phoenix Rebels, for the last few years, and only got called up to the Phantoms during the playoffs, so he’s not particularly close with many of us. And half the team is out of town anyway since many of us live elsewhere in the off-season.

The best part is that I don’t have to wear a suit.

They were very specific that sport coats were dressy enough, and now that we’re hanging out after the ceremony, it feels more like a team cookout than a wedding.

Except I’m not here with my wife—I’m here with Stevie.

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