Page 75 of Pucking Your Best Friend

“Oh, we just made him stronger,” Nell immediately contradicted her, sinking down onto the bench next to her because, of course, Maddie had said it out loud. “And he’s benefited greatly from having so many sisters! We always gave him tips about women. He wouldn’t be calledCharmingif it weren’t for us.”

Maddie smiled. “And he certainly wouldn’t be so down to earth.”

“Or that,” she agreed immediately, hooking arms with her. “I’m so happy to see you again, by the way. You’re proof that Matt has a private life and that not everything revolves around hockey. That wouldn’t be good. Everyone needs other things besides work, don’t you think?”

“Oh, definitely. I’ve had far too little other than work in recent years. Things are going better now, though.”

“Yeah, I saw the ESPN interview. Man, don’t tell anyone, but my brother knows what to say to make people feel like they’re in the right place, doesn’t he?”

Maddie laughed. “Yeah, he does.” In fact, he always made her feel that way. That is, when he wasn’t angry with her. “We can’t ever tell him that, though, or he’ll become unbearable. We used to accuse him of not being able to do anything other than hit other hockey players.”

“Hey, Matt doesn’t fight that often,” she stated quickly, defending him.

“No, I know. But it was a good way to annoy him.” Nell shrugged innocently. “But, let’s talk about something more interesting than my brother: How are you? You said business is going well. What about other areas of your life?”

She snorted…and that was all she said because the tone pretty much covered how the other areas of her life were going at the moment.

“That means bad,” Nell translated. Her brown eyes were so similar to Matt’s that Maddie sometimes felt uncomfortable looking her in the face. They…triggered things inside her. “Then you're in luck! I’m going to make your life better.”

“Really?” she asked skeptically.

“Yeah. I bet people who run dating agencies never get matched! Because everyone thinks they match all the good ones with themselves, but that’s bullshit, isn’t it? You keep all the good men for the other ladies.”

Maddie’s cheeks turned pink. Well, Matt had…er, tested her out. “Yeah,” she answered vaguely.

“Wonderful. Because I have the perfect guy! He runs a winery in San Diego, not that far from Los Angeles. He’s incredibly handsome. If you like masculine men that have penises andstuff. Not my cup of tea, but to each his own.” She grinned broadly. “He makes good wine, always a plus, and he’s pretty intelligent. You need someone intelligent!”

Maddie blinked, perplexed, and opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.

“I mean you’re single, aren’t you?” Nell asked.

At that moment, Matt stepped back onto the porch and glanced down into the garden.

“Yes,” she murmured. “I am.”

“Good. Then I’ll tell him about you.” Nell wiggled her eyebrows. “We’ll see if I could have had a career as a matchmaker.”

Yes. Maddie guessed they would see.

All the guests started arriving at six. Mr. and Mrs. Payne had obviously not skimped on the invitations. When the buffet opened at seven, it took a full half hour for everyone to get their food. That was okay, though, because it meant Maddie could avoid the torture of being squeezed next to Matt on one of the beer benches for a little longer. It would have been far too conspicuousnotto sit next to him…but at least Matt wasn’t trying to start arguing with her again. Instead, he was unbearably polite, as if they had only met that evening, and spoke exclusively with Nell’s wife Harriet, who was sitting directly across from them.

That was okay. Not ideal or normal, but better than arguing with her.

After a while, Maddie was no longer certain about that, though, because an argument would, perhaps—just perhaps—have been less grueling than this tragic spectacle of a damaged friendship.

A bright clinking sound caught her attention and she looked up.

Matt’s father had stood, tapped a spoon against his glass, and was now looking around. “Have a fantastic evening, everyone,” he said and the guests burst into applause. “Yes, I hear you. We still know how to throw a party.” He waved his hand and smiled broadly. Just like Matt: Heartfelt, friendly, and incredibly warm. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see so many of you here. Getting my wonderful family together is difficult enough, but then also my friends… Well, at least none of you others are hockey players with impossible schedules.”

Some laughed and Matt sighed, but the smile didn’t fall from his face. He knew that no one in his family meant any harm.

“No, just kidding.” Mr. Payne cleared his throat. “I couldn’t be prouder of my son or my daughters. It’s strange when your children grow up, no longer needing help and suddenly, they’re offering you theirs all the time…and at first you have to pretend and say ‘no’ because you don’t need it, but in the end, you’re grateful for everything and say yes and amen.”

Maddie swallowed and kneaded her fingers in her lap.

“Um, Jeff, we both know every morning your back sounds like a stone wall crumbling. Let our young offspring break theirs,” Sandra added.

Everyone laughed again, their children the loudest.

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