Page 1 of What if It's Us

CHAPTER ONE

LEDGER

“Did you guys get blue balls yet?”

I, along with the rest of the guys, turn in Ella’s direction. Each of us appearing just as shocked as the next. August nearly chokes on his beer but laughs as he watches his wife take her seat at the reception table.

“What did you say?”

She picks up a blue cake pop from her dessert plate and raises it for all of us to see before tossing it in her mouth. Her eyes roll back in her head as she moans over the delightful taste.

“The blue cake balls. Did you have one yet?”

“Oh.” August chuckles. “Nope not yet.”

“Well don’t eat them,” she warns. “They’re poisonous. I’ll take one for the team and eat them all for you.”

“Do they taste like cinnamon rolls, Ella?” I ask. “Is that why you think they’re so good?” Really, she only eats cinnamon rolls when she’s nervous. It’s her tick for lack of a better word, but we all like to tease her about her sweet tooth induced nervous habit.

“Nope. It’s this heavenly almond flavor on the inside.” She sucks the tip of her fingers before grabbing her napkin. “They’re just coated with blue colored chocolate but oh, my God, so good.”

“Oh, my gosh, are we talking about blue balls?” Corrigan asks, taking a seat next to Ella.

Ella’s eyes bulge and she exclaims, “Yes! Aren’t they delicious?”

Corrigan nods. “Legit one of the best balls I’ve ever put in my mouth.”

“Aht-aht-aht-aht-aht.” Bodhi raises his hand, effectively stopping Corrigan. “Let’s not go too far, Lady Roche.”

Corrigan pats Bodhi’s leg. “Don’t worry honey. Your balls will always be at the top of my list.”

“Fucking right they will.”

The rest of us have a good chuckle when Corrigan silently shakes her head and points to the blue cake ball on her plate while she performs a chef’s kiss.

Oliver and Scarlett’s wedding went off without a hitch. Or maybe I should say it went offwitha hitch since the couple did, indeed, get hitched. It’s been a long time coming, but after a busy hockey season, they had a beautiful ceremony at Generations Hall in New Orleans. They met there a few years ago when I encouraged Oliver to take my cousin, Scarlett, on her honeymoon after she was left at the altar by her then fiancé. By some grace of God, Oliver took me up on my deal and ended up falling in love with Scarlett. Now, today, after their beautiful wedding ceremony, I can brag that I’m finally related to Oliver Magallan.

Not that I haven’t thought of him as a brother since the day we met.

But now we’re officially related. Cousins through marriage, and that makes me happy.

Because Oliver’s sister is married to Milo Landric, who plays for the Chicago Red Tails, their whole team is here too. It’s a huge party hosted by Scarlett’s parents, though I know Oliver helped pay for a good deal of it so they wouldn’t have to.

“Hey!” Layken scurries over to the table lowering herself in a chair next to Griffin who is sitting next to me. “Did you guys try the blue balls yet?”

Corrigan and Ella laugh, and then Ella says, “To die for, am I right?”

“Hell yes. I ate two on the way over here from the dessert table.”

“Did you leave some for the rest of us?” I tease.

“Actually, I brought a little something sweet just for you, Ledge,” Layken tells me, wagging her brows.

“Oh, my very own blue balls, you mean? Because I’m pretty sure I’ve got a case of those for myself, thanks.”

How long has it been since I’ve gotten laid?

The season has been over for a solid month and a half and even before the end of the season I hadn’t gotten laid in months. I just wasn’t up for it for some reason. So yeah, it’s been a long fucking time.

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