Page 81 of Pucker Up
Ace took the box of perishables and put it back in the fridge. “There’s an entire beer fridge in the boathouse, and G.G. bought enough kegs to get ten teams drunk, not just the first line of the Tigers.”
“All the way down there?” Banksy pointed out the window to where the lake sparkled several hundred feet below. I slapped him on the back. “You can get both a lift and cardio in today.” As the guys filed through the cottage, their beer bottles clanking as they headed to the lake, another two cars pulled into the driveway.
“Dad?” I squinted at the SUV then looked at Ace. “What’s my dad doing here for your birthday? I didn’t invite him because I thought you and the guys would want to let loose without the coach watching.”
Ace shrugged. “It’s a mystery to me.”
Dad got out of his car and the door to the rental sedan that had pulled in behind him flew open. Mel got out and stretched her arms over her head. “What a drive!” She grabbed her bag from the back seat, but I was already at the car, wrapping her in my arms. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
She laughed. “I hope that Ace is okay with me crashing the party.”
I lowered my voice. “Don’t worry, for some reason my dad is here. That will kill their party faster than a couple of girls.”
Mel looked over my shoulder. “Oh, hi. Mr. Swanson.” She waved. My father came over and gave me a hug.
“What are you doing here Dad?” I asked.
“Come on, Goldie Girl.” Mel interrupted. “You’ve got to show me where to get changed.” She grunted as she picked up her full-sized suitcase.
“I’ll get that, you two go have fun.” Dad picked up the suitcase. “Geez, lady. How long are you staying? A year?”
Mel was going to be here for the weekend, along with Ace’s three closest friends from the team. There was one more person yet to arrive – one that Ace didn’t know about.
After getting Mel settled into the guest bedroom we headed down to the boathouse. As we navigated the rocky steps Mel filled me in on her work stuff, and I updated her on my new study. “What about dating? How’s that going?”
Mel adjusted the tie on her swimsuit coverup. “Non-existent. I’ve been working eighty hours a week, and I swear there are no good guys left in the city. I feel like they’re all just…boys,” she sighed.
Men’s voices and the sound of raucous splashing got louder as we got closer to the lake. We rounded the corner just as Banksy mooned the guys who were sitting on the lounge chairs and then did a backflip into the water.
“There’s a perfect example right there.” Mel laughed.
“Ethan’s pretty cool. Keep an open mind, you two might hit it off.”
“Which one is he?” Mel lowered her glasses to take in the scene. Ace and Mikey Holmes were setting up a flip cup table. My father was standing in the corner on his phone, one finger in his ear as though it could block out the guys.
“He’s one of the…” I pointed to the lake. Banksy and Ethan were treading water as Mikey poured beer from the top of the boathouse, two storeys down, where the defensemen were trying to catch it in their mouths. “Nevermind.”
Mel and I slid onto a couple of chaise lounges underneath an umbrella and I adjusted my hat. Mel dragged her chair from the shade to the blazing August sun and wound her long dark hair into a braid. “Were you able to convince Gideon to come?” she whispered, but it wasn’t necessary. The guys had regressed totheir teenage years and were fully engrossed in their beer pong game.
“I did. He’s bringing Ace’s surprise.” My lips turned up. I was excited to give Ace the guitar, but I was doubly excited for the next part of his birthday gift. “If there’s anyone here mature enough for you, it’s Gideon.” I nudged her calf with my foot.
Mel draped her arm over her eyes. “He’s good looking, but far too serious.” She dropped her arm to her side.
“He’s not that serious,” I laughed. “And, I thought that you wanted someone mature. Gideon and I talk at least once a week, and he’s super well-read and into current events.” Since he was traded, he’d been watching games with Ace over facetime. I wasn’t sure the two of them talked about anything but hockey, but Gideon was the one who convinced me to get Ace the guitar for his birthday. “When they were kids Gideon wanted to play tennis and Ace wanted to be a musician and did you know that…” I paused and glanced to the guys, ensuring that they wouldn’t overhear the next part. “Gideon loves reading cozy mysteries. There’s a lot more to him than meets the eye.”
“Cozy mysteries? If you’re trying to get me intrigued in the man, that’s doing the opposite.” Mel pulled a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc out of her bag. “I’d say their backup plan of being hockey players worked out pretty damn well. I should put this in the fridge.”
“There’s no pleasing you.” I shook my head. “I’ve already got some wine on ice, I’ll pour us a couple of glasses.”
Mel disappeared into the boathouse and I shivered as I plunged my hand into the icy water to retrieve a bottle of her favorite wine. As I poured two glasses a droning overhead started to get louder. Mel joined me on the deck and we clinked our glasses.
“Is that who I think it is?” She held onto her straw hat as she looked up at the float plane.
“It is.” I grinned. “It’s the world’s most expensive pizza delivery.” I ran to the railing and waved to the plane. The pilot did a low circle. “Guys get out.” I shouted to the players in the lake. “That plane is coming here.”
As the plane taxied to a stop, my father finished his call and the hockey players stood dripping wet on the dock. “Come on Mel.” I led her from the rooftop.
The door to the plane opened. “Did anyone order some pizza from Chicago?” Gideon’s face peeked out from behind a stack of pizza boxes.
