Page 79 of Rebound
Before I can ask, Millie and Jonathan come to greet us. I hug them and when I see the wedding bands on their fingers, congratulate them as well. Jonathan’s wearing a light grey suit while Millie’s in a shimmery sleeveless dress, and they look so happy. Now I wish we’d brought more than a bottle of wine and flowers, these two deserve the best wedding gift.
“I’m stealing my girl. You can go hang out with the boys,” Millie says and I chuckle.
“My girl, but you can have her. For tonight.” I kiss the side of Tamara’s head and she leans into me briefly before being dragged off by the bride.
Jonathan points at my throat and grins. “Next thing you know she’ll be marking you with a ring. Makes us the luckiest sons of bitches.”
The realisation I could marry Tamara startles me. It didn’t even register it was something we could do. The cake tasting was pretend, but it could be real. Holy shit. I follow Jon to where the guys are gathered. It’s so typical at a party with a group of about forty, the men and women are split up.
“The red looks good on you, big brother,” Elias says, referring to my lipstick stain, and I roll my eyes as we hug.
I’m introduced to all the guys, feeling smug as they ask about Paris and winning the medal. Despite being total strangers, they welcome me into the conversation instantly. Some of their partners are here, either at the bar or mingling with the women around the backyard. As they pick up where they left off before I arrived, I look around at the venue. The house is even better from the back with large windows that probably have a great view of the ocean. The string lights add a little something to the mood and the soft music pumping through speakers provides a much needed balance.
“So, what’s next for you?” one of the guys asks, drawing me back into the conversation.
“Got some time off, so I’m getting into coaching.”
“No shit, with who?”
“The Tamil Nadu LHT team,” I tell them and when they look confused, I add, “League of Hockey Tournament. Like the ICL. This is their first year and someone thinks I can get them a win.”
“Dude, that’s so fucking cool. And congratulations on the job.”
Elias grabs my shoulder and adds, “My brother’s being modest. He also runs a foundation to provide education and sports training for kids.”
I look at my feet and blush. We’re the kind of siblings that boast about each other all the time and make sure the whole fucking world knows how talented we are. I should have known he’d try to talk me up, but if these guys have money they’re willing to spare, I’m not going to stop him.
“Don’t be shy, Pat. What you’re doing is amazing.”
I nod and smile. “We signed on with a school here and if we can get this off the ground in the next few months, it’ll be really cool.”
“That’s incredible, man. If there’s anything we can do to help, let us know.”
“I mean, I’ll take your money.”
Everyone laughs and Elias winks at me, but I’m grateful he brought it up. Millie steals Jonathan and I use the time to get myself a glass of soda with a lime wedge. Since I found out Tamara was pregnant, I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol. I didn’t realise I was doing it until I opened the fridge one day for a drink and found it empty. I’ve been alcohol free for two and a half months and I don’t miss it.
Elias has always been the most sociable of the Joseph siblings—Nina can party with the best of them, but her resting bitch face scares people off too—so I’m not surprised he’s laughing and talking with those guys. As I do a scan of the backyard, I find Tamara with her purse tucked under her arm as she talks to a little girl in a fluffy dress. One hand holds a drink and the other rests on her stomach. The kid touches her belly and giggles, making Tamara smile. And the love I have for her threatens to explode out of me. I rub the centre of my chest as I watch them, seriously hoping we have a little girl.
“Apparently you’re one of two big athletes here tonight,” a sultry voice says and I turn to a pretty dark-skinned woman. “What do you play?”
“Hockey. My brother’s the cricketer.”
Her eyes dip to my neck and the flirty smile dims, but her hand still lands on my arm. “Oh my god, you won a medal in Paris! Congratulations, that must have been really amazing.”
“Pretty good feeling, I have to admit.”
“I’m Vinitha, nice to meet you.”
I shake her hand and smile. “Patrick. Good to meet you too.”
“Hey Vinnie. I see you met my baby daddy.” A hand wraps around my bicep and I smile into my glass as Tamara stakes her claim.
“I guess more congratulations are in order.” Vinitha’s face has lost its joy and her smile is so fake, I wonder if it hurts her.
“Thank you! We’re really excited.”
She nods uncomfortably and scurries away. I press my glass to Tamara’s bare arm and she squeaks.
