“Did you just call my boyfriend handsome?” Evan leans over.
I jump. “I didn’t see you return.”
“Obviously. You know I’m not a weakling.”
I nod. “Yeah, you’re our captain.”
He laughs.
I squirm. “I’m not going to cheat on Noah. Vinnie is safe.”
“You’re not going to do anything with Noah,” Vinnie mutters. “Because you’re both pretending. I don’t know why, but I’m sure.”
“Vinnie...Remember I didn’t identify as gay before we got together.”
“But there was all the gay porn you used to watch.”
“Cotton!” I jump up. “I need cotton!”
Evan’s face has turned an unusual puce shade. “Not cool, Vinnie.”
“Yeah, I don’t need to think about my captain like that.”
“You guys are so immature,” Vinnie mutters in a long-suffering manner.
“You’re the one who brought up special videos at a wedding!” I shriek.
More people look at me.Shit.Way to make us all look immature.
“Special videos of hockey clips,” I say quickly. “So we can review our plays. You’re not supposed to bring up work at a wedding function. It’s a no, no.”
The other guests narrow their gazes. I’m not sure they’re buying it.
“I didn’t mean any other sorts of special videos,” I try to lie. “I mean that would be super bad. Obvs.”
Noah and Vinnie both elbow me.
Fortunately, the music begins. Isaiah waits for his fiancée to stroll down the aisle so they can begin the rest of their lives together.
Stella bounces down the aisle, flinging rose petals. It’s possible that she’s showcasing her athletic ability a tad too much, because some of the petals land on the guests’ laps.
It is all adorable.
But when Isaiah’s jaw drops, I know he’s not only smiling at Stella. I crane my neck and find Jasmine at the entrance. She looks stunning. Her white dress shines against her dark skin, and her smile is wide and joyful.
All of her family is here. All of her friends.
A knot forms in my stomach.
God, I never should have proposed to Noah. I shouldn’t have taken this day from him.
I proposed to him in a room in Vegas when we’d had too many drinks from the minibar. I couldn’t have made it more unromantic.
Jasmine continues down the aisle, beaming at the man who loves her. Isaiah might be out for the season, but he isgonefor Jasmine. Hockey is no longer his life...she is.
Noah squeezes my hand, maybe sensing the rapidity of my heartbeat, because he’s amazing, but guilt continues to smash into me, like an opposing player has slammed me against the boards.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
