Page 13 of Bad Wolf

He nods knowing its case closed and leaves me be while I take a shower. Hopefully he’s getting us something for breakfast.

As much as my mind wants to wander while I soap myself up, I focus strictly on the task at hand. On the fact that Casey and Anna are getting married, and how I can’t wait to see him blubber into his pocket square like the sap he is. Just as whipped as Theo.

My fists clench the shower gel bottle.

Everything was going great until last night. We split off to have that one official night for Theo, and if we’re all honest with ourselves, that’s when it turned into a cluster fuck of epic proportions. The plastic crowns, the shots. So. Many. Shots.

This morning I can’t keep my focus, due to consuming what I can only imagine was enough alcohol to fill the Stanley Cup five times over. And that song, Christ, it’s driving me nuts. The way Wren sang—so hauntingly raw, it practically vibrated with emotion. I can still hear every word, every tremble in her voice, every shaky breath.

Is she? Lonely, I mean? And if so, why? She made friends so easily back when we were younger. She was vivacious and smart. So captivating, I could hardly ever tear my eyes away. I was so enamored with her that I used to get in trouble with teachers and was redirected to focus on the lessons being taught.

I shake my head, trying to snap out of it again.

I just need to channel the bitterness. Hell, I can do that. I’ve been doing it for so long, I’m almost as good at it as I am playing hockey. I just need to get back in the zone.

TheI-don’t-give-a-fuck-about-Wren-Lindleyzone.

No more worrying about what should have been. She’s not here with me because she chose a different path. And the morbid curiosity I’ve been carrying around about what she might be doing and where she might be, can now be put to bed. She’s fine. Not exactly where I thought she’d be, but fine all the same.

When I’ve psyched myself up again, I turn the water off and grab for a towel. Suddenly, Mom’s southern lilt filters in from the lounge area. She and my dad are in a separate, smaller suite with my aunt, but they make a big deal about coming over to check on all their babies.

Knowing she’s only going to give me so much grace, I dry off, throw on a pair of sweats, and grab a tee as I make my way out of the room heading straight for her.

If Mama isn’t greeted the second she lays eyes on you, there’s hell to pay.

“Mornin’ Mama,” I say as I kiss her head and sit down in the seat next to her.

“Good mornin’ my Sunshine. Breakfast will be here any second. Did you boys have a fun night?”

My eyes find my dad who gives a subtle shake of his head letting me know that Mom hasn’t heard about the club or our run in with Wren.

“I sure did Mama—”

“I’m so glad. Your brother is getting married! Can you believe it? One baby is in the All-Star game and one baby is getting married!” She claps her hands together, giddy with excitement. “As soon as we’re finished eatin’, we need to git crackin’. We have a weddin’ to see goes off without a hitch!”

Casey re-enters the room with his arm draped over Anna, his soon-to-be bride’s shoulders. He finishes with whatever he’s doing on his phone and then looks up. His eyes narrow just like they do when he’s in a stare-down with an opponent on the ice, and before he even utters a word, I’m reaching over the back of the couch and pulling the white tee over my naked upper half with a smirk.

“Easy brother, you don’t want to pop an eye vessel before this afternoon,” I say as I settle back down next to Mama.

My youngest brother, Jason, is next to appear, looking like shit, and also shirtless. He sends an up-nod Dad’s way and goes straight for Mama just as I did.

My mom cups his cheeks like he’s still a four-year-old and kisses him on the forehead in a way that only she can get away with. We might all now be in our twenties, play hard and well,play, even harder, but we’re mama’s boys to our very core and I’m alright with that.

“You hungry, baby? The food is gonna be right up.”

He nods and sits straight down at the dining table like the little brat he is, also whipping on his shirt when Casey sends him a death glare

The morning is a flurry of activity. The girls split us up and with to-do lists in hand, we lock down this wedding.

Anna is whisked away for some girly pampering and Casey takes the helm, barking out orders left and right. If I’m honest, it’s a good distraction. No time for me to think about things that could never be, or times missed out on.

No, my job is solely to do whatever I’m told by the mamas, my sister, or Casey.

Mama was very adamant about Casey wearing a suit to his impromptu beachfront wedding, saying he was only ever gonna do this once, and he agreed.

It may be cobbled together in a day, but our mother isn’t skipping a beat.

Coralie and Lex managed to coerce a local bridal boutique to bring every dress they had in Anna’s size up to a separate suite that Casey was able to book this morning. And Casey, by some miracle, was able to sort enough suits for all of us.

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