Page 16 of Bad Wolf

“You okay?” I say, nudging him and leaning in.

His head whips to me like I’ve startled him. “Hmmm?”

“I said, are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be okay? I’m totally fine. Just psyched for Casey.”

I shake off his antsy-ness. I mean, this is Hollywood after all.

“So, upside of Casey’s wedding- I get another sister and Casey foots the bill on an elaborate meal while keeping the drinks flowing. Downside- zero available chicks we can lose ourselves in tonight unless we venture further afield.”

“Messy drunk it is,” Hollywood decides, and I hum my agreement. Or at least as messy as it gets when the mamas and Jack are present.

Soft music starts to play from somewhere behind me and we’re invited to stand. Theo grips Casey’s shoulder, whose gaze is focused on the end of the petal-laden aisle.

Lexie walks up first, arm in arm with her mother. Both are dressed in a summery blue with tears in their eyes, somehow managing to hold them back. It must be so bittersweet for them.

Then, as Anna appears to begin her journey to meet Casey, I take her in. The dress she chose in just a matter of hours couldn’t be any more elegant than if she had spent months deliberating over every tiny detail. Even I can tell it’s perfect for her.

She takes a deep, steadying breath, and asks Lexie’s father, Jim, to pause for just a moment while she finds the strength to keep from falling apart. She’s beautiful, flawless even, and so graceful as she slowly lifts her gaze to Casey, a smile breaking out across her pretty face.

She holds on to the crook of Jim’s arm as he gently guides her down the aisle. I can’t help but turn back around to watch Casey though. He looks so calm. So absolutely sure that this is right. So desperate to get this part over with and for her to become his wife. But it’s more than that, he looks like a man that knows he owns the whole world.

A man who knows nothing will ever compare to this moment. The only dream Casey has ever had was winning the Stanley Cup. But now? He looks like a man who knows the rest of his life will pale in comparison to this moment; the day he married Anna, the love of his life.

Aside from maybe a few little Maddens running around, he knows he has it made.

My gut churns. Knowing I’ll never have this is a bitter pill to swallow, but I’ll own it. I’ll fuck the women who only want the bragging rights.

I’ll travel and eat and train my way through the off-season. I’ll perfect my skill, I’ll marry my job, and I’ll be the one to get us into the playoffs every year until my body gives out.

* * *

“Cigars. Patio. Two minutes,” Casey says to me as he gestures to the hotel bartender. When the guy makes his way over, Casey orders two bottles of Macallan 25 and two bottles of the sparkling wine Anna loves so much, along with enough glasses to go around, asking for it to be brought over to the outside fireplace.

Once it’s all been added to the tab and he’s signed the credit card slip, he ushers me toward where the rest of our group is sitting, laughing and mouthing sweet nothings over at his bride while she spins on the dance floor with Jack and, uh, Rex.

Life and soul of the party, that guy.

Chloe, Rex’s wife, stands up, pushing me down into her now-vacated seat next to my sister, and heads off to drag her husband and the rest of the wedding party back over to where we’re gathered.

“How perfect was this?” Coralie says, wistfully laying her head on my shoulder.

“Totally perfect,” I say, kissing her head and looking around.

“As these two didn’t have a run-of-the-mill wedding,” Theo says to the group when Anna sits down on Casey’s lap, “none of us got to prepare an epic speech, so I think we should have a little roasting—I meantoastingout here.”

We all catcall and Casey punches Theo on the arm, just as the waitress brings over the high-end whiskey and bubbles while Gunner begins handing out the Cubans.

The mamas join us and soon everyone is gathered together, clouds of smoke starting to puff out around us.

Lexie’s dad stands first and clears his throat, “I think first off, we should toast to those here but not present. I had the pleasure of knowing Pixie’s parents for thirty years, and without a doubt, today would have been one of the highlights of their lives. God knows Mike would have been so proud to have walked you down that aisle to someone as devoted as Casey. I’m honored to have been able to do that for you today on his behalf. Your mom would have been elated watching you today, and Alice would have embraced this family as her own.”

He raises his glass, “Here’s to hoping they’re watching over us now, knowing that you’re doing everything in your power to make their girl as happy as humanly possible and as loved as she deserves.”

Casey’s eyes meet Anna’s glassy gaze and he swallows hard, nodding.

“To Mike, Ellen, and Alice.”

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