When we park at the main house and climb out of the golf cart, I turn back to the hillside where the house is. “Is Nat going to murder you for abandoning her?”
“Yes,” Brady admits freely. “Hence the sleeping at your cabin. Guess you’re breaking that sleepover rule.”
“You’re stupid.” I start walking next to him and trip him. “And when she breaks up with you, I’m moving in for the kill. Nat’s a score.”
“Whatever, it’s her own fault. I told her not to bring the PlayStation. I am not taking any of the Sami wedding week heat.” He scoffs and trips me back, but I grab his arm and spin over his back and keep walking like nothing happened as he staggers next to me.
“You two need to bang and get it over with. All this flirting isn’t healthy,” Cap, the captain of our team, jokes as he strolls up, rubbing his eyes. He must have had one of the surprise early morning wake-up calls too. Though his wife is missing, something I’ve noticed a lot lately.
“Maybe we already have, bro. You want in?” Brady teases.
“I do,” Carson says as he and Rich jog over from the far side of the parking lot. “It’s weird we’re all meeting here right now. Kismet and shit. Which is lucky since I feel so out of touch. The no-phones thing is kinda killing me. My fingers have no idea what to do with themselves.”
“I can think of a few things they can do.” Rich’s joke makes Brady and I chuckle but Carson scowls at him.
“Hey, where’s your cabin?” I ask Carson. “I thought we were room buddies.” I lower my voice, “Ended up with some crazy hot redhead who has already attacked me once.”
“I’ll need that story.” He laughs. “We thought we were next to you too, but we’re across from you. We’ve got some cute little brunette next to us. I’m trying to convince Rich we need to add her to the mix maybe.”
“So she can convince Rich he can do better,” I bug Carson.
“Hey! Wait up,” Matt shouts as he parks his golf cart and hurries over. “You two suck.”
“How bad was it?” Brady asks.
“I don’t know. I was on your heels. Tripped Nat on the way out so she had to stay.” He seems ashamed but not enough to stay there and listen to bridezilla. “At least Eli is with Sami’s mom and dad right now. Nat can handle meltdown number fifty-three on her own.”
“Poor Nat,” I mutter and thank the gods of all that is holy my little crush on Sami never went anywhere. She’s too much.
“Yikes, what did we miss during our nap?” Rich asks Matt and me.
“Well, first there was a fake picnic where we all sat and pretended to eat and drink but didn’t. We smiled a lot and changed clothes several times. Pretty sure I have sunstroke from that. Then we went for a small hike without you two, since you didn’t show up. Sami bitched the whole time so it was like you were there,” I say to Carson. “Then Nat and I played some PlayStation while Sami met with the security guys. Got busted and ran for our lives.”
“So she’s still full influencer instead of a bride?” Rich asks as he leans in for the answer.
“No, she’s bridezilla the influencer. It’s been a real treat,” Matt grumbles. “When this is over, I’m taking away all her electronics for a month.”
None of us touch that.
When we get inside, it seems like all the guys have shown up to get a drink, sans the wives, and I’m not sure if this is fate or a scheduled meeting. The Dagwood, the casual place to eat and drink at the farm, is loaded to the ass with hockey players on one side of the room and rich people hovering at tables on the other side, closing themselves off from the peasants and ruffians over here.
Of course, a few of them wave at Carson, Rich, and me while ignoring the rest of my teammates who are below their societal class.
We wave back but take our seats with the team as Matt goes over and does his obligatory greetings, though the official meet and greet will be in a couple of hours.
At our table, the talk starts off with hockey contracts, playoffs, and summer schedules for training.
Talking shop is what we do, but I’m not in the mood for it. I’m not sure what I’m in the mood for, if anything.
My eyes take in the room as a cute little server comes to our part of the massive table. “What can I get you all?”
“I’ll have whatever locally made beer you think is the best,” I say, earning a nod from Cap. “Me too.”
“Me three,” Brady agrees.
“Me four, please,” Matt chimes in as he comes to sit.
“I’ll have a large margarita,” Carson orders. “I started the day with tequila. I should keep the trend going.”
“And I’ll have a gin and tonic, extra lime,” Rich says.
“All right and something to eat?”
“A charcuterie board every four people, please,” Matt orders for us all.
“Of course, Mr. Brimley.” She smiles wider and hurries to the next set of guys.
“So, Mr. Brimley, I have a boner to pick with you.” Brady leans in across the table to Matt. “How come Lori got a complimentary redhead in his gift basket, and all I got in mine was listening to Sami yell at you?”
“That’s the single-player upgrade. As you’re already married according to common law practices in the state of New York. You don’t get one,” Matt answers way too quickly, considering I haven’t told him the story yet. Sometimes he makes my head spin.
Brady takes a minute to let it sink in before he grins. “What if Banks likes redheads too?”
“The complaints department is up my a—”
“Tell me that’s not her,” Brady cuts Matt off and hits me as he stares at the door where the tall drink of strawberry water has graced us
