“I don’t know. I keep thinking about doing something else.” I told him about how I’d wanted to join the military and then had been thinking about the FBI.
“But you’re not American,” he said. “Can a Canadian work for the FBI?”
He asked all the same questions everyone else did and I answered them as best I could.
“What does Isla say?”
“Nothing. I haven’t made any decisions. I’ve basically come to the conclusion I’m too old, which is why I’m trying to figure out something else.”
“Would you want to be a cop?”
“I don’t…think so?”
“Seems like you have a lot of different things to work out this summer.”
“Including the military.”
He opened his mouth and then closed it again. “How did I not know these things about you?”
“I never wanted to admit hockey wasn’t enough because…less than one percent of all athletes make it to our level. How do you say that out loud? Sounds selfish as fuck, doesn’t it?”
“Believe me, I know. You’re talking to the lawyer who plays ice hockey for a living.”
We chuckled together.
Our eyes met across the table, a ton of unspoken emotion settling between us. If I left hockey, I probably wouldn’t see him very often, and we both knew it. This wasn’t the day to talk about any of that, though, so I dug into my breakfast instead. “Now, do you have the rings?”
“Yup.” He nodded absently but he was still watching me intently. “You know we can talk about anything and everything, yeah? Just because it’s my wedding day doesn’t mean we can’t.”
“I honestly don’t have anything to talk about yet,” I responded. “When I do, I promise you’ll be the first one I go to for a little perspective.”
“I’m always here for you, but make sure you keep Isla in the loop. She’s not the impulsive type and you going on a journey of self-discovery this early in your relationship is going to be hard for her. Trust me on this—I know my sister.”
He was right; I’d sensed her discomfort with my lack of plans for the future, and I didn’t have any idea how to fix that. Hopefully, she wouldn’t cut and run before I figured it out.
15
Isla
I hadn’t thought watching my twin brother get married would make me cry, but it did. As the minister pronounced them husband and wife, I couldn’t help myself. They were happy tears, but it was an odd feeling, as if I was losing part of me while gaining a sister at the same time. I adored Everly, so it wasn’t that. It was just that Ian and I had always had a special bond, and I’d always known that he would do anything and everything in his power if I ever needed him. Now his first priority would be Everly. And the children they would undoubtedly have. It was oddly disconcerting, no matter how much I loved her, to think I would never be his first priority ever again.
I took Dax’s arm as we walked back up the aisle to stand in the receiving line my mother had set up, and he offered me his handkerchief so I could dab my eyes.
“Thank you.” I smiled up at him. “I didn’t think I’d cry.”
“It was a beautiful ceremony.”
“Their vows were lovely.”
“You’re lovely.” His voice was rich and low, filled with emotion and meaning.
“Thank you.” This was neither the time nor the place to have an intimate conversation, but the timbre of his voice just now was something I would look forward to hearing in private. Hopefully when we were both naked.
The receiving line was ridiculously long, but at least they’d cut out most of the wedding party. Mum and Granddad, along with Everly’s mother and stepfather, filled in those places, though, so seeing everyone took nearly an hour. Then there were the formal pictures, which took another hour. By the time we were done, my feet were killing me and I desperately needed water.
“I’ll find us some,” Dax said when I collapsed in a chair in the private room that had been reserved for the bride, groom and wedding party to relax in between events. The reception wouldn’t start for another hour so I was glad to sit for a while.
“Hey.” Everly sank down beside me and kicked off her heels. “Holy shitballs, you guys have a lot of friends and family. I think I know maybe thirty of the five hundred people here.”
“I probably only know two-thirds,” I told her. “There are a ton of hockey-related people here that I don’t know at all.”
“Me either.”
We both chuckled.
“Bloody hell, I must be getting old.” Mum sat on the other side of me and slid off her heels as well. “There was a time I could walk in heels for twelve hours straight. Just now, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it.”
“Weddings are brutal,” Everly agreed, “no matter how old you are. I’m ready to change into shorts and a T-shirt and run barefoot through your garden.”
Mum laughed. “And I would join you.”
“That’ll be late tonight, after a few cases of champagne,” I said with a chuckle. “For now, you both have to behave.”
“Fine.” Mum gave me a cheeky grin.
“Auntie Evie, I’m hungry!” Gracie made a typically dramatic entrance by flouncing into the room and then collapsing at Everly’s feet.
“What did we say about being careful in your dress today?” Everly asked her, leaning down. “And where’s Mommy?”
“She’s with Uncle Tore. They’re fighting.”
“They’re…fighting?” Everly frowned. “Are you sure?”
“Mommy called him a name I’m not supposed to repeat.”
“Uh-oh.” Everly started to get up, but I put a hand on her arm.
“You’re the bride,” I said. “You’re not dealing with anything but love and romance and bride things today. I’ll find out what’s up with Margot and Tore, and Mum will find a snack for Gracie.”
“All right.” Everly seemed relieved, and Mum immediately got up, taking Gracie’s hand to lead her in the other direction.
I slipped out of the room and went in search of Margot and Tore.
Dax fell
