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He cocked his head to the side and studied me for a moment before asking, “Everything okay? I called your name three times before you heard me.”
I didn’t want Gabe spending any of his time trying to help me. He deserved to have a week with nothing on his plate except marrying the woman of his dreams. So I put a fake smile on my face and slapped him on the back. “Just lost in thought. You ready to hit the links?”
He still looked suspicious when he asked, “Are you?”
I forced a jovial laugh. “I’m always ready to kick your ass at golf.”
Gabe scoffed. “When was the last time you beat me?”
“When was the last time we played?”
“That doesn’t count. I had a hell of a hangover from celebrating a Nighthawks win the night before.”
I arched a brow. “Is it my fault you can’t handle your liquor?”
“It is when you’re the one who kept handing me shots,” he retorted.
“You didn’t have to drink them.” I grinned—genuinely this time—and Gabe narrowed his eyes.
“And look like a pansy in front of your whole damn football team?”
I laughed and clapped him on the back again. “Let’s go, kid.”
“What’s this I hear about Gabe being a pansy?”
Rhys trotted over to us and fell into step as we made our way to the first tee.
“Gabe seems to think it insults his manhood to turn down shots when celebrating with the team,” I informed Rhys with a smirk.
Rhys chuckled. “He always was a lightweight.”
Gabe sputtered, but I ignored the argument that ensued and greeted the rest of the male bridal party. As well as Gabe’s dad and…
“Finley?”
“Hi, Uncle Lennox!” my niece chirped happily as she strode up to me. Smiling brightly, she leaned in, and I wrapped my arms around her, giving her a bear hug.
“I called you to check on you this morning, but you didn’t answer,” I said as I let her go.
She nodded. “I had my phone on do not disturb. The storm that rolled through late last night hit New York first, so my flightwas delayed. But I didn’t want to miss hanging out with you guys this morning.”
I grinned and draped my arm over her shoulder. “I’m glad you came, Fin. Sorry about your—”
“Don’t apologize for my parents’ selfish actions, Uncle Lennox.” She sighed. “You shouldn’t always be left to clean up their messes.”
“You are not a mess I have to clean up, Finley,” I muttered with a frown. “Mark and Gina lost out, and instead, I got to be the lucky one who watched you grow into a beautiful young woman.”
Finley blushed and bumped her shoulder into my arm. “Stop being so mushy.”
I laughed, then bent my head to whisper in her ear, “Feeling like a shark this morning?”
A giggle bubbled up her chest, and she winked at me. “You know it.”
My mouth curled into a devilish grin, and I turned to Gabe. “So, Gabe…I’ve been teaching Finley to golf,” I told him casually, leaving out that I’d been instructing her since she was old enough to hold a child-size club. And she was good. Damn good.
Gabe raised an eyebrow and looked at his cousin with a smile. “Wanted to be able to keep up today, huh?”
Finley shrugged. “I didn’t want everyone waiting on me, and I know we only get one…what is it, Uncle Lennox?” Her tone was innocent, and her nose adorably scrunched as she pretended to think.
