Dad nods. “Yeah, the season ended a few weeks ago. He’s been doing some sponsorship stuff. He should be home next week.”
“It’ll be good to see him,” Seb adds. “Are you a football fan, Ben?”
I giggle, and Ben playfully squeezes my leg.
Seb raises a brow. “What’s so funny?”
“Ben is a huge Cardinals fan.”
My dad, mid-bite, looks intrigued. “Have you been to many games?”
Ben nods. “Almost every home game when I lived in Phoenix, but not as often since moving to River Falls.”
“You’ve met Wyatt, right?” Cade asks. I can’t help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe this is a good sign that he’s joining the conversation.
“Briefly, on Christmas Eve,” Ben replies.
“You should ask Wyatt to get you one of those private loft spaces, Ash,” Taylor chimes in, then turns to Ben. “We had the best time. Endless food, a fridge stocked with drinks, and the best seats in the stadium.”
“From someone who didn’t even know the rules of football,” Seb teases. “Nash and I spent the entire drive to Phoenix trying to explain the game to her.”
Taylor sticks her tongue out at him. “One game was all it took and I was hooked. We should all go when the season starts back up.”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” my mom agrees. “It’s been far too long since we all watched Wyatt play. It’s been too long since we’ve all been together for anything.”
“Speaking of all being together,” Nash says, turning to Paisley with a wide grin. “We have some news to share.”
Excitement flutters in my stomach. Could they have set a new wedding date? Or maybe… is Paisley pregnant?
Unable to hold back my anticipation, I grab Ben’s hand and squeeze it gently. “Well, don’t keep us waiting!”
“Yes, tell us!” Sophie chimes in, her excitement mirroring mine.
Nash nods at Paisley, and she beams. “We’ve set a new date for the wedding!”
Cheers erupt around the table, and I lean into Ben, whispering, “They postponed when Taylor was in the hospital. There was no way they were getting married without her.”
He nods in understanding, just as Taylor, her voice thick with emotion, says, “I’m so excited for you both. But it’s my fault you had to cancel in the first place.”
“Not even a little,” Paisley insists. “You had an accident, and I wasn’t getting married without my best friend by my side.”
Tears stream down Taylor’s face, and Seb immediately wraps an arm around her, pressing a kiss to her head. “Don’t cry, baby.”
“These are the good kind of tears,” she assures him, wiping her face.
“What date did you pick?” my mom asks eagerly.
“July nineteenth,” Paisley says, then hesitates before glancing at my parents. “Would it still be okay to have it here?”
My mom’s face lights up. “Of course, sweetheart! Everything except the caterers is ready to go from last time. I’ll call them first thing tomorrow.”
Paisley’s eyes shimmer with unshed tears, but she holds them back as Nash kisses her cheek.
Once she composes herself, she turns to Sophie. “We’ll need to get your dress altered. Maybe next week?”
“Absolutely,” Sophie agrees. “Just let me know what works with your shifts at Eden. This is the best news, guys!”
“I hope you’ll come to the wedding too, Ben,” Paisley says, deliberately ignoring the sharp glare Nash is shooting her way.
