“Hey, come on,” he says. “We’re meeting up in the lounge for a drink before going over to the library.”
“Great timing,” I mutter.
Archie laughs. “Oh. Sorry.”
“We’re ready.” Ayla picks up her sparkly pink purse. “Where’s Matilda?”
“We brought our nanny from home,” Andi says. “They’re having room-service pizza and movies tonight.”
“Perfect.”
Their daughter—or Archie’s daughter, technically, but really theirs—is now two years old. And Andi’s wearing a dress that shows off her six-months-pregnant baby bump.
“You look gorgeous,” Ayla says. “I want to pat your belly.”
“Go ahead.” Andi grins. “Thanks for asking. Lots of people think my belly is public property.”
Is it hard for Ayla seeing someone pregnant? She seems okay. And when she turns to meet my eyes as we leave our hotel room, she smiles reassuringly at me as if she knows what I’m thinking.
We have a drink in the bar of the hotel, then walk a few blocks to the Free Library on the Parkway. Of course Mabel chose this location for their wedding; she’s a librarian. It still seems a little odd to me, though. I’ve been imagining the wedding taking place among the stacks of books.
“This building is gorgeous.” Ayla studies the old architecture as we enter: the marble floors and soaring ceilings, stone walls and columns. The ceremony is happening in the lobby, which is set up with rows of chairs and masses of flowers.
“They must have cleaned out a greenhouse for this,” I mutter to Ayla as we take seats.
She laughs. “Possibly. They’ll have amazing photographs here.”
Soon, Benny and his groomsmen Smitty, Crusher, and Dilly make their way to the front of the lobby, dressed in dark suits.
“He looks nervous,” I whisper to Ayla.
“This isn’t his kind of thing,” she replies. “I’m sure he’s fine, though.”
Then the three bridesmaids appear; I’ve been told the maid of honor is Bellamy, Mabel’s friend from her home town, and Cami and Tala, two newer friends. They sashay down the aisle in dresses in different shades of green, holding bouquets of greenery and white flowers.
“So pretty,” Ayla murmurs to Andi on the other side of her.
Then the music changes and Mabel is walking down the aisle, dressed in a white dress with a long, swishy skirt of sheer layers with delicate lace over top. Her russet hair is in a low messybun decorated with tiny flowers and pearls, and her bouquet is similar: white flowers, sheer ribbons and pearls hanging from it. She’s beaming a smile bigger and brighter than the sun.
“Notice no one is giving her away,” Ayla whispers.
I shoot her an amused look. “Uh huh. What is this song?”
“‘First Day of My Life’.”
I knew she would know.
The ceremony is quick and informal. Benny and Mabel both say their own vows, they’re pronounced married and kiss, and they disappear up a wide marble staircase lined with candles. We hang around with the other guests as we all wait to take the elevator to the roof where an outdoor bar has been set up for cocktails. The lights of the city are coming on all around us and when we have a glass of champagne in hand, we move over to the stone balustrade to take in the amazing view. We’re joined by some of our other teammates here: Archie and Andi again, Turks and his wife Holly, Shawzy and Megan.
“Rumor has it the Cup is in the building,” Archie says.
“Fuck off.” I stare at him.
“Yep. This is Benny’s weekend to have the Cup, so they brought it to the wedding.”
Yeah, we won the Stanley Cup about a month ago. I still haven’t come down from the high of it. It’s been an amazing ride. Our fans went absolutely insane and over the summer, we each get a day to take the Cup where we want. Of course mine’s coming home to Salmon Arm in August. The town has some special parade planned and both my sisters will be there.
That makes me really fucking happy.
