Page 96 of Mac Meyers Needs Me

She releases me and flashes Mac a wide smile. “We’re so thrilled you could make it. The guys can’t wait to meet you.”

“Thanks so much for inviting me.” Mac’s smile is only slightly manic.

I take his hand and lead him down the hall. “They’re regular guys and they used to be just like you and Chase and Brody and Gage,” I assure him. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but I also didn’t want you to stress.”

“It was the right move, even though I wish it wasn’t.” His grip on my hand tightens as the noise level increases and we round the corner. Mac mutters a quiet expletive.

The girls rush over to hug me, and I introduce Mac to them first, their gentle excitement a buffer for Mac’s anxiety, before he meets the rest of the guys. It doesn’t matter that Roman has been retired from the league for several years, they still have monthly dinners. We’re suddenly surrounded by hockey royalty, and I introduce Mac to Dallas Bright, Hollis Hendrix, and Ashish Palaniappa. “You’ve met Connor, Quinn, and Tristan before.”

Apparently Flip Madden had a meeting he couldn’t get out of, and Tally has dance practice, otherwise they’d be here, too. Tristan’s middle brother Nate, and Cammie’s older sister Essie often join, but Essie’s on set tonight.

Mac is his typical polite self, shaking hands and trying to play it cool.

Roman comes out carrying a freshly woken Ariel from her nap. Her head rests on his shoulder, one hand gripping his shirt, the other hugging her stuffed Terror Goose to her chest.

“How’s my favorite niece!” I open my arms and she gives me a dopey smile and lets me take her from Roman.

“It’s taco night,” she informs me, then points to her shirt. “I ready!”

"You sure are. Did your daddy get you that shirt?”

She grins and nods. “We matches!”

I glance at Roman, who is indeed wearing the same shirt in a much larger size. “You sure do.”

“Daddy!” Ariel realizes he’s more than two feet away and wants to be back in his arms.

I pass her over. “Where’s Callie?”

“On the phone, talking to a boy in her class,” Roman mutters darkly.

“Oh. Is this a thing now?” I ask while I snuggle my niece.

“Not if Roman has anything to say about it.” Lexi pats Roman on the chest.

Mac is already deep in conversation with the guys, so I follow Lexi and the girls to the kitchen to help with the apps. Fajita night is a lengthy affair and usually consists of three courses and a decadent dessert.

Rix, Tristan’s wife, nudges me with her elbow. “He’s cute.”

“And exceptionally polite,” Hemi, the head of team PR and Dallas’s wife, adds.

“Dad said he plays hockey for Tilton,” Hammer says.

“Brody is one of his roommates. We’ve been friends for a while, but we started dating this semester, and yeah.”

“Is this his final year, then?” Shilpa asks.

“He applied for the summer program at the Hockey Academy, but obviously he’s hoping to get called up after graduation.” I push down the worry that always follows when I think about what will happen when the semester ends.

“He has the skill set,” Lexi assures me.

“He’s worked really hard this year to improve his game.” He could be anywhere in the fall, across the country, even in a different one. What will that be like? Would we try to make it work if he ended up somewhere like Utah or Vancouver? Would he want to date someone who was still in university when he’s just starting his career?

The girls must read the sudden panic on my face.

Lexi wraps her arm around my shoulder. “We can’t worry about things that haven’t happened yet, Big Pheels. Just enjoy the ride, and we’ll deal with everything as it comes.”

“And you have lots of people in your circle who know what this life is like, so no matter what, you have support, and so will he,” Hammer adds.