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“Thank you,” I say to the surrounding men. I meet each of their gazes separately. “This isn’t what our wedding coordinator had planned, but this part—having you all here with me—is exactly right.” I lift my glass. “Cheers.”
We all drink, and there are lots of back-slaps and half-arm hugs. Finally, Linc checks his watch. “Ten minutes until noon. We should get out there.” Everyone nods. The rest of them file out, leaving me in the locker room with Linc. It still smells the same—bad. But as he checks me over and nods, I feel like it’s the perfect place for this. Chesterboro is where Hannah and I met. If I hadn’t been determined to take our team to the playoffs last year, I wouldn’t have proposed that stupid fake dating stunt with her. I would have missed her.
“Let’s do this,” he says.
“Hell yeah.”
He grasps my hand. We stand there, grinning at each other like idiots. He cocks his head. “We should get going. Hannah’s waiting for you.”
I nod. The weight of the moment hits me, and I hurry out. I can feel Linc at my side as we reach the ice. Someone must have tracked down the ice rug they use for ceremonial puck drops because it’s stretched to center ice. In front of us, the bleachers are full. I wonder about our friends and family, and I hope everyone had safe travels. Irritating storm. But I can’t make out any faces from here to check on everyone, so I step out onto the ice carpeting. Carefully, Linc and I make our way to the end, right at center ice. There’s a guy there in a suit. The officiant, I assume. I nod at him, and he tilts his head in response. Then I straighten my shoulders and clasp my hands in front of me.
Music flows through the speakers, but it isn’t the pump-up music I’m used to hearing here. It’s Canon in D, the music Hannah wanted to play at our wedding. My eyes find the boards, and the sight of Hannah in white, with her mother as her only attendant, steals my breath.
Her gown isn’t elaborate. It’s long-sleeved and high-necked, form-fitted through her hips where it swells in waves to her feet. Her long hair is back, and a plain white veil hangs to her fingertips. Her smile is bright. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
I can barely swallow around the lump in my throat. When she joins me, I reach for her hands. I don’t have any idea if that’s what I’m supposed to do. We didn’t have any normal rehearsal. But I need to touch her right now. All I can do is stand there, my eyes misty, and stare at her.
“Glad you could make it,” she whispers, and then she winks. I can’t help it—I laugh. My heart’s full, and the happiness inside almost hurts in my chest.
Squeezing her fingers, I wipe a tear that escaped out of the corner of my eye. “Not even a blizzard could have stopped me, baby.”
Next to us, the celebrant holds a microphone to his lips. “Dearly beloved…” he begins.
Ash Draper
“Inowpronounceyouman and wife. You may kiss the bride.” The officiant’s voice booms over the loud system, and on the big screen, we watch Hannah and Cord embrace. The crowd erupts in cheers, hooting. When the newlyweds break apart, they hold their clasped hands up. I wouldn’t call myself a sentimental guy, but even I can’t help feeling choked up.
The wedding coordinator steps out on the ice. Every time I’ve seen her since we got in last night, she’s looked like she might be sick. But now her smile is relaxed. “We have good news. The venue got power back. They’re going to accommodate us after all.” There are more cheers. “We need to give them a little time to get set up, but if you care to make your way to the Chesterboro Country Club, they will serve some light appetizers and cocktails while we wait.” She motions to the exit. “Also, if you’d prefer to leave your car here for now, the Dazed Zealots’ bus driver has offered to shuttle guests to the club.”
She motions to the audio box, and the music booms again as Hannah and Cord head back down the carpet and leave the ice, followed by Linc and Hannah’s mother.
I squeeze Cami’s hand, and when I meet her eyes, I see her cheeks are wet. “Cam?”
She swipes at her tears, a watery smile on her lips. “I love weddings.”
Rolling my eyes, I chuckle and tuck her against my side. “I love you.” She laughs and gives a sniff, reaching into her coat pocket for a tissue. The other guests around us are bundled up as well., coats over their wedding finery. “Come on. Let’s go congratulate the happy couple.”
We follow the rest of the party out into the foyer, where Hannah and Cord are hugging people. Cord wrapped his tux coat around his new wife’s shoulders. It’s a weird scene—all these people in suits and dresses in the rink entryway. But no one seems to care that it’s untraditional, especially Cord and Hannah. They look happy enough to burst, and their joy radiates through the rest of the crowd.
I clap the new groom on the shoulder. “Congratulations. Glad you could join us.”
He chuckles, clasping my hand. “Same. I hear you’re the one who made this happen.” He motions to the rink. “Thank you for stepping up.”
“Seemed an appropriate place for a former captain to get married.” I nudge Cami before wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “Maybe we should consider it when the time comes.”
She smirks and rolls her eyes. “Please. My mom will never let me hear the end of it if there’s not a cross over our heads when we get married.”
We’ve already talked about this stuff—marriage, our future—but I love hearing her reference our dreams as if they’re inevitable. There was a time I was sure I screwed things up between us, but now we’re looking at forever. It’s humbling and fills me with gratitude.
I squeeze her against me and press a kiss to her temple. She glances up, and whatever she sees on my face makes her eyes furrow. We step forward to let the next guests greet the happy couple, and she leans closer. “Are you okay?”
“I’m amazing. The luckiest guy ever,” I assure her.
She nods, and we’re joined by Griff and Penny. They ride with us over to the country club. When we get there, I see that the Dazed Zealots have set up in the ballroom's corner. I mention it to Penny, and she tells us that the deejay couldn’t travel in from New York, so the Zealots are going to play for us. I doubt there’s a person here who is going to mind a person show by one of the most upcoming bands in the world.
What follows is a whirlwind. There might have been a few trials to get everyone together, but the resultant party is one for the books. The country club steps up to entertain its VIP guests. I do not know how much money exchanges hands, but the liquor is the highest quality, the food is superb, and the service is first rate.
Dancing continues well into the day, and I soak up the time I get to spend with my hockey friends. While I love my team this year, I miss the three roommates last year who took me under their wings and included me. Linc, Griff, and Declan weren’t only my roommates—they became my closest friends.
