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“Isn’t it heavenly?” Allie said. “I haven’t been in a hot tub since before I had my kids.”
“Girl, you deserve a hot tub in your home,” Shea said. “And a masseuse.”
“I have Stan for that,” Allie said with a grin. “He considers massages foreplay, so he’ll rub me down from head to toe if it gets him what he wants.”
“Dang, I forgot my drink,” Shea said, leaning forward to stand.
“No, stay,” I said, bolting up. “I’ll get it. I need another one anyway.”
“Get me one, too,” Coulter said.
I ended up getting fresh beers for all of the groomsmen before passing Shea her margarita and climbing back into the hot tub.
She looked relaxed, ignoring Carmen as she chattered about how sore her abs were from a workout this morning. I put my arm around Shea, careful to keep it on the hot tub and not touch her.
Grady mouthed, “That’s my sister,” from the other side of the hot tub. I mouthed back, “I know,” and looked away. He clearly thought Shea belonged in a convent. I laughed inwardly about the very real possibility of having my invitation to be a groomsman rescinded this weekend.
This would be the longest break I’d had from my kids since retiring from hockey. Knowing they’d be having fun with my parents made it easy to come here. I’d grown so used to watching my language—mostly—and always keeping an eye on them that it was hard to get used to just sitting in a hot tub with other adults, not having a care in the world.
“Hey Grady,” I said. “How did you and Avon meet?”
They exchanged a look and a smile.
“She was lost and I gave her directions,” he said.
She rolled her eyes. “He chewed me out and said I looked like a tourist.”
Grady shrugged. “You did and you were.”
“We hated each other at first,” Avon said. “Every encounter ended up in an argument.”
Everyone laughed and I arched a brow. “Arguing with Grady? I can’t imagine.”
He gave his wife-to-be a big, tipsy smile. “She saw the light eventually. Can’t keep her hands off me these days.”
“Oh, is that how it is?” she asked, her eyes dancing with happiness.
I’d never had what they did. I thought I did with Andrea. We adored each other, but once we were married, everything changed. She became demanding and nothing was ever good enough.
“Seriously, guys,” Grady said. “I know it’s tough to take a weekend away, especially with kids and jobs and all, and it means a lot to us that you’re all here to celebrate. I still can’t believe Avon is going to be my wife. She’s more than a dream come true for me because I never even dared to dream of someone like her.”
Avon cupped his cheeks in her hands and kissed him. “What he said.”
“To Grady and Avon!” Seth, another groomsman, held his beer in the air and we all toasted.
I hadn’t drunk so much in a long time. I was already light-headed. Part of me wanted to slow down so I could keep my wits because losing control around Shea could be dangerous.
A bigger part of me was already past that point, though. This weekend was a chance to let go and just have fun, and I wouldn’t have another chance to do that anytime soon.
A couple of hours later, I’d ditched the idea of not touching Shea. We were back in the hot tub, my arm around her. Everyone else was inside because the caterers had just brought dinner.
“Never have I ever eaten a Hershey’s Kiss,” I said, continuing a game we’d started when everyone else left to eat.
“What?” She laughed and shook her head. “Everyone’s eaten those.”
“There’s all the unwrapping and then just that tiny little bite of chocolate. I’d rather just have a candy bar.”
“What’s your favorite candy bar?”
