2. Shane #2
“OH MY GOD!!!” Veronica screams the moment she steps foot inside, followed by her two hockey player boyfriends. Yes, two. Noah Adler and Gabriel Ellis.
“Ronnie? What are you doing here?” I blink as she rushes to me, grabbing my water bottle from my hand and setting it down.
“Tell me everything! How was it? Are his lips as soft as they look? Because they really do look soft. And how does his mouth taste? Was it everything you dreamed it would be?” She grabs both my arms and shakes me a little before wrapping hers around me and squeezing tight.
“Holy shit! I can’t believe you just had your first kiss and with the man of your dreams! ”
I flush a dark shade of red, now realizing that they were probably parked outside when everything between me and Shane happened. Which means... They saw us kiss.
Veronica pulls away and looks me over. “Oh, even her lips look swollen. Don’t they look swollen, boys?”
“They do.” Noah chuckles as he comes over to hug me and kiss my forehead. “Hey, princess.”
My blush goes from red to a light pink at the brotherly affection he always gives me. “Hi, Noah. How are you?” I ask, concerned about his wound to the abdomen that happened six weeks ago.
“I’m good, nothing to worry about.” He smirks and steps back as Gabe comes up next.
“So, you finally getting dirty with Coach, baby Ford?” He grins wide as he wraps his arms around me and kisses my cheek.
The sound of a video call being made fills the kitchen, and I quickly look over at Ronnie, who has her phone held up in front of her.
“Who are you calling?!” My eyes are wide as I untangle myself from Gabriel’s arms and rush over to her side.
But I’m not quick enough, and within seconds Morgan, Cecilia, and Emma appear on screen.
“Ronnie… I’m pregnant and tired all the time,” Morgan whines as she rubs her eyes.
“I know, I know, I’m sorry. But this is important and can’t wait until tomorrow morning. Now, I need you all to step away from your men so we can have this discussion.” Ronnie smiles widely at them as the cameras begin to move around.
“Okay, what is it?” Emma asks first.
“Are you all away from prying ears?” Ronnie waits.
“Yes! Just hurry up and tell us!” Cecilia gestures with her hand, telling her to go on.
“They kissed! Shane kissed her!” Ronnie squeals in a high-pitched voice I’ve never heard her use before.
I quickly lean away, almost wanting to cover my ears as everyone starts talking over each other while my blush spreads like wildfire all over my skin.
“OH MY GOD!” Cecilia whisper-shouts and appears to be bouncing on the spot from how much the camera is shaking.
“Aw! Her first kiss!” Morgan exclaims with one hand over her heart as she wipes her eyes. “I’m sorry, I’m just extremely emotional right now.”
“I knew it would happen!” Emma sets the phone down against something and claps her hands. “How was it?! We need the details, baby Brey!”
“How was what?” My brother’s voice filters through the phone from afar, and I freeze.
Emma’s eyes widen as she quickly picks up the phone and starts walking. “Nothing, Wolf. Just Aubrey telling us about this new recipe she tried at work today.” Everyone goes quiet for a moment until finally she sighs. “Wooh, that was close.”
“You know we’re all about to be murdered, right?” Silas’s voice comes through as well.
“Cece! I told you to get away from your man!” Ronnie rebukes her.
“Hey, there are no secrets between me and Sy.” She shrugs.
“We’re not just getting murdered. We’re going straight to hell once Ford finds out,” a different male voice comes in next—Clay Burkley, Morgan’s husband and another hockey player.
Ronnie frowns with disappointment. “Really, Morg? You too?”
She smiles sheepishly. “Sorry.”
I finally decide to cut in, needing this conversation to end. “No one is going to die, and no one is going to hell because Grey won’t find out about any of this! It was one kiss, that’s all. Can we all just move on, please?” I huff out. “And Ronnie, why are you even here this late?”
“Oh, Gabe proposed, and I wanted to share the news. But then you and Shane happened, and that was way more important.” She waves me off, like her being engaged is no big deal.
“Thanks, Vixen.” Gabe frowns at her from behind us, using the cute little pet name he gave her. It reminds me of when Shane called me Angel earlier and I unconsciously bite my lip.
“You’re engaged!?” Emma whisper-shouts. “Show us the ring!”
Ronnie beams with bliss as she raises her hand to the screen. A beautiful sapphire-blue engagement ring shines brightly on her finger, but what really catches my eye is the ring tattoo right above it that she didn’t have when I last saw her a few days ago.
“What’s this?” I point to it.
“Oh, that’s for me and Noah, we both have one.
We originally were all three supposed to get a ring tattooed since we knew we couldn’t legally get married.
But then Gabe surprised me with this one.
” Ronnie points to the blue diamond ring.
“Right after Noah and I had already gotten ours done.” She then looks over her shoulder at the two men she’s fallen madly in love with over the summer and lets out a dreamy sigh.
“So, in a way, I’ll be married to both my boys. ”
“Aw… I’m so happy for you guys!” Cecilia says genuinely.
“Me too.” Morgan sniffles a few times before a sob breaks free. “Oh God, this is too much. Two pregnancies and now two weddings.” She reaches to the side for a tissue and wipes her eyes. “There’s so much love in the air. And now, now our baby girl is finally spreading her own wings.”
“Morg! Stop crying because now I’m going to cry too.” Emma fans at her face rapidly. “Ugh! It’s too late, I can’t stop it! My baby Ford isn’t a baby anymore!” she cries into her hands. Did I forget to mention that she’s pregnant too?
All I can do is stare with wide eyes at the screen. I’m not sure what is happening, but this is chaos.
“All right, that’s enough.” The phone is suddenly ripped out of Morgan’s hand, and a shirtless Clay comes into view, causing my cheeks to flush at the sight.
Stupid blush! “The rest of this conversation can wait until tomorrow. My wife needs her rest and so do I. Goodnight.” He finishes by hanging up his end.
“Burkley’s right. Time for bed everyone, we have practice in the morning. Goodnight.” Silas takes Cecilia’s phone and shuts it off next.
“Bunny?” Greyson’s voice comes through once more.
“Coming, Wolf!” Emma tells him as she waves to us. “That’s my cue. Night.”
The video call ends, and Ronnie sets her phone down just as Noah comes over and cups her cheek tenderly. “We should head home too, Kitten.”
“Okay.” She leans in and pecks his lips before turning to me and taking me in her arms. “I’m so happy for you, Aubrey, you deserve this. Greyson will come around. I know he will.”
All I do is nod, unable to agree with her statement, but also not wanting to disagree. Because there’s nothing I’d want more than to explore this world with Shane, but I know my brother, and he doesn’t let go of things easily.
Which only means one thing. If Grey were to find out, he’d never forgive me.