Chapter 4
Liam
Iglance around the inside of Lockeland Table, the restaurant where Aidan and Micah are having their engagement party.
“Woah,” I say to myself as I step off to the side so I don’t block the entrance.
I’ve eaten here once before on a date and it’s a cool vibe. It’s a remodeled older brick building with rustic and modern aesthetics. The ceiling is a mix of exposed HVAC pipes and funky light fixtures. The place is decked out in dark wood flooring and antique framed pictures.
But it’s the decor for the engagement party that I can’t stop staring at.
At the entrance is an easel displaying a big sleek white sign that says, “We’re engaged! Let’s celebrate! Love, Micah and Aidan” in pretty gold cursive. There’s a cluster of gold balloons on either side of the sign.
Instead of the regular arrangement of seats in the restaurant, all the wooden tables have been pushed together into a single long table that runs the length of the dining area. Along the middle of the table are vases of fluffy white flowers and candles.
Against the main wall of the restaurant are the words “Mr. & Mrs.” spelled out in giant gold balloon letters.
Soft mood music plays over the speaker system as the guests mill around and chat.
I spot a four-tiered dessert tower on the far side of the restaurant, covered in what looks like cupcakes and mini pecan pies.
A server walks up to me and offers me a glass from his tray.
“Would you like to try tonight’s signature cocktail? It’s a married mint julep.”
“Married?” I ask.
He smiles and nods. “There’s a splash of cranberry juice to add just a little something extra special. The best woman thought it up. It’s quite refreshing.”
Just the mention of Kendall makes my heart sink.
“Sure. Thank you,” I take a sip, savoring the burst of mint and bourbon on my tongue.
A wave of guilt throttles me. Kendall was stuck planning this whole party by herself because I was an inconsiderate jerk. She did an incredible job—better than I could ever do.
But that’s not the point. The point is, I let her down. I agreed to do this with her, and I dropped the fucking ball.
I think back to last week when Kendall and I argued in the street after I showed up an hour late to plan this engagement party.
Regret radiates through me like a sting. I really fucked everything up.
I think about the laundry list of excuses I gave Kendall. Yeah, they were all true. I was insanely busy that week and my phone died that night.
I think about how I tweaked my knee during conditioning earlier that week and how that threw me off for the rest of the day…how it freaked me out and played on my biggest insecurity: that hockey is the only thing I’m good at, so if I screw it all up with an injury, I’ll have nothing left.
I was so consumed by the stress of that, that I ignored my phone, my emails, my friends and family. It wasn’t until a few days later, when the pain in my knee went away, that I was able to pull myself out of that mindset.
But none of that mattered. I still let Kendall down.
My plan was to explain myself, apologize, and promise to take care of every single thing left on my part of the to-do list for the engagement party.
But she was so upset at me showing up an hour late that I barely got a word in before she went off on me.
And then she said she’d just do all the planning herself before storming off.
The taste in my mouth turns sour. I take another sip of the delicious drink that she came up with for tonight. She had every right to react that way.
And now I need to figure out a way to make it right.
I spot Aidan and Micah standing in the middle of the restaurant, smiling and laughing with Micah’s mom and dad.
Our dad walks up to them and says hello. I watch as he and Aidan hug. A warm feeling rushes through me. I never thought I’d see my brother and our dad reconcile.
Aidan used to play hockey but gave it up in college to focus on becoming a professor.
That pissed off our hockey-obsessed dad, who insulted him for choosing a different career than the one he dreamed for his sons.
That led to Aidan cutting him off for years.
He refused to have a relationship with him.
But after running into each other last year, our dad apologized for how he treated Aidan and told him that his biggest regret in life was losing his bond with his son. Aidan eventually forgave him. They have a relationship again.
I smile as I watch the two of them laugh and talk. They look over and spot me, then wave me over. When I walk up to them, I hug Micah and give her a kiss on the cheek, then greet her mom and dad. A second later, her parents get pulled into a nearby conversation.
I hug my dad. “Good to see you, Dad.”
“You too.” He smiles. “Nice to see you all dressed up. I’m so used to seeing you in hockey gear.”
“I’m surprised you recognized me,” I joke.
Dad looks between Aidan and me, his expression warm. He pats our arms. “It’s good to see you boys like this.”
I know what he means. For years, he only ever saw me because he didn’t have a relationship with Aidan. It must feel good for him to spend time with both of his sons at the same time.
Aidan nods like he understands. “Thanks for making it to the engagement party, Dad.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he says to Aidan, the look in his eyes sincere.
That warmth burrows deeper in my chest. After years of being the one stuck between them, only ever spending time with them separately, this moment feels huge. The three of us together, happy and whole.
Dad looks at me. “Micah tells me you helped plan this shindig.” He glances around the restaurant, smiling like he’s in awe. “I can’t believe you had the time to do that. You were so busy these past couple of weeks with training and conditioning and getting ready for that photoshoot.”
Aidan claps my shoulder. “Dude, I’m officially speechless. I can’t believe you had a hand in this.”
That guilt burrows deeper inside, digging into my gut. Did Kendall not tell Aidan and Micah that she did all the work?
Dad smiles at Micah. “I always thought my son was just good at hockey. I never knew he was good at party planning too.”
Everyone chuckles. I smile, hoping it doesn’t look as forced as it feels.
I know my dad’s just joking around, but I can’t help the sting of his words.
I’m just a hockey player. That’s all anyone sees me as, even my own dad.
And as much as I love hockey and love that it’s my career, I wish people thought I could be more than that.
I wish they thought I was capable of doing something other than smacking around a puck.
I shake my head, refocusing.“Actually, I wasn’t the one who—”
“It’s stunning, Liam. Seriously.” Micah beams at me. She grabs my arm. “No offense, but never in a million years would I have thought that you could pull off something as beautiful and elegant as this. And with the budget we gave you. By the way, I love your suit. Really sharp.”
I let out a nervous chuckle and glance down at the dark tan suit and white dress shirt I’m wearing. “Thanks. Funny you should mention that, I didn’t really—”
“Kendall!” Micah squeals.