7. Sully
SULLY
Last night was a wild welcome party. Everyone was in fine form, and I may have woken up with a little bit of a headache, but nothing a walk along the beach in the morning can’t cure.
I grab a takeaway coffee from my kitchen and walk along the white sandy beach, losing myself in the quiet.
The sun is up, the water almost perfectly still as the sky slowly shifts from pink to gold. I pull out my phone and snap a picture.
Sully: Morning.
A minute later my phone buzzes.
Cassidy: (Photo of two takeaway coffees sitting on a park bench).
Oh, my goodness, they are out of the apartment, I can’t believe it.
Sully: Where are you?
Cassidy: Central Park. We went for a run.
They went for a run? Wait till Emmett hears this.
Sully: I thought you were couch rotting.
Cassidy: We evolved.
Sully: Proud of you. Any other plans?
Cassidy: Yep, spa and pamper day, we thought we needed it.
Sully: You guys do. Enjoy.
Cassidy: We will. What about you?
Sully: It was a big night last night for the welcome party, so a few sore heads this morning, including mine. But we have a boys’ day on the boat today, which could get interesting.
Cassidy: Ew, nothing worse than going on a boat hungover.
Sully: Should be fun.
Cassidy: Enjoy, talk soon.
The wedding isn't until tomorrow, so everyone is making the most of being here.
The catamaran trip started well the other day but ended with Bouch hanging over the side of the boat looking greener than the ocean.
Of course, as a good friend, I took a picture of Bouch lying flat on the deck with a towel over his face and sent it to my sister.
Pierre and Issy disappear every chance they get.
Fish spends half his time trying to convince everyone to get on a jet ski, but Issy has requested that the whole wedding party not do any activities that could result in injury before the wedding.
The girls sent me photos of them at the Met, they both looked happy.
I’m so glad the two of them are getting out and about and not weeping over their loser exes.
I’ve wanted to call Trevor and give him an earful, but Cassidy has asked me not to engage with him, even though I want to punch him in the face.
It’s been nice here on the island, the food has been unbelievable, the drinks have flowed, and the group is having the best time.
Pierre and Issy have spared no expense on their wedding, making sure their guests are having a great time.
There’s been beach dinners, live music, beers around the fire on the beach, boys’ boat day, spa days, and to cap it all off, the sunsets here don’t even look real they are that colorful.
Sully: This one's for you.
I text my sister the current sunset in front of me and she replies a few minutes later.
Cassidy: (A selfie of Cassidy and Ember at Times Square).
Sully: You really have been getting out.
Cassidy: We have, and we’re having the best time.
Sully: Good. Have fun.
Wedding day arrives, and the resort somehow looks even more incredible than it did a few days ago.
White flowers line the aisle as soft music drifts across the beach.
The small number of guests begin taking their seats, Evan, Bouch, and Nelly all come and sit with me.
While Emmett and Fish sit with the rest of the St. Pierre family.
Pierre and Issy chose not to have a bridal party, as it is a small wedding.
Except it looks like Frankston is his best man, he sits proudly beside him wearing a blue bow tie around his neck.
"You scrub up all right," Nelly says to me.
"I was about to say the same thing to you boys.” I grin.
Bouch straightens his tie. “Got to make an effort for a legend,” he says.
The music changes, and everyone stands. Pierre is already waiting beneath the floral arch.
I’ve never seen him look so nervous. He did run out on his last wedding.
This is true. Then Issy appears behind us, she looks incredible, and as soon as Pierre sees her the nerves seem to disappear.
The golden retriever glances up at Pierre, his tail thumping once against the sand before his attention shifts back to Issy. A smile spreads across Pierre's face.
"There she is," Bouch murmurs quietly beside me.
I don't think Pierre hears a single word the celebrant says after that. His eyes never leave her. When they ask if anyone objects Puck, Felix and Harper’s husky howls, making the wedding guests burst out laughing.
The ceremony is exactly what you'd expect from Pierre and Issy, simple, heartfelt, no fuss, just two people completely in love. I glance around at the guests. His mom, Claire, is already wiping away tears, Jo has hold of Emmett's hand, and he is kissing it. It won’t be long until this is them. Fish is whispering into Collette’s ear as she snuggles into him.
I'm watching all the closest people around me find the loves of their lives, and an ache that has been slowly building hits me square in the chest. I'm in my mid-thirties, and I’m not sure how many years I have left in my career, especially with a lot of younger, faster guys coming up. I've probably only got a couple more good seasons left before retirement starts becoming a real conversation. That scares me, not the retirement, that is inevitable, but the fact that I don’t have anyone to share it with. I thought I would have met someone by now, but it never happened. I’ve had a couple of long-term relationships, nothing longer than two years, but otherwise I’ve been casual with most women.
Since losing Emmett, and seeing how happy he is, it has made me rethink what I want out of my life.
I mean, if Fish, the biggest playboy of the team can turn into a one-woman man and be happier than he’s ever been, then this guy can too.
I want what they've got, someone to come home to after a long day on the ice, someone to build a life with, someone who is going to be there long after hockey is over.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife." I hear the celebrant say.
Pierre doesn't hesitate, he cups Issy's face and kisses her as cheers erupt around us. Frankston barks once as if he's joining in the celebration, making everyone laugh. Pierre pulls back, resting his forehead against Issy's, both smiling so hard it looks like their faces might crack.
Yeah, I’m jealous as hell.
Cocktail hour kicks off as the newly married couple disappear with the photographer to capture a few photos around the island.
Everyone else spills out onto the lawn overlooking the beach, champagne appearing in our hands almost instantly.
I quietly slip away to check in with my sister.
The beach is almost empty, with everyone gathered back near the reception while I wander down toward the water.
The waves roll gently onto the shore, and I pull my phone from my pocket.
Sully: (Photo of the moon over the ocean).
Cassidy: (Photo of her and Ember sitting on a beach with lobster rolls and the ocean behind them).
Sully: Where is that?
Cassidy: Hamptons.
Sully: Wow, you took a day trip out there in the summer.
Cassidy: Yeah, a day trip on the weekend probably wasn’t the smartest. But I feel like a real New Yorker.
Sully: Sounds like you’re having fun.
Cassidy: We are. How was the wedding?
Sully: Beautiful. I’m a little jealous.
Cassidy: Wait, what?
Sully: Don’t be a dick. Just seeing everyone happy and settling down makes me realize I’m not there.
Cassidy: Hate to break it to you, but neither am I now.
Shit, that was a stupid thing to say to my sister.
Sully: Sorry.
Cassidy: Nothing to be sorry for. I’m just so excited that my baby brother wants to settle down.
Sully: You’re one minute older.
Cassidy: Still makes you my baby brother.
I roll my eyes.
Cassidy: You over the puck bunny life?
Sully: Yeah.
Cassidy: Wow, never thought you would confess to that.
Sully: Guess we are both going through transformations.
Cassidy: We’re both single at the same time now.
Sully: You’re single?
Cassidy: Technically, no, but mentally I am.
Sully: You’ve made a decision?
Cassidy: Wasn’t my choice, but yes. Having this time with Em, walking around New York experiencing so many things has made me realize that I don’t think I was happy in the marriage anymore, but Trevor has been such a big part of my life that I don’t think I would have ever left.
Sully: I’m sorry.
Cassidy: Nothing to be sorry for. I’m still processing. Doing a lot of inner reflection at the beach.
Sully: Same.
Cassidy: Guess we are both evolving.
Sully: You could say that. What are you going to do when I get back?
Cassidy: I’m going to have to go back home and face the music.
Sully: Want me to come?
Cassidy: Yes.
Sully: I’ll be there. Can’t promise I won’t punch Trevor.
Cassidy: Can’t promise I won’t either.
This makes me laugh.
Cassidy: Look, I’m not saying I’m over what Trevor did to me, I think I might need some therapy over that, or I need to get laid.
La, La, La, La.
Sully: I don’t need to hear that.
Cassidy: Get over it. Your sister is ready for her new chapter, and if that means trying a hell of a lot of men before buying again, that is what I am going to do.
Sully: Ew, Cass. Just don’t touch any of my friends.
Cassidy: Can’t promise that. You never listened to me when I asked you to do the same.
Dammit, she’s right.
Sully: We have a strict rule at the club, don’t touch a player’s sister.
Cassidy: And yet your Captain did and Fish too.
Fuck.
Cassidy: Don’t worry, little brother, I’m not interested in a hockey guy. Maybe a footballer or a basketballer, oh maybe a baseballer.
Sully: No athletes, we are all assholes.
Cassidy: True. But they might be fun to play with.
Sully: Who are you?
Cassidy: I’m fucking Cassidy Sullivan.
Sully: Oh wow, I haven’t heard you call yourself that in years.
Cassidy: I know. It’s weird, but I want a fresh start. I need a fresh start.
Sully: You don’t have to make any decisions yet, it’s still so fresh.
Cassidy: I know, but all my mind thinks about is what happened, and maybe I’m moving quickly, but what else can I do? The life I had before all this was a lie. My life will never be the same again, and I need to start accepting that.
She’s right.
Sully: You’re right. How’s Ember?
Cassidy: Doing okay. I’m so thankful, as sucky as it is, that we are going through this together. One day we are angry, the next we are thankful. It’s a rollercoaster ride that’s for sure.
Sully: Well, I am proud of you. You’re handling all this with grace, you could retaliate and cause a scene, but you haven’t. Do you think anyone knows their secret?
Cassidy: I don’t know. I want to hope no one knew. That would hurt if we were the last to know.
Sully: Guess it doesn’t change anything, they still did what they did.
Cassidy: Facts.
Sully: I’ve got to get back to the reception. Text me if you need anything.
Cassidy: Go have fun, I’m fine.