Chapter 20 #2
Marie snorts behind me, and I realize the double meaning. My cheeks blush, but luckily Julia doesn’t notice as they’ve already moved on to more guests. Everybody’s gathering their things now, ready to walk down to the lake for champagne, and Marie stuffs her mints back in her purse and zips it up.
“Are you a friend of the bride or the groom?” I ask her.
“Neither. I’m married to him.” She points at the celebrant who’s walking behind Julia and Rupert. “I have to sit through these things forty-eight weeks out of the year.” She leans forward and whispers, “I can always tell which ones will make it and which ones won’t.”
I remember her saying it keeps her husband in a job. Ah well, I guess seeing that many marriages probably makes her cynical.
“Do you think these ones will make it?” I ask, intrigued by this professional wedding guest.
“Hmm,” she says. “If they’re renewing their vows after ten years together, I think they will.”
“Here you go, I thought you’d like another one.” Eli hands me a mimosa, and I take it even though I’m not drinking alcohol. My last glass was just juice, but he doesn’t need to know that. I’m pretty sure Myles doesn’t want his whole family knowing that we’re actively trying to get me pregnant.
“Thank you.” I smile at him, intending to pour it away when he’s not looking.
“It’s the least I can do after yesterday.” Eli grimaces. “I’m sorry about body slamming you. I really thought you were going to run around me.”
“I would have if I was looking,” I smile to let him know all is good. “I was so focused on making a touchdown that I forgot there might be people in the way.”
He laughs. “I’m the same on the rink. But it’s kind of expected that we body slam people there.”
I keep forgetting that Eli is a major sports star. He’s shorter than Myles by an inch or two, but just as broad. His hair is slightly lighter, but he has the same defined jaw and piercing eyes. I imagine he’s popular with female supporters.
“How long have you played for the Razors?” I ask him.
“Ten years. Before that I was with the Caps.”
“The Caps?” I really need to brush up on my hockey knowledge.
“The Washington Capitals.” He looks amused. “I signed with them in the draft straight from college. I was lucky.” He shrugs. “Anyway, Myles asked me to look after you for a bit while he does his thing.” He inclines his head to where Myles is surrounded by family.
“You don’t have to do that. I’m fine people watching.”
He frowns. “You are?”
“Yeah.” I shrug. “I’m an only kid, I’ve learned to entertain myself.”
“I used to dream of being an only kid.” He grins and it really lights up his face. They sure know how to make handsome men in this family. “I’m glad I’m not, though. I wouldn’t be playing pro if it wasn’t for Myles.”
I blink. “Myles helped you with hockey?”
“He drove me everywhere. Took me to college tryouts. Made me get up at the ass crack of dawn when all I wanted to do was sleep.” Eli smiles softly, as though remembering those days.
“What about your parents? They must have taken you to practice, too?”
“Yeah, sometimes. But my dad’s…” he wrinkles his brow, “unreliable. And Mom went through a really rough time when he left. Myles pretty much dragged us all up, even if we didn’t want it.”
I look over at the man who seems to be the center of his family, whether he likes it or not. He’s inclining his head to listen to the words of an older lady, who’s touching his arm and smiling up at him.
“Anyway, I know you say you’re fine, but if I don’t introduce you to some people Myles is gonna kick my ass,” Eli says, offering his hand to me. “Just humor me and we’ll both get out of this alive, okay?”
“Sure.”
I’m introduced to friends and cousins, uncles and business colleagues. When I tell them I’m a co-worker of Myles’ they look almost disappointed.
“When I heard he was bringing a plus one, I thought this might be it,” his Aunt Lucy says. “Our Myles might finally be settling down.”
“Sorry to disappoint.” I give them a light smile. “We just work together.”
“And what is it you do?” Lucy asks me, blinking as the dazzling sunlight catches her eyes.
“She’s an editor, like Myles,” Eli tells them. “She publishes the Dandy Lion series.”
“Oh. You’re that editor,” Lucy says, and I immediately wonder what Myles has said to his family about me.
I glance at Eli, who is grinning. “Myles is a huge Dandy fan,” he says.
I know this because Myles has told me. But it only feels polite to pretend I don’t. “But he has Endo,” I point out. “Isn’t that much more his thing?”
Eli shrugs. “Endo is the kind of character Myles always wished he could be. Dandy is the kind of person he is.”
“Why did he want to be like Endo?” I ask.
Eli looks at me carefully. “Because he had all the responsibility and none of the fun. Endo’s the opposite of that. Always doing things and regretting them later. Traveling into space when he’s supposed to be at school or doing chores.”
He’s right, Endo does all those things. It’s why I’ve always thought he was a bad role model for kids. But what about the kids who don’t get to have fun? Kids like Myles, who are too busy shouldering responsibilities to have adventures or let their imaginations run wild.
Sure, Dandy is a great character. But he’s good and kind and doesn’t break the rules. He doesn’t provide the kind of escape that Endo does.
I look over at Myles and he’s now talking to Brooks and Lincoln, his two youngest brothers. They’re listening intently. And I realize that everybody listens when Myles speaks.
He’s the fulcrum of his family. Everything revolves around him.
Even me.
Or especially me. I don’t know any more. All I know is that I want this man more than I’ve wanted anybody in my life.
And I can’t think of anything except that.