20. Grant
TWENTY
GRANT
DECEMBER, FIVE SEASONS AGO
“What a night!” I yell in the middle of the crowded street. “Mav and Emmy are eloping! Liam broke the record for most saves in a game! I love my life! Viva Las Vegas!”
“Maybe no more alcohol for you.” Riley pries the fruity drink from my hold and drops it in a nearby garbage can. “Hudson is doing his best to keep everyone in line, but the poor guy can’t do it all himself.”
“Hey.” I squint at the skyline in front of us. The world sways under my feet. “Is that the Eiffel Tower?”
“One of my favorite positions in bed,” Ethan slurs, and he nearly stumbles. “Have you tried that one, G?”
“I don’t even know what we’re doing out here. We could be back at the hotel watching a movie.” I gasp and look at Riley. “You know what’s a good movie? A Muppet’s Christmas Carol. Can we watch that later tonight, Mitchy? Please, please, please?”
“Sure thing, G. As soon as we get back to the hotel, I’ll track down a copy for you.”
“You’re such a good friend.” I rest my head on his shoulder and loop an arm around his waist. “You and those slutty glasses of yours.”
“Listen up!” Maverick points to the wedding chapel up ahead. “We’re about to go in there.”
“I still can’t believe this is happening.” I let go of Riley and sprint to Emmy, lifting her off the ground. “I’m so happy for you two.”
“Thanks, G.” She laughs when I set her down. “We couldn’t do it without our closest friends.”
“We’re going to have a real ceremony back home at some point. We want Emmy’s dad and my buddies to be involved, but tonight felt like the right night to make it official.”
“I still don’t understand why we had to come along,” Liam draws out, and Maverick rolls his eyes.
“Because I’m the team captain, and what I say goes. And we’re also celebrating you, Goalie Daddy. If you don’t like it, you can go back to the hotel. But just know I’m going to call your room all night.”
“He’s going to stay right here,” Piper says, and I swear I see Liam smile.
I’m probably way too drunk.
I dig my phone out of my pocket and take a picture of Piper trying to pick up Liam. I want to document how I feel right now because I’m with my best friends. Because life is good.
I have a text message in my inbox, and I slide my thumb across my screen.
AG
Great win tonight. Hope you’re celebrating. I can’t sleep, so I’m scrolling through dog videos. This one reminded me of you.
*Attachment: 1 video*
“Aw,” I say out loud, watching a puppy play on the screen. “That’s so cute.”
“What’s so cute?” Ethan jumps on my back and loops his arms around my neck. “Who is AG? Do you think we could find some hot dogs around here? Oh. Or a good piece of cake! Chocolate cake. That sounds good as hell.”
“Ouch. You’re too heavy for me to carry. I’m a short king, remember?” I whine, and he hops off me. “I don’t know about a hot dog. Or cake. And AG is my friend. Stop being so nosy.”
“You have friends outside of us? That’s not nice.”
“Says the guy who has tons of social media followers.”
“They aren’t friends. They are fans,” he says. When I blink, it looks like there are two of him. “There’s a difference, G.”
Ethan gets distracted by someone offering him a handful of french fries. I turn my back to our big group, wanting to answer Amelia.
Me
That was soooooo cute. Thank you for thinking of me!!!!!!
Her response comes back almost instantly, and it makes me grin.
AG
oh my god. Are you drunk? I need to know what shit-faced Grant is like!
Me
I think I might be on my way to drunk? Yeah. Definitely on my way. Ppl tell me I’m a nice drunk. Very friendly. Very fun. Very touchy, but not in a creepy way! Like, I held Riley’s hand when we lft the club. It was nice.
AG
That doesn’t surprise me at all. Happy drunks are the best.
Me
Maverick and Emmy are getting married!
AG
Like, right now?
Me
yeah haha. We’re outside a chapel!!!
Do you want to get mrd?
Whoa. It’s getting hard to type. Maried????
Sry. Is that too personal?
AG
I’m not sure about marriage, to be honest. It’s not because I don’t believe in it or anything. It’s because I’m too selfish, I think.
I frown at my phone. Someone calls my name, but I wave them off. I want to focus the last strands of my attention and memory to this conversation.
Me
Selfish? You’re the lest selfish person I’ve evr met!
AG
Right now, my career is my priority. I know there is a balance between personal and professional lives, but I also know how hard I work and all the goals I want to achieve.
I’m afraid if I find someone I want to spend the rest of my life with, I’ll have to compromise.
I don’t want to compromise, and that’s what makes me selfish.
Me
Whoaaaaa. That’s deeeeep.
I tell my sistr all the time that you should never settle. Especially for someone who wants u to give up your career for them!!! No one asks men to do tht!!!!
AG
There you go being a feminist again.
Me
Hell yeah. Why wolndnt I be?!
AG
Toxic hockey culture is alive and well.
Me
A lot of the dudes in the league ar jerks with a capital J. JERKS!!! But not us here in DC. We’re all pro-ladies! Ladiessssss.
AG
You’re funny when you’re drunk.
“G.” Hudson puts a hand on my shoulder. I blink up at him. “I was going to ask if you were doing okay, but we’ve moved on to the affectionate stage of your intoxication.”
“Can I tell you a secret, Huddy?” I rest my head on his shoulder. Damn him for being so much taller than me. “That you won’t tell anyone else?”
“You can tell me anything, Grant.”
“I don’t understand why blond guys get such a bad rap,” I whisper, following it up with a giggle. “I think you’re great.”
“That means so much to me.” Hudson pats the top of my head, and I giggle again.
“Good. It’s our secret.” I sigh and look out at the Vegas strip twinkling with bright lights. “Have you ever had a crush on someone you’re not supposed to have a crush on?”
“No, but I also haven’t had a crush on anyone in a while.”
“That’s sad. You should have a crush on someone.”
Hudson looks down at me. “Do you have a crush on someone you’re not supposed to like?”
“Yeahhhhh.” My shoulders sag. “A big ole crush. She’s perfect. And she’s always going to see me as this guy she’s friends with.”
“Always is a long time. You never know what could happen in your future.”
“That’s so smart. You’re so smart, Huddy.” I pat his chest. When I drop my hand, my thumb grazes against something in my pocket. I pull out the leather notebook I’ve started carrying with me everywhere. “Can you go get me another beer? I want to keep this buzz going.”
Hudson leaves me alone, and I lean against a wall away from the group. They’re still standing in the middle of the sidewalk, and I open to a new page in my notebook.
Not sure abt marige :( Says she’s slfish, but shz not!!!! Independent = hot!!!
Smiling at the additions, I shove the notebook away before any of my teammates can snatch it out of my hands and make fun of me. Instead of texting her back, I tap Amelia’s name, starting a FaceTime call. She answers on the second ring, and I grin when her face takes over my screen.
“Grant?” Blonde hair braided and hanging over her shoulder. A large sweatshirt and no makeup. She’s so fucking pretty. “What’s up?”
“Hiiiii.” I wave, tipping sideways and holding myself up with the brick wall behind me. “I wanted to say hi. I’m shocked you answered!”
Her mouth twitches. “Oh my god. You’re so wasted.”
“It’s a good drunk. For good things. A good time, you know?”
“I don’t know the last time I got that drunk. My senior year of college after winning the Frozen Four, maybe?”
“That was such a fucking flex.” I bring my phone closer. Everything is a little blurry, and I want to really see her. “I’ll get drunk with you if you want. Keep you safe, ya know? That’s what friends do, right?”
“I guess it is what friends do.” She breaks out into a full smile, and I can practically feel it through the phone. A whimper almost escapes me because of how badly I want to see it again in person. “Wait. Aren’t you with your teammates right now? Will they see us talking?”
“Nah. Everyone is too loud, and I’m kind of hidden away. No one is paying attention to me, and if they come over, I’ll just hang up. Problem solved!”
“Good to know.” Her face relaxes. “Are you playing a role in this wedding? I hope not. You can barely keep yourself upright.”
“Nope. I’m just a witness. Mav said they’ll do another wedding later so more people can come. Emmy’s dad isn’t here tonight, and Mav has friends in DC who aren’t on the team. We’ll get a second ceremony, and hopefully an even bigger party.”
“You asked me if I wanted to get married. You never said if you wanted to.”
“Oh, yeah, I do.” I sigh. “I want like, ten kids. A big family with a big backyard and tons of swing sets. But not for a while. I have Stanley Cups to win first.”
“Grant!” Liam yells, interrupting me. My eyes almost bulge out of my head when I see him waving my way with a grin. “Get your ass over here! We’re making a human pyramid!”
“Okay, I have to run.” I tap my cheek, making sure I’m not dreaming. “The grumpiest guy on the team is hugging strangers. And suggesting we do a human pyramid? I think we’re on the verge of some sort of breakdown, and I’m being summoned.”
“Go have fun.” Amelia laughs. “And be safe.”
“Bye, Lia,” I slur, heading for my teammates. “Miss you already.”
“Bye, Grant,” she says, ending our call with another pretty smile I hold on to the rest of the night.