Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
WYATT
“We didn’t get any beer,” I said as we pulled into the driveway.
“We have plenty of beer.” Julian smiled as he put the car into park.
“They knew.” I looked to the house, thinking how people I barely knew had all joined in to make this moment special.
“Yeah. I’ve had this planned for a few weeks.”
Now I wished I had some grand gesture for him. I had gotten him something small. It wasn’t life-changing. “I’m afraid what I got you isn’t as spectacular.”
“Is it that black lace corset?”
“No. But when we get home, I’ll wear it all day for you if you’d like.”
“I would. You’ve given me something that I didn’t think I could ever find again.”
“You can find that corset online,” I teased.
“I might need that site. Valentine’s Day is coming up.” He leaned in and kissed me. “You gave me my confidence back.”
“No, Julian. That’s all you. I just turn down all the noise.”
He ran a thumb over my knuckle. “We agree to disagree. When we get back in there, Anders is going to want to play Pictionary. Please say you want to. This is his big moment.”
“Okay.” I wished we were alone right now. But I guess that wasn’t how friendships worked.
We made our way back into the house. I could hear Tyler and Hannah arguing about stats as I slipped off my boots.
Teigen and Raylee both smiled and winked at me.
“Did you get the beer?” Tyler called.
“Shut the fuck up.” Walker threw a pillow at him. “You’re just in time for our next game. And this is for room choice next year.”
“And since it’s rooms we’re playing for, the teams will be made up of couples,” Hannah said, laying out all the pieces of the game.
“Wait.” Tyler stopped. “Who am I with?”
“You can be with us,” Mason said.
“He can take my place. I hate this game,” Teigen complained. “I’m so bad at it.”
“Come on, Teigen, be a team player,” Raylee said. “And since Jules is captain, Wyatt, you two go first.”
“I’ll draw,” Julian said, handing me a glass of wine.
“You know how to draw?” I asked Julian.
“Nope. So I hope you have a really good imagination,” he teased.
“See?” Teigen motioned to me. “Let’s play something else.”
“Nope, you are not getting out of this.” Julian walked over to the easel with a large pad of paper. “Plus, it’s Wyatt’s favorite game.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. I had no idea what the hell was going on, but I played along. “It’s a family tradition,” I lied. We had no family traditions. My parents had worked Christmas Eve, and they stumbled home at about two in the morning. One year Santa didn’t make it.
“Really?” Teigen didn’t look like she believed that.
“Yeah. My sister and I were the family champions.” I could hear Julian choking on his wine. “We were.” I wanted that family. The one where we all sat around a fire like this, played games, and enjoyed each other. Instead, my sister and I would watch some Christmas movie with families who had that.
“Fine.” Teigen shook her head and sat on Anders’s lap.
“Okay, ready?” Julian drew a card and read it. “Ah, fuck. This isn’t going to be good.”
Anders flipped over the timer. “Go.”
Julian held up two fingers.
“Two words.” I nodded at him and waited. He thought for a moment, then turned to the paper and did nothing.
“Just like Silver to get performance anxiety. He can’t shoot a puck either if he thinks everyone is watching him,” Walker said.
“Shut up,” Julian said.
“Draw something, Silver.” Anders shook his head.
Julian drew two stick figures. One was a woman, the other was not. He tapped the marker under the woman.
“Girl. Uh, woman?” I called out.
He shook his head, then pointed to the other figure, giving it fangs and what I think was hair.
“Shaw,” Tyler blurted out.
“You’re not on their team,” Mason said. “But Shaw is a hairy fucker.”
“No shit. Have you seen his back? I had to bunk with him once, and holy fuck. He might be part bear,” Tyler said, wide-eyed.
“We are playing a game,” Hannah said. “Wyatt, what do you think it is?”
I frowned at what Julian had drawn. “King and queen. A werewolf?” Julian shook his head.
“Time’s up,” Anders said.
“Beauty and the Beast,” Julian said.
I cocked my head, looking at the drawing. “I don’t get that.”
“That was terrible, Jules,” Anders said.
“Then show us how it’s done, dumbass.”
“Okay.” Anders pulled a card. “Ready?” He looked at Teigen, who nodded. He held up four fingers.
I noticed Raylee had her phone out and was recording them. Hannah was smiling so big I thought her face would crack.
“Four words,” Teigen said, so focused on Anders.
Anders nodded and started drawing. First was a stick figure with X’s over his eyes.
“Dead,” Teigen said. Anders shook his head and held up a finger. Then drew what looked like a scroll and people crying. Julian winked at me.
“Funeral?” Teigen said. “Sad.”
“Will,” Walker shouted.
“Again, you’re not on their team,” Hannah yelled. “Do you understand the rules?”
“Have you seen him play?” Julian asked.
“Fine, Will,” Teigen blurted out.
Anders drew a big letter U after.
“Will you?” Teigen said slowly.
She paused as Anders drew the next picture. A couple getting married. Teigen turned to face Anders, who got down on one knee, in his hand a small black box.
“Will you marry me?” Anders’s voice shook as he presented the small box to her.
“Yes. Yes!” Teigen cried as Anders slipped a ring on her finger.
Everyone cheered. I didn’t know hockey players could be so romantic. Raylee rushed forward and embraced her friend. Julian and the rest of the guys surrounded Anders. I blinked back the tears at how everyone had come together to make sure this night happened. For Teigen. For me.
Julian sat back down, pulling me closer.
“You knew about this?”
“Yep. The fucker was so nervous before we left, I thought he was going to puke. We brought the ring with us. That’s why he was going to send out a search party.”
I watched Teigen. She was so happy, showing off her ring to Hannah and Raylee.
“I’ll get the champagne.” Julian stood.
“Oh my god, Wyatt.” Teigen rushed over to me, her hand held out. “I’m going to get married. Can you believe it?”
“No, I can’t, and to Anders.” I took her hand and looked at the large ring on her finger. “It’s beautiful.” I realized watching all this happen how much of life I had missed out on. Friends and silly games. Celebrating all these moments.
“All I got him was a video game.” She covered her mouth, laughing.
“I’m sure it’s a great video game.” I stood and pulled her into a hug.
“Let’s toast the new couple.” Julian poured champagne for everyone before holding his glass up. “To Anders and Teigen, the only girl who could love the worst center in the league. May they find their happy ending.”
I watched him. This Julian was happy. Relaxed. He had a genuine smile on his face, his eyes bright. I never wanted this to end.
“To happy endings.” Everyone lifted their glass.
“And I am not the worst center. That’s Walker,” Anders said.
“Hey.” Walker shoved him.
“That’s two down. That leaves you and me, Wyatt.” Raylee put her arm around me. “Unless you got something planned, Walker.”
“I got you a Beamer.” Walker held out his hands. “You told me that’s what you wanted.”
“Yeah, but you could have delivered it better.” She frowned. “Like taking me on a romantic horse ride.”
“To the dealership in Henderson?” Walker asked.
“I have to call my mom.” Teigen’s excitement was palpable.
“I should probably call mine too.” Anders took Teigen’s hand.
“I’m starving. Anyone want to head into Reno for dinner?” Mason asked as he and Hannah put the game away.
“Yes.” Walker shot up from the couch. “Can we do a buffet?”
They all started making plans for going out to dinner. The last thing I wanted to do was spend hours in a casino.
“You are welcome to go, but I’m going to pass,” I said to Julian, setting my glass on the table.
“I am not going to a casino with those four. I’m too old.” Julian pulled me up from the couch. “We’re going to sit this one out. But be safe.”
“Okay, old man. I call shotgun,” Tyler called.
“We’re taking an Uber.” Hannah shook her head.
When I was a kid, I wanted a TV family. When I got older, I would’ve settled for a family that liked spending time with each other. Now this was what I wanted.
Friends. And sunsets.