Chapter 9
FISHER
My performance during practice is abysmal. Coach Anderson—AKA Noah’s brother-in-law who acts like he can’t stand me most of the time—has already yelled at me more in ten minutes than he usually does in a whole practice, while Penn and Noah keep staring at me like I grew a second head.
Not only am I nursing the hangover from hell, but my mind is back in the firehouse with Lila. Me on my knee, asking her to marry me so we can save the building she loves and screw with my family. Two birds, one stone.
Half of me thinks it’s the best idea I’ve ever had. What have I got to lose, besides millions of dollars? The other half is blaring a red siren and screaming abort mission.
The memory of Lila’s wide, dark eyes looking at me like I was an evil genius is something that will stick with me forever.
A puck slides between my skates and I glance up to see Noah raising his arms in the air. “You’re supposed to catch the puck with your stick, Fishy,” he grumbles.
One of our team veterans, Sandine, who’s wearing a gold practice jersey marking him as an away player for the sake of practice, snags the puck instead. He shoots it past our goalie and celebrates by flapping his arms like a giant bird. Noah groans and shoots me a dirty look, but I barely notice.
When Coach Anderson finally blows a whistle to signify the end of practice, I breathe a huge sigh of relief and rush towards the ice exit…but I’m not quick enough.
“Fisher, a word.” Coach Anderson calls me over to where he’s standing at center ice with Coach Slater. By the time I skate over to them, we’re the only three left on the ice.
“Listen, Fisher,” Coach Anderson begins.
“I know you’re going through a lot right now with your granddad’s passing…
but I need you to try to focus.” He pauses with a sigh.
“Playoffs are starting next week, and I’m confident we can at least make it past the first round. But only if every player is focused.”
Coach Slater jumps in, always the peacemaker. “You’re an excellent forward, Fisher. You bring a lot of energy to the game, and we need your energy now more than ever.” He slaps my shoulder pad.
I nod. “Okay, I hear you. Sorry about today. I’ll be focused and ready for our next game, I swear.”
They both seem appeased by this, and I head to the locker room.
Once I’m in the shower, my mind spins with how terrible I was out there on the ice today.
My father may not have been entirely wrong—I do need to get my shit together and my priorities in order.
Maybe it’s time I stay home more, eat better, and focus on playing my best game.
Do everything I can to ensure I get a contract extension at the end of the season.
Now that I don’t have my trust fund or inheritance to fall back on at the moment, the stakes are even higher.
By the time I’m showered, Noah and Penn are ready to head home. They drove separately today since I came here straight from Lila’s.
Penn stops in front of my cubby as I’m getting dressed in some clean clothing I luckily had in my gym bag. “You okay, Fishy? I texted last night and you never responded.”
I drag a hand through my damp hair. “Yeah, sorry. Went out with a girl and crashed at her place.”
Noah nods. “Ally called it.”
The fact they automatically assume I hooked up with someone makes me nervous about this whole scheme. It seemed like a great idea this morning, but I think I might’ve still been a bit drunk, because as my hangover worsens, so does my anxiety.
My roommates will never believe I’m getting married for real so I know I’ll have to tell them the truth. But my reputation as a man who frequently enjoys the company of women will make it a challenge to convince my family—and Granddad’s lawyer—that this marriage is real.
Penn’s brow wrinkles as he studies me. “Dude are you okay? You look a little—”
“Hey, are you guys free Saturday after our game?” I blurt, cutting him off.
If I’m going to tell my friends the truth about what I’m doing, I may as well have their moral support at the courthouse—after I left Lila’s this morning, I called ahead to book us a Saturday slot.
Apparently, they usually only open on the weekends in special circumstances, but after some heavy flattery to the lady on the phone, she was able to find us an officiant who agreed to come in on Saturday if we paid him double.
Noah and Penn glance at each other.
“Yeah, I think so, why?” Noah answers.
I blow out a breath. “I’ll fill you in at the loft.”
When I walk inside the loft twenty minutes later, Noah, Ally, Penn, and Hazel are all seated at the bar in silence.
I drop my gym bag onto the floor and cross the room to stand in front of them on the opposite side of the island. “Please don’t tell me this is an intervention,” I joke.
Nobody laughs.
“We can tell something’s going on, man. So out with it,” Noah says, crossing his arms.
With a deep breath, I rest my elbows on the countertop. “Hear me out, okay?”
The four of them nod.
“I know you all overheard the reading of my granddad’s will yesterday,” I say, my tone matter-of-fact as I wonder how that could have only been yesterday. It feels like a lifetime of shit has happened since.
“We did,” Hazel says softly. “And we’re sorry, Fisher.”
Ally reaches over the counter and pats my hand, her big brown eyes almost pitying. “But we’re glad you’re talking to us about it now. We were worried when you took off right after we got home last night.”
I smile at the girls’ concern, then shake my head.
“Thanks, but I’m fine. I just needed to think about my next move.
You all heard what the lawyer said, which means you understand my options—or lack thereof.
” I pause, making sure they’re still with me.
“Well, I refuse to let my dumbass cousin get my inheritance without a fight.”
Penn snorts a laugh. “So, what are you going to do? Get married?” He chuckles, and the rest of my friends begin to laugh, as well.
I wait in silence.
Noah meets my gaze and abruptly stops laughing. “No.”
“Yes,” I reply. “I’m getting hitched, and using my inheritance money to purchase the firehouse that Fisher Group wants to buy.
I’ll make sure the building is saved and gets a heritage permit so no one can tear it down.
” I huff a humorless laugh. “This way, I’ll use the money for a very worthy cause…
and best of all? I’ll get the last laugh in a family who’s done nothing but laugh at me my entire life. ”
“Dude.” Penn stares at me blankly. “This is insane. You can’t just randomly get married.”
“Seriously, we can’t let you do this, man.” Noah shakes his head slowly from side to side.
“It’s honestly not that big of a deal. I just need a marriage license.”
Noah’s head swivels to look at Ally, who’s been abnormally quiet this whole time. “Ally, talk some sense into him.”
A slow smile spread across Ally’s face. “It’s kind of brilliant, actually.”
Noah gapes at her. “You can’t be serious.”
She shrugs. “Fishy, no offense…but your family sucks. I don’t want your cousin getting your inheritance, either.”
I grin. “None taken.”
Hazel clears her throat. “Who, exactly, are you going to marry, though?” she asks, always the reasonable one.
“Her name is Lila Chen. She’s an artist who rents a space in the firehouse, and she has sentimental attachment to the property. She’s willing to help.”
Ally’s cat, Harry Styles, jumps up on the counter top and starts rubbing his head against my chest. I pet him as he purrs, feeling like a Bond villain. “We’re going to stay married for a year, then get divorced. That way it looks real.”
Hazel worries her bottom lip. “You need to protect yourself, draw up a contract and have her sign. Also a pre-nup.”
Penn gawks at the girls. “You two can’t seriously be encouraging this!”
“Fisher, you’re going to have a wife!” Ally claps her hands together, and I try not to balk at the word. “When do we get to meet her?”
Hazel grins. “Yeah, what’s she like?”
We ignore the groans of protest from Penn and Noah.
“She's awesome. Seriously, the coolest girl ever. You guys will love her.”
“Invite her for dinner tonight!” Ally suggests.
“Great idea,” Hazel agrees. “I’ll make a reservation at that new sushi place on the water.”
“What is even happening right now?” Noah asks in disbelief, scrubbing a hand over his face.
“We’re going out tonight to celebrate Fishy getting married, duh,” Ally says with a giggle. “Keep up.”
I smile, grabbing my phone out of my pocket. At this point, Noah and Penn might be looking at me like I grew a third head, but Ally and Hazel’s reaction to my news has soothed my worries. Or put a Band-Aid on them for the time being, at least.
“Okay, I’ll text her now.”