Page 6 of Get Me to the Starting Line
“I’d ... I’d be honoured to be a g-groomsman.” I finally let the words out after a full minute of silence.
Adam beams as I take another sip of my drink to hide the colour rising in my cheeks.
Fuck. This means I’ll have to stand up in front of a ton of people. I know that sounds like something I do all the time as a goalie, but when my mask is on, it’s just me and my net. Everything else fades away.
“I know how you feel about crowds and people, so I’m grateful you’re willing. It wouldn’t be right without you,” Adam says sincerely.
“You and Paige are two of my favourite people.” The words are simple. I’m not great at flowery speeches, or talking in general. He knows this, so he’d better not ask me to give a toast. Only the best man and maid of honour do that. Suckers.
That sucker has been me, many times, most recently a few years ago when my dad got remarried. For the fifth time. And for the fourth time, I gave a speech. I hated every second of it. If anyone in attendance realized I used the same speech from wife number two, they didn’t say anything.
I can do groomsman. Show up at events, wear a tux or a linen suit or, hell, down shots at the bachelor party. That I can do.
And besides, it’s Adam and Paige. I meant what I said—they’re two of my favourite people. I wish they hadn’t had the miscommunication and lost those two years, we all do, but I think it made them stronger. Seeing them together does something to me.
I’m happy for them, but it awakened this uncomfortable emotion I haven’t felt in a long time. This longing I don’t care to name.
Mateo comes barging into the bar, excited and jumpy. Adam turns to his best friend, the sucker who I’m assuming will be the best man. Either him or one of Adam’s two brothers.
From what I know of Adam though, it won’t be Liam—they aren’t close—but it could be Simon.
“Best man!” Adam jumps up to hug Mateo. Well that answers that question. “What are you doing here?”
Mateo searches the crowded bar, noticing me quickly. He smirks.
“Richard,” he says, rolling therand dragging out theshsound in my surname in a terribly fake French accent. I nod once ingreeting.
This is how most of the team addresses me, although not with as much flair as Mateo. Adam is one of the few who calls me by my first name.
“Someone get this guy to stop being so chatty,” Mateo says, snickering. It seems he’s a few beers deep.
“What’s up, Mateo?” Adam cuts him off before he gets off track.
“You have to come with me now!”
“Why?” I ask.
“Because I said so. And as the best man, I’m the boss,” he tells us with far too much confidence.
“Sorry, man, Paige is the boss,” Adam corrects him.
“Actually, Leah is probably the boss’s boss,” Mateo concedes.
Adam thinks it over and then slowly nods. “True.”
I’ve heard about Paige’s sister but haven’t met her yet. She doesn’t come out to any of the gatherings Adam and Paige host. Apparently, she doesn’t love socializing as much as Paige does. Paige always apologizes for her absence, but it makes sense to me. I’d skip parties too if Adam didn’t trick me into going. Last time he told me I could hang out with the dogs, which sounded great to me. Little did I know their dogs love people and crowds.
“So, is Leah demanding I meet her somewhere?” Adam asks.
“Yup!” Mateo says brightly.
Adam glances at me apologetically. “Sorry, man, looks like our date is being crashed.”
I chuckle, not minding at all.
Mateo turns to Adam. “Did you ask him?”
“To be my groomsman? Yeah, and then you rudely interrupted the romantic moment we were having.”
