“You’re hardly the best at keeping your thoughts off your face. It’s a wonder that Ed didn’t know how you panted over him all these years.”
My lips twitched. “He knew,” I admitted, no longer feeling as crappy about that time when Eddie shot me down. How could I when he’d since said yes to being my husband? “Fuck, I’m getting married. Can you believe it?”
Cassius released an amused snort. “I wouldn’t have, but considering I saw you together all in love and shit, I suppose I can.”
“I can give up my card, but don’t think you’re dissing me now.” As soon as I said the words, a different pang in my chest had me pausing. If I did leave the Eagles, then it would change everything.
Movement to my left caught my attention.
Eddie.
The man knew how to make an entrance, looking all suave and sexy as hell. My heart leapt to my throat as he headed toward me, thoughts of leaving the Eagles no longer seeming so dire. How could it if it meant fewer days apart from this man?
“Urgh… your being outrageously loved up is going to get old fast.”
“Fuck off.” I shoved at Cassius and welcomed Eddie to my side, wrapping a possessive arm around him. “Lottie happy?”
“She is. There’s a heap of stuff she can do, and about ten other kids in there.” He turned his attention to Cassius. “Hey, Cass.” He reached out and shook my friend’s hand. “Good to see you.”
“You too, Ed. Congrats on the big news.”
Color dotted high on Eddie’s cheeks. “Thanks.”
“Whenever you need to talk shit about Pearce, I’m your man.”
“Uhm… thanks?”
Cassius nodded as though he was happy to be of service. “And you’ll totally need a best man, Pearce, since you know, I’m yoursecondbest friend.”
I snorted. “You are?” Though he did have a point. Since I was marrying my best friend, I’d need someone to have my back.
“Dude.” He grabbed at his chest. “You wound me. You need me there. I will have a killer best man speech.”
“Uhm, yeah, that’s what I’m kinda worried about and why I think I need to keep you as far away from the wedding party as possible.”
Before he could respond, our drinks order appeared, and the three of us carried them over to the rest of the guys. We handed them out as Joel finished talking about his vacation plans.
As he spoke to our group, I leaned into Eddie. “You okay?” I whispered close to his ear. While he seemed more relaxed than when we first entered, I needed to be sure.
“Yeah.” He squeezed my waist. “Are you?”
“I really am. After Thursday’s game, I wasn’t expecting a downer, since the fact we got so far is cause to celebrate.”
Eddie’s gaze softened. “It really is. You did amazing to get so far.”
Not only did it feel good hearing the praise from Eddie, but I felt good about the whole season too. I smiled, pushing warmth into my voice when I said, “That the guys are rolling with it, happy for all we’ve achieved, is awesome, but I have to admit, I’m fucking ecstatic with just how okay I am. And you have everything to do with that.”
“I do, huh?”
“I didn’t ever expect to attend one of these events with you… like this. More than just friends,” I admitted, getting caught up in the emotion of sharing.
His smile lost some of its shine. “I’m sorry I made you wait so long.”
I tugged him a little away from the group, not expecting to be having this conversation. Not the ideal place sure, but I’d do anything for his happiness to return. “Hey.” I leaned in a little closer, inhaling his scent and relaxing into the warmth of his body. “I don’t need you to say sorry. We’re exactly where we’re meant to be. Every move we made was the right one, because it led to us wearing matching rings.”
He searched my gaze, the seconds intense as we stood so close, his warm breath caressed my skin. “So no wrong moves, huh?”
My heart stumbled at the lightness in his tone and the way he quirked his lips. “That’s right.”
