Pucking Wild: A Reverse Age Gap Hockey Romance (Jacksonville Rays Book 2)
Pucking Wild: Chapter 4

“Ithink Langers is about to piss himself,” Morrow laughs.

“Shut up.” I tear my gaze away from the vision of Hal Price laughing with Al Pacino.

Our captain, Sully, drops into the row behind us wearing a wide smile like a kid at Disneyland. “Guys, Slash is here.”

We all turn, following his point to the other side of the room where Slash is most definitely standing next to Alice Cooper.

Yeah, this is fine.

“And to think I was gonna skip this to stay and soak in the hot tub,” Sully adds, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Ladies and gents, if you could all start replaceing your seats,” calls a deep voice from the front of the room. “I think we’re ready to get this party started.”

We all turn. The guy talking is Doc’s brother, I think. Rumor is she’s a twin like Compton. His sister is here somewhere too. I met her during pregame warmups. No wonder he keeps quiet about her around us. She’s a total ten. Apparently, she’s a rocket scientist or something cool like that.

“Johnny Depp is here,” Poppy squeals, dropping into the last empty seat by Morrow. “Oh, my good gracious, I’m gonna faint.” She presses a manicured hand dramatically against her chest.

“Pop, did you see Slash?” says Sully, leaning between the seats.

“No,” she gasps, her head turning on a swivel.

“And Al Pacino,” Morrow adds.

“Ohmygod,” she whines, gripping tight to his arm. “This is just so exciting. I can’t believe they said no pictures. I’m dyin’ over here.”

Of course, our public relations manager wants pictures of the Rays rubbing shoulders with Hollywood and rock royalty. But the goons at the door were clear: no pictures, no video.

“You know, we’re all kind of big deals too,” Novy mutters, arms crossed. “Hockey’s only a multibillion dollar a year industry—”

“Hush,” she says, eyes wide as she looks all around.

I chuckle, clicking my phone into silent mode. Doc and the guys are never gonna live this night down. This is already the coolest wedding ever and it hasn’t even started.

It only takes a few minutes for everyone to settle. Over half this room is Rays. I don’t think anyone opted to stay at the hotel. Even the coaches are here. Head Coach Johnson is sitting in the back, three seats down from Slash.

Suddenly, some of the guys all start to whoop and cheer. I turn, eyes wide, as I take in Kinnunen walking down the makeshift aisle between the chairs. He’s easily one of the best-dressed guys on the team. Tonight, he’s rocking a moss green suit and no tie. If I wore that color, I’d look like an idiot. On him, it’s effortlessly cool.

“Go, Bear!”

“There he is!”

“Get it done, Mars!”

Morrow leans across Poppy, patting his arm as he passes.

Compton and Sanny walk in right behind him, big smiles on their faces. Compton catches my eye, grinning like a lovestruck idiot.

“Yeah, Sanny,” Novy shouts. “Lock him down quick, or I will!”

The guys all laugh as Sanford gives Novy a death glare. He may not have the scar to match Novikov, but it’s still intimidating as hell. The guys shuffle around at the front of the room, Kinnunen stepping back to let Compton and Sanford claim the middle spots.

“Aren’t we supposed to hold hands?” asks Compton.

“Shut up,” Sanford says and we all laugh.

“Come on, asshole. Hold my hand or something,” he replies, holding out a hand towards our equipment manager.

“Hold his hand or I will,” Novy shouts to more laughter.

With a sigh, Sanford takes it, which makes Compton’s grin grow even wider. Damn, I can’t help it. I’m smiling too.

Soft music starts playing over the surround sound speakers. Then there’s a wolf whistle and we’re all turning to watch Compton’s sister walk down the aisle. She’s smiling wide, the super-hot female version of Compton. It’s honestly kind of trippy.

As if we’re having the same thought, Novy leans in at my shoulder. “Am I crazy, or does Compton make a very hot girl?”

I want to laugh or give him a shove, but I can’t. I can’t do anything. I can’t even fucking breathe. Walking in right behind Compton’s twin is the woman who has single-handedly been haunting all my dreams.

Tess.

Fuck, she’s so goddamn beautiful. Compton’s sister is in a slinky black dress, but Tess is in emerald green. It sets off the red in her hair and the cream of her skin. My chest feels tight. My hands are clammy. She’s smiling wide as she sways down the aisle. She catches my eye as she passes and winks.

Kill me dead.

Compton’s twin takes her place just behind him at the front, but Tess sits in the front row next to Doc’s twin. Someone else has joined the guys up at the front. I perk up as I place the face with the name. Holy shit, it’s John Jay Walsher, original drummer for the Ferrymen. The Johnny Jay is going to officiate? This wedding is so fucking cool.

“Please rise for the bride,” he calls.

We all stand as the music changes. With a room full of Rays, quarters are cramped. A row of defensemen stand behind me, so I can’t see a damn thing. I turn, looking to the front instead. I’m not disappointed by the view. My heart squeezes tight as I see the looks on the faces of Compton, Sanford, and Kinnunen. Holy shit, they’re in love. All three of them. It’s written all over their faces. Compton is crying. So is his twin. Even stoic Kinnunen looks misty.

I smile. Suddenly this doesn’t feel so weird. They all look happy. They all want Doc, and they’re willing to share her. It’s kind of beautiful, actually. Life’s too short to go through it settling for a life you don’t want.

With that thought in my mind, I turn, peering between the two rows separating me from Tess. Her eyes are locked on the guys too. I wonder if she sees what I see. Is she happy for her best friend?

I’m distracted thinking about Tess as I follow the lead of the guy to either side of me and sit down. Now I can finally see Doc Price. She’s a knockout in a sparkly gold dress and silver jacket. She takes up a spot next to her twin, smiling wide.

“We’re all here tonight to witness the union of these four fine people,” calls out Johnny Jay. “The laws in the state of California mean that technically this is a double wedding, but they’d like it clear that they stand now before their family and friends united as one—one team, one family.”

“The Fearsome Foursome,” Compton says with a smile.

“Don’t call us that,” Sanford mutters at John Jay.

Around the room, a few of us laugh.

“You two lovebirds are up first,” says John Jay, glancing between the guys. “Do you come together of your own free will to be married?”

“Yes,” Sanford replies, his eyes locked on Compton.

“Yeah, I do,” Compton adds.

“Did you prepare any vows?”

Compton’s eyes go wide. “Shit—no. We literally decided to do this three hours ago.” He turns to Sanny. “Babe, I don’t have any vows prepared—”

“It’s fine,” says Sanford.

“But—”

Sanford raises his other hand and grabs Compton’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll go first, yeah?”

Slowly, Compton relaxes and nods.

Sanford drops his hand away from his shoulder. From my seat, I’ve got a perfect angle on his face. Sanford is a serious guy. Even when he’s joking around, he’s usually deadpanning. Right now, he’s as serious as I’ve ever seen him, his dark eyes locked on our favorite defenseman.

“Jake, I love you,” he declares, loud enough for the whole room to hear. “I’ve loved you for ten fucking years. I loved you in secret,” he admits. “I loved you like a coward. I didn’t deserve to be loved by you in return—not until I got out of my own damn way. But I needed a little help. I needed a push.”

He glances around Compton to where Doc is standing and smiles. “Four months ago, I got a shove. A hurricane on two legs swept into our lives and knocked us both off our feet. She was my push to love you out loud. To love you as you always should have been loved. So, here’s my vow: The coward who loved you in secret is gone. Rachel remade us both into something stronger. I’m here now, Jake. I’m right fucking here, and I’m saying it out loud.”

Compton nods, tears in his eyes.

“You’ve always been my friend,” Sanford goes on. “Then you became my lover. Tonight, I make you my husband. You’re mine, Jake Price. You’re mine, and I’m never letting go.”

Damn, am I about to cry in front of Slash and Al Pacino? Next to me, Novy reaches into his pocket and pulls out his pocket square. Leaning across Morrow, he hands it off to Poppy, who is a quietly sobbing mess.

I turn my attention back to the guys as Compton takes a step closer, his eyes locked on Sanford. “So, umm…playing hockey has always been about putting myself first—my training, my diet, and my travel and game schedules. Everyone in my life just learned to orbit me. And if my life was too much for them, they flung themselves out of my orbit as fast as possible.”

It’s like he’s describing the personal lives of half the men in this room, myself included.

“Over time,” Compton goes on, “I realized I was a sun with no planets, the center of my own universe. I had everything I ever wanted, but I was alone, just me and my career. You were the only one who stayed, Cay. You stuck it out. You let me be selfish and self-centered. You let me put my career first and never once questioned it, never made me question it,” he adds, a slight tremor to his voice. “You joined me at the center. You don’t orbit me like all the others did. You stand resolutely at my side, unmoving. Babe, you are love in suspended motion. The calm in the storm of our lives. You’re where everything stops. You’re where I stop. You are…everything,” he finishes with a shrug.

As his vows end, the silence in the room speaks volumes. I think everyone is collectively holding their breath.

“Well…shit,” Davidson murmurs. “That didn’t sound weird at all.”

No, it didn’t. In fact, it sounded pretty fucking perfect. It sounded like Compton and Sanford share the kind of love that all of us search for…and so few of us ever replace.