as she sits in my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Fine. I won’t set you on fire. It’s not your fault. But I’m not a bridezilla.”
“No, you’re the mother of dragons.”
“Not helping,” she says, and I cuddle her close. “I really wanted to do the group dance.”
“I know,” I say, rubbing her hip and butt. “But just think, now we’ll be the only ones dancing, and everyone will be in awe of your beauty.”
She leans her head on my jaw. “Nope, my grandma will be checking you out.”
“That’s concerning.”
She snickers, which is what I wanted. “Whatever. It’s fine. Everything is fine.”
“Exactly. We’re getting married tomorrow, and everyone will be there.”
“True.”
“And tonight, we get to rehearse getting married, which is kind of cool. It’s like the practice before the big game.”
She sighs. “It’s not a game—”
“I know, baby. I was just trying to make you smile.”
She doesn’t, though. Anxiety is eating her alive. She didn’t sleep last night, and that worries me. “Ugh, my dad is going to be pissed when we go back to Brooks House.”
I chuckle. “Hey, if I can get free food, I’m getting it.”
“You know we’ll have to pay since your mom supplied everything last night.”
“I know. I’m just kidding,” I say, gathering her in my arms. “Don’t be upset. Be excited. Our life as a married couple is about to start.”
“Apart,” she says, leaning her face on mine.
“Wow, you are a true Debbie Downer today,” I tell her. “I wasn’t going to bring that up.”
“But it’s true,” she says on a sigh, and I hate when she gets like this. “Maybe I shouldn’t take the part.”
“Shelli, you already committed,” I say, kissing her. I cup her jaw and turn her head, making her meet my gaze. “You want that part. You are made for that part. You said we’ll be fine, so trust and believe, we will be.”
She swallows hard as she nods. “I know. I’m getting super in my feelings. Like, it’s all getting real. We’ll be married. We’ll be, like, for real, for real, together.”
“Yes. That’s the exact definition of marriage.”
She grins against my cheek. “The anticipation is killing me.”
“Me too.”
“You’re still sleeping.”
“This is true. So, here is the plan—I’ll do you really good tonight, and you’ll sleep like a baby.”
She snorts. “I’m staying at my mom’s.”
I think that over. “Okay, I’ll sneak in, do you real good, like, the best you’ve ever had, and then leave.”
“Do I leave money on the nightstand?”
“Yes. My fee has gotten high since I won two Stanley Cups.”
“What do Stanley Cups have to do with doing me good?”
I grin. “I get super excited about them, and I want nothing more than to suck your clit in my mouth until you pass out.”
“Jesus,” she says, fanning herself playfully. “Fine. I’ll leave some good money for you.”
“Good. Leave the window open.”
“Will do,” she snickers as she wraps her arms around my neck, and I kiss her jaw. I lean my head against hers as we look out at our venue. “It’s incredible.”
“Absolutely. Everything you dreamed of?”
“And more,” she says on a sigh before she sits up, gazing down at me. “What are you most looking forward to? The nacho bar?”
“Nope.”
“Audrey’s cake?”
“Not even kinda.”
“What?”
“Watching you walk down the aisle.”
Her lips spread into the widest grin. “Aw, that’s totally sticky-sweet.”
I laugh, kissing her lips hard. “What about you?”
“Kissing you,” she says almost automatically, but I eye her playfully. “And the nacho bar.”
“There’s my girl,” I joke, and we dissolve into laughter. I’ve never felt so complete in my life as I do right now, sitting in our venue, ready to marry my forever. My Shelli Grace.
She may be a bridezilla, but I take great pride in the fact that I’m the only one who can tame her.
To say my bride is the most gorgeous girl in the room would be an understatement.
Only Shelli can pull off a white lace pantsuit with a flowy lace train on it. In white Jimmy Choo high heels that have some feathers on them, she looks like the chic, gorgeous woman she is. Her hair is up in a high bun, her makeup smoky with a bright-red lip, and she’s wearing dangling diamond earrings.
She’s absolutely stunning, and I get to marry her tomorrow.
I hook a thumb toward her as she walks with her mom and sister toward the bathroom. “See my hot soon-to-be wife?”
My brother rolls his eyes as Wes leans over to check Shelli out. When I smack his chest, he gives me a