Tripping (Iced #2) - Kristine Allen Page 0,9

my lap.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked, sending a quick glance in my direction before returning his attention to the road.

“I… I don’t know,” I stuttered before focusing my attention out the window.

We rode in silence for a little while before he asked, “Why don’t you like hockey players?”

My jaw clenched as memories assailed me. Not looking at him, I shrugged. “Just don’t.”

Again, we didn’t speak. Some heavy metal band was growling faintly through the speakers, but he had it turned down low enough I couldn’t hear much of it. We pulled up to an older but obviously affluent neighborhood.

There were several cars parked in the driveway and along the road. We parked behind one of the vehicles in the drive. “What if they want to leave before us?” I asked.

“That’s Alex’s car. We’re pretty safe.”

“Who’s Alex?” I asked as he opened his door.

“The groom.” He looked chagrined. “Sydney is the bride. Sorry, I should’ve told you that. Alex is one of my teammates. This is Sydney’s parents’ place—they’re getting married in the backyard.”

My face flamed because I hadn’t thought to ask whose wedding we were going to.

Cameron surprised me yet again when he told me to hold on, rushed around the car, and opened my door. He held out one large hand, and I placed mine in his. No way would I admit to the zap his touch sent through me, because no way was I having anything serious to do with a freaking hockey player.

After ringing the doorbell, we waited. A handsome guy with shoulder-length dark hair answered the door. “Cameron!”

“Hey, Coop. This is Bleu. Bleu, this is Alex’s brother, Cooper.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said with a polite smile. To say I was feeling uncomfortable would’ve been an understatement.

“You too,” he replied with an easy grin. “Come on in, everyone is out back doing last-minute shit,” he said. He seemed likable, and I prayed the rest of the family and guests were the same.

We followed him through the beautiful home and out onto a stunning patio bordered by trees and greenery. You’d never guess a busy city surrounded the neighborhood.

Cameron introduced me to the bride’s family, including her many brothers, before the guy who had been with Cameron at the game stepped up. “You made it. Fucking hell, I was getting worried.”

“Dude, I’m thirty minutes earlier than the time you told me to be here.” Cameron looked at him and shook his head.

“Well, everyone else was already here except you.” It was then that he seemed to recognize me. His expression went from wary to happily surprised. “Hey! It’s the fallen angel!”

“Oh God,” I mumbled and palmed my face in embarrassment.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I’ve watched women throw themselves at this guy for a while,” he teased.

“Shut the fuck up, Alex,” Cameron mumbled, and I realized this was the groom.

“Congratulations on today,” I offered.

“Thank you,” he replied sincerely before turning to Cameron. “Do you have the ring?”

“Yep. Right here in my pocket,” he said as he patted his breast pocket. His eyes went wide, and he patted it again, then wiggled his fingers in it.

“No. No, no, no, no. Please tell me you didn’t forget it, or worse, lose it!” Alex appeared to turn green before my eyes.

My “date” suddenly chortled as he pulled his hand out with a diamond encrusted band on the end of one finger. “Chill, I was just fucking with you.”

“I think I hate you. We can’t be friends anymore. I’m asking Jordan to be my best man,” Alex deadpanned, and Cameron laughed.

“Too late. I have the ring. I’m your best friend. No take-backs.”

“You’re a serious asshole. I gotta go piss—maybe puke after that.” He turned to me. “Please don’t let him lose that ring.”

I nodded. “I’ll watch him like a hawk,” I assured him with a smile.

“I like you. Him? Not so much,” he muttered quietly before shooting Cameron a raised brow.

As he walked away, I spun to face Cameron and whispered furiously, “You didn’t tell me you were the best man! I’m going to feel like an idiot sitting there alone at the wedding of two people I don’t know from Adam!”

“No, you won’t. You can sit with my—”

But he didn’t finish what he was saying because the back door opened and I heard a woman say, “Cameron!”

At first my hackles rose in unexplainable jealousy, until I turned the direction of the voice and saw it was an older couple. From the looks of the man, it was