sang for me deep in my soul, and honestly, I don’t think they’ll ever leave me.
Nor will she.
“I kid, I kid. My brother is no baby,” Asher says, stealing back my attention. “I have watched my brother work his ass off for everything in his life. When he was younger, he couldn’t skate for nothing, but he had the hands, as my dad would say. Under the guidance of our father and Shea Adler, Aiden moved through the leagues like that kid you love to hate. The one who’s age on his birth certificate you question because ’he’s way too good to be so young.” Shelli grins up at me, and I kiss her temple as my gaze stays on my brother. “He was the youngest on the US Olympic team, he played for the Worlds team, and he had scouts looking at him when he was fourteen. Aiden graduated high school at seventeen just so he could train with the Bullies’ college team to be drafted into the NHL. Fast-forward to being one of the most sought-after forwards in the league. Elli Adler knew this and snatched him up, giving him a professional family, one with whom he has helped bring home two Cups to this beautiful state.”
The cheers from my teammates and our families are deafening, and even Asher holds his glass up to the crowd as the chant “Go, Assassins. Go!” fills the barn. Asher laughs as he looks at me, and I nod. “I like all the ass-kissing.”
“Fuck you,” he says playfully, and everyone at our table gets a good laugh at that. “He’s a pretty impressive dude, one hell of a brother, but nothing—and I mean nothing—touches how hard he works to be a good man for Shelli.”
Shelli’s eyes and mine lock, and the grin on my face is unstoppable.
“Don’t get me wrong. He resisted her for good reason. Have you seen her dad and brothers? Not the little one, but the two big ones.”
Shelli snorts. “Man, he’s a mess today.”
I nod. “I think he’s drunk.”
“But even under the threat of death, Shelli was too hard to resist. I mean, did y’all hear her sing? She’s pretty incredible,” he says, and I clap along with everyone as Shelli beams up at Asher. “But what you don’t know is, she was made for my brother. She not only adds to his life, but she complements it, makes it shine. When he is down, she is there, lifting him like he weighs nothing. I’ve watched her watch game videos with Aiden until three in the morning. Mind you, I went to bed because no one wants to watch that much tape, but Shelli did. But he does the same for her. I don’t remember my brother ever liking Broadway, but you better believe, he knows all the words to Chicago, Frozen, and soon, he’ll be singing songs as Alexander Hamilton to her Eliza.”
“It’s true,” we say at the same time, and then we laugh along with our wedding party.
“I mean, it’s insane. They are a team. She pours herself into Aiden, and to my surprise, Aiden does the same to her. Now, I have had the pleasure and the gift of being Aiden’s little brother, and let me just say, I am more than a little excited to be Shelli’s brother-in-law.” Asher looks at both of us then, his eyes soft and full of emotion. “I love you, Shelli, and I love you, Aiden, but I think I love you guys together even more. I don’t need to wish you a lifetime of happiness, because y’all won’t settle for anything less. But know that you have a whole family, and we’re big and loud, cheering you two on. To Aiden and Shelli.”
As the room erupts, I help Shelli stand, and we hug Asher tightly. “That was beautiful, thank you,” Shelli says, kissing his cheek.
“All from the heart,” he says, winking at us. He hands the mic off to Posey, and the look she and Shelli share shakes my soul. Asher and I are close, but those two, they’re basically twins.
“Well, hell, Asher, thanks for the pressure of topping that,” she says into the mic, grinning, though tears are already gathering in her eyes.
“You can’t,” he teases, and she flips him the bird, which has everyone in fits.
“So, I wanted to let everyone know that we know things are a little different from your typical wedding. They were supposed to dance before they ate, but if you know