Page 49 of A Major Puck Up

I’m so unbelievably fucked.

“The guys would let you play if you wanted,” Ford cajoles beside me at the firepit.

I grunt. “I’d wipe the floor with them.”

Beckett, on my other side, sighs and brings a cigar to his lips. He hasn’t lit it all night. He just holds it, sniffs it, fondles it.

Guess he doesn’t want to smell like it, or maybe he’s worried about setting a bad example in front of Finn.

I’m abstaining too, because if I partake, there’s no way I won’t get sick. I’ve had far too much whiskey today while avoiding the peach margaritas Millie doled out to the whole crowd.

“I think I’ve hit my limit for fun.” Lake snuggles against Ford’s chest, her legs covered in a soft blanket.

He drops a kiss to her forehead. “Close your eyes here. I’ll carry you in.”

Damn. Guy’s so desperate for his wife’s company he won’t even let her go to bed when she’s half-asleep.

She gives him a secretive smile and murmurs an okay. Then her eyes fall shut almost instantly.

“You can go play, ya know. Don’t have to keep us old married men company,” Ford teases.

“Speak for yourself,” Beckett grouses. “I’m not old.”

Liv appears at his side with a sleeping Addie in her arms. “Yes, you are, baby. As am I, so if you could take Little One before I fall over, I’d appreciate it.”

Before she’s finished her request, Beckett’s up and grabbing their daughter, who’s fast asleep. With more care than seems possible for a man so cranky most of the time, he shifts her in his arms and murmurs into her hair. Once the little girl is clinging to his neck with her head nestled beneath his chin, he looks up at his wife. “Ready to head out, Livy?”

“Yeah, I think this part of the party is for the graduate and the kids his age. You want to ride back with us, Gav?”

Ouch. Her words hit me like a slap. Because she’s right. I’m too damn old to be hanging out with the kids still partying. I glance over at the table where Millie is still playing games, hoping my expression gives nothing away. There’s no way I can leave without having a minute alone with her.

“Um, I’ll wait for Brooks.”

“Wait for me for what?” Brooks asks, suddenly appearing at Liv’s side.

“We’re heading out,” Beckett explains.

“Yeah, I’m going to head back too.” He dips his chin, a few strands of hair that have escaped his man bun swaying. “Aiden is going out with some of the guys, but I’m beat. I told Sar I’d watch a movie with her when I get back.”

It’s no surprise that my brother would rather go home and hang with his “best friend” than go out prowling for girls with the hockey team. His life revolves around two things: hockey and Sara Case.

“You ready, Gav?”

A commotion from the other side of the yard has us all turning to the group at the beer pong table. Every guy in the crowd is tearing off his shirt and stepping out of his shoes. Millie’s there too, pulling her dress over her head. Beneath, she’s in nothing but a minuscule bikini.

I can’t look away as she takes off for the pool and launches herself into the air. She pulls her knees up and cannonballs into the pool with a loud splash. Then, one by one, the guys on the team follow her in, including Daniel.

I turn to Ford, expecting him to throw a fit about the gang of NHL players in the pool with his drunk twenty-three-year-old daughter.

The air whooshes from my lungs when, instead of launching to his feet and going on a tirade, the man fucking laughs.

“Ah, it’s good to see those two here together again.” He looks back at me with a big smile on his face. “Why don’t you spend the night? Let me get Lake upstairs, and then you and I can have drinks by the fire.” With a kiss to his wife’s head, he shifts forward in his seat. “I’ve obviously lost any shot of hanging with my kids for the rest of the night.”

The yes is out of my mouth before I even think about it. Hanging out with my best friend would be great, sure, but I’m staying because there is no way in hell I could go anywhere while Millie is practically naked in the pool with all of these men around.

I’m irrationally angry and have no right to be.

We’re not together. She has every right to do whatever she wants.

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