Page 89 of The Right Player
Because, of course.
At the base of it all, the only thing that mattered was that Gemma and Zach had permanent smiles on their faces throughout the day and into the night, too. They looked at each other in the way that made you want to both swoon and gag at the same time.
They were in love.
So desperately in love.
Makoa was a sweaty mess when I managed to drag him off the dance floor for a break. I chuckled when he flopped down into his chair, legs sprawled out, hand fanning himself. I grabbed a spare cloth napkin from an unused silverware roll and dabbed his forehead with it, smiling and shaking my head.
“You’re going to be more sore from dancing than from practice today.”
“No regrets,” he said, flashing his signature smile.
He stole a kiss before we were joined by the newlyweds, and Zach flopped down in the seat next to Makoa, while Gemma wrapped her arms around my neck from behind.
“Are you guys having fun?!” she asked excitedly.
I poked her side, pulling her into my lap, big fluffy white dress and all. “Isn’t it obvious?” I asked, gesturing to Makoa. “My boyfriend has already sweat himself out of his suit.”
“Take the jacket off, man,” Zach said, nodding to his own attire — which was the dress pants from his tux and the dress shirt, minus the tie and jacket. “Trust me. Game changer.”
Makoa was already stripping out of his jacket when Gemma wrapped her arms around my neck, leaning her head against mine. “This has been the most perfect day,” she said. “And to think I actually have a Chicago Bears player at my wedding!”
Makoa chuckled, he and Zach exchanging a look that made me curious what they were hiding.
“I mean, I always dreamed I would, but I never thought it would actually happen.” She squeezed me a little tighter. “Thanks for making that dream come true, bestie!”
I laughed. “Yep. That’s the only reason I’m dating him, to make your dream come true.” I looked at Makoa, then. “You’re cool with breaking up after tonight, right?”
There wasn’t even a hint of a smile on his face when he answered. “We are never breaking up. You’re stuck with me.”
I sighed. “Fine.” But I winked at him in the same breath.
Makoa looked at Zach again before he nodded to Gemma. “You know, it’s funny you brought that up. When I was talking about your wedding at practice today, well… it piqued some interest.”
Gemma frowned, confused.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I invited a few friends to the party,” Makoa said, looking behind where Gemma and I were seated.
We both peeked over our shoulders, and where I was still confused, Gemma’s eyes bulged out of her head before she jumped out of her seat and covered her mouth, shaking her head as she took in the three new guests.
I was trying to get to know the game better, and the team, for that matter, but I still had a lot to learn. Still, even with my weak knowledge, it wasn’t hard to see in that moment that three Chicago Bears football players had just walked into Gemma’s wedding reception.
And she was freaking the fuck out.
“Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.” She sounded like a parrot, still frozen in place. Finally, she pointed a finger at the first one, a tall, lean, blond man in the middle. “You’re Brad Thompson,” she said, finger moving to the other two next. “And you’re… you’re William James, and… and…”
She couldn’t even speak when she got to the last man, who was shorter than the rest but built like an absolute tank, the light gray tuxedo he was wearing a stark contrast against his black skin. He had a smile that could make panties wet on first sight, and he wore that smile with his hands in his pockets while he waited for Gemma to continue.
When she still didn’t speak after a full ten seconds, he stepped forward, extending his hand. “I’m Mike Howard,” he said, arching a brow. “And I believe, if what Kumaka here was saying earlier is true, that I’m your all-time favorite football player?”
It was a good thing Zach had gotten up out of his chair to stand beside his bride, because she nearly fainted with Mike’s hand in hers. Her knees gave way, and she leaned into Zach with her eyes rolling up to the sky. I really thought she was going down, but then she bounced back, squealing with glee and launching herself at the poor guy.
He caught her on a laugh, giving the other players a look like what the hell did we get ourselves into before Gemma squirmed out of his grasp.
“I can’t believe this!” She bounced on her toes, hands clasped together at her heart as she stared at all of them for a moment longer. She turned to Makoa then, complete shock and awe on her face. “You did this?”
