Page 24 of The Puck Decoy

“This is something new and blue,” he winks, handing me a ring pop exactly the same as the ones we used to have as kids, and I can’t help but laugh.

“You guys are the best,” I tell them, taking the candy from him with a laugh, wondering how lucky I got to snare not one, but two Peters siblings for myself.

“Here I can cover the ‘something borrowed’,” Archer cuts in, swinging a pink garter belt around his fingers and offering it up to me.

“Hell no,” Josh cuts in. “She isn’t wearing something you stole from one of your whores.”

Archer blinks back in offense, “Hey, don’t be rude, this is mine, no girl has ever even seen it, let alone wore it.”

We all turn to him in confusion, Damon snorting a humorless laugh in the process and making Archer blush, as Alexander finally clears his throat. “Well, who else needs a cup of tea after that?” he asks, still wiping his tears.

“You guys are the weirdest fuckers I have ever come across,” Josh tells them, shaking his head. “But thanks for coming, I guess.” And I can’t help but smile at his words, ever the political son of the Mayor.

“I’m sure your wife will be saying that to you later,” Archer gleams, tossing me a saucy wink, and I tighten Josh’s hand in mine before he can even react, holding him at my side.

“Don’t be a little bitch, Arch, just because Josh is getting laid tonight and you aren’t,” I toss back, hoping to keep my new husband's temper in check by fanning the flames of our ruse.

His hand squeezes mine as Daemon laughs again, and I can’t help but take pride in seeing him coming out of his shell a little today. Especially after I accosted him into walking me down the aisle.

Archer clutches his chest dramatically. “Damn, Sanders, you wound me, I thought we were friends.” I smile at the ridiculousness of him, because for some wild reason he is actually my friend, yet still I stand my ground.

“Actually it’s Peters now, and stop trying to piss off my husband or I will dick punch you,” I warn him carefully.

“She’s not joking, I have it on good authority she will actually dick punch you,” Josh cuts in, and I can almost feel his shudder as if he is remembering the pain I inflicted on him the other day.

Before anyone can say anything else, the minister interrupts us to sign our licenses, and then we are pushed towards the photographer to gather up some evidence. Then we spend the next thirty minutes taking as many pictures as possible, in asmany configurations as possible, from Josh and I alone, to all of us together, me and Maddie, Maddie and Nova, all the guys together, until Josh finally tells them they have more than enough.

“So, tea?” Alexander suggests again, and for some reason we all say yes.

Which is how we find ourselves back at Josh’s house, with Alexander in the kitchen next to Daemon making everyone drinks. Drinks that are definitely not tea. Josh’s other housemates aren’t home, so we all decide to settle in the living room to enjoy a drink. Nova is sitting in one of the chairs with Maddie perched in his lap, and I am sandwiched between Archer and my new husband on the sofa as we wait for whatever the boys are mixing up in the kitchen.

Josh’s carefree attitude from the ceremony has dissipated completely, and now he looks more annoyed than I think I have ever seen, especially when Archer says, “Don’t worry, Peters, Cap said we can’t stay long since it’s your wedding night and all.” Archer waggles his brows at him and I swear I hear Josh curse.

“Give it a rest, Arch,” Nova scolds his best friend, making his shoulders slump, before leaning in closer to Maddie and whispering something that has her blushing.

“How are those drinks coming?” Josh shouts louder than necessary, and I can only presume by the mixture of Archer Gray, and his sister getting mauled by her boyfriend, that he is close to the edge.

“Alright don’t get your knickers in a twist,” Alexander tosses back, as he loads up a tray with drinks and heads our way.

He walks around us all, until each of us have one of the drinks, and then takes the free chair beside Nova and Maddie, leaving Daemon to take the final seat on the sofa beside Archer.

Archer of course doesn’t hesitate to taste his drink, swallowing it down faster than necessary as Daemon stares at him with a look I can’t decipher.

Ignoring them I take a sip of my own, the fruity and tangy mixture of alcohol and juice exploding on my tongue, as I ask, “What is this?”

Alexander smiles at me as he downs his own. “It’s my own creation, I call it the Baby Maker,” he purrs with a wink, and I almost choke on my second sip, as Josh once again curses beside me.

Which is how the night proceeds for the next two hours. We enjoy the Baby Maker, the Cock Blocker, the Pussy Power, the Wedding Whacker, and the Puck Chaser. All of which are stronger and more ridiculous than the previous contender, until I can feel a warm sensation spreading throughout my entire body.

Tensions between the guys seem low considering that Josh and Daemon aren’t really friends with their teammates, but then I have to remind myself of how much time they actually spend together between practice and games. Of course they are used to each other's company, whether they enjoy it or not, and as fake wedding nights go, it isn’t half bad.

“Okay next game,” Archer slurs, having had double the amount of drinks than all of us. “Truth or dare,” he declares with a wink in my direction, and I instantly blush thinking about the last time I played that with the members of this group, my new husband excluded of course.

Yet before I can voice my refusal, Daemon shoots to his feet and leaves the room without a word, as Nova and Alexander both snap, “No,” at the same time, making Josh blink around in confusion.

“Why can’t we play truth or dare?” he asks, making Maddie choke on her drink, and now it’s my turn to look at her in confusion, but her eyes are firmly on the floor.

“Oh I’m glad you asked, Joshy boy, because the last time I played truth or dare I got to kiss your new wife there.” He exaggerates his words by pointing at me, as if Josh doesn’t know who he is referring to, and as if he hasn’t already taunted him with this fact before.

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