Page 63 of One Pucking Chance

The setup is gorgeous. Fancy golden heaters line the carpet, so the walk across the carpet is pleasant despite the cold temperatures. Large golden vases set along the carpet hold hundreds of white lilies. It’s all very Hollywood and extremely beautiful.

Anna and I position ourselves in front of the movie backdrop and stand as a couple, posing for the cameras. Photographers call out instructions, but I’m honestly blinded by all the flashes to know where to look.

“Alright, baby. Just you now. This is your moment.” She squeezes my hand and smiles.

I retreat from the sea of flashes, stepping back as Anna poses for the cameras, a wide smile on my face. She truly is the most beautiful woman in the world, and she’s mine.

“She looks good.” Simon Blackwood steps up beside me.

“She looks fucking great,” I correct him. “You should step in and get some shots with her.”

“True.” Anna’s costar joins her, and the pair smile for the cameras.

Once we move past the crowd of photographers, we’re met with a line of entertainment reporters holding microphones with a video camera behind them. I stand beside Anna as she graciously answers one question after the next with complete sophistication. She talks about the movie and the true story behind it, how it was important to make, and the value she thinks it will bring. I’m literally in awe and so proud of her.

After the cast has made their way across the carpet, the guys from the team and their dates start to arrive. It’s our first movie premiere, and we’ve all gone all out.

Miles, our resident Mr. Hollywood, shows up in a golden polyester suit with his parents on his arms as his dates.

“Oh my God.” I chuckle. “You look straight out ofSaturday Night Fever,” I tell him.

“Right?” He does a flashy turn on his heel that ends with his hip cocked to the side and a finger pointing toward the red carpet. His mother claps at his side, her expression full of pride. “It’s a movie that takes place in the seventies. I know how to do a theme.”

“He looks good,” his father says proudly. Miles has told us stories of his father’s love of cinema and the times they’ve spent bonding over movies. It’s really cool that they’re here.

Tonight will be something every guy on the team is going to remember for a long time.

Cade and Iris and Gunner and Penny show up in the same limo, both pairs looking incredible. They stop briefly for photos and hurry over toward us. Anna squeals and extends her hands to squeeze Penny’s and Iris’s.

“This is all so pretty. I can’t even tell we’re not in Cali. It’s warm, and the flowers are all so tropical,” Anna gushes.

“Yeah, the flower arrangements turned out so pretty,” Penny says. “The tropical feel is a nice little preview of our week to come. There’s a cold front coming tomorrow, and it’s supposed to be fifteen degrees below zero.”

“Oh my gosh, Hawaii is coming at a perfect time. I don’t know if I could survive negative fifteen,” Anna says in all seriousness.

I know how much she hates the cold. Her comment makes me laugh. “You’ll get used to it.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t think I will, but I’ll suffer through Michigan winters for you.” She wraps her hand around my arm.

“Hawaii is a welcome reprieve for us all,” Penny says. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and I’m still not used to the cold, so you’re not alone.”

The team’s yearly bye week starts today. It’s a league-prescribed week of rest from training and games halfway through the season. It’s something we look forward to every year. We usually rent a mansion in a warmer climate, and the guys and their guests party the entire week. Every year is different, unpredictable, and a blast. This year, our chosen location is Hawaii. It’s going to be the best one yet because I’ll have Anna there with me.

Anna looks at Iris and then Penny. “Well, seriously… thank you so much for doing all this for me. It’s truly incredible, and I’m so grateful.”

“It was a blast,” Iris exclaims. “This was more fun than any Crane party we’ve planned, no offense,” she says to her husband, Cade.

“None taken,” he replies with a grin. “We haven’t even made it inside, and it’s definitely more fun.”

“The whole theater is ours,” Penny states. “The lobby has been transformed into an elegant dining experience, so after the movie, we can eat and talk about how great it was.”

Anna steeples her hands together and presses them to her lips. “God, I hope it’s good.”

“It’s going to be great,” Iris says. “Hey, where is Miranda? I mean, Penny and I helped, but she’s the one who made this all happen. She’s amazing.”

“I know. Isn’t she?” Anna beams. “She’s inside making sure everything is perfect, of course. Speaking of, we should probably get inside.” She looks at me.

We exchange a soft-edged smile. “Let’s do this.” I extend my elbow, and Anna loops her arm through.

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