Page 5 of Sticking Out

Brighton grabs my hand. “Come on, let’s go.”

We all head to the ice as the cup is presented. Honestly, I’m not a WAG, and I don’t feel like I should be on the ice, but I’m pretty sure Brighton wasn’t having any of that. The families all gather around as the Conn Smythe award goes to Brady Fisher, and we all cheer. It’s a whirlwind of activity as the guys take turns lifting the cup and skating it around the ice. It’s so exciting, and I can’t take my eyes off Conner when it’s his turn.

Once the team takes the cup into the locker room, all the wives and girlfriends make their way outside, and win or lose, we’ve already rented out Kilting Around, a famous Scottish pub in town. Before I go, I wave to my in-laws, who are making their way off the ice. We’d hugged earlier before the game, but I can’t leave without seeing them now.

“I’ll meet you there. I have to go talk to Bill and Darcy.” I hurry to them, and they pull me into their arms. Darcy has tears in her eyes and Bill does too, even though he’s trying to hide them.

“Conner was amazing,” I say as they squeeze me.

Darcy nods in agreement. “We are so proud of him.” As she smiles a part of me tightens, because they were proud of Alec too, and were really looking forward to having a grandchild. I think they only had hope for the two of us, not really expecting Conner to settle down for a while, as he had a career to focus on. But I know Conner, and deep inside, he’s always wanted a family. Now that he’s settled in his career, I guess there’s nothing holding him back, although he no longer talks about it. Nevertheless, I hope to someday give Darcy and Bill what they want.

“Are you guys coming to the pub to celebrate?”

Bill gives a dismissive wave. “My pub days are over, but you guys go and have fun.”

“Okay, the girls are waiting. I’d better go.”

“Barbecue soon,” Darcy says and gives me another hug. I honestly love how close we still are. “Give Conner a hug and kiss for us.”

Why would they want me to hug and kiss Conner? “You’re going to see him soon, aren’t you?”

She gives an almost sheepish smile. “Yes, of course.” Okay, that was weird. “You’d better get going.” I give a little wave and struggle through the crowd. Outside, the cool air falls over me and I zip up my coat, all the while trying not to get trampled by the rambunctious crowd, excited to party the night away.

Knowing the guys will be a while, a bunch of us made plans to meet them at the pub. Brighton finds me, and weaves her arm through mine as we head toward her big SUV. Yes, she’s an SUV person now, with her two kids, and a big dog, and while others make fun of it, I am so damn envious.

All I ever wanted was to be a mother. My younger sister was the same. Dad was an attaché to the U.S. consulate, and we moved a lot. Our mom stayed home with us, and I loved that. Alec wanted a family too, which is why we got pregnant shortly after we married. My phone pings and ends my trip down memory lane. I pull it from my pocket to see that it’s my sister.

I answer and she screams into the phone. I start laughing as I pull it away from my ear. I hear her husband Jared in the background. He’s a good guy, a radiologist at Boston General, and honestly, my sister, with her three young kids, is living the life I’ve always wanted. I’m so happy for her and want the same, which is why I’ve been trying in-vitro. The only one who knows that secret is Conner. I haven’t shared the details with anyone else. When I told him about my plans last year at Melanie’s after exam celebration, he was shocked, and I’m not sure he ever warmed to the idea of me being a single mom, even though he knows how much I want kids.

“You’re deafening me, Rylee.”

“Sorry. I’m just so excited. Are you guys going out to celebrate?”

“We’re heading to Kilting Around.” I put my hand over my other ear to block the noise of the crowd. “You’re welcome to join us.”

“The kids are down and it’s too late to get a sitter now. Besides, it’s not like I can go too far when I’m breastfeeding and I can’t even enjoy a drink.” She sounds devastated, but I know she’s not and I nod in agreement, once again a tinge of envy pinching my heart. “Why don’t you guys come by tomorrow for a celebration dinner?” she suggests.

“I’ll ask Conner and get back to you.”

“Okay, go celebrate and give Conner a big hug and kiss from me.”

Why does everyone want me to hug and kiss Conner?

“Hey,” I hear Jared in the background. “You will not be extending hugs or kisses to Conner.” He’s trying to sound stern, but there’s laughter in his voice. He and my sister are in love and he doesn’t ever have to worry about her with another man. My stomach tightens at that thought. There was a time with Alec…

“Okay, give him a big hug and kiss from you,” my sister laughs out.

“Cut it out. We’re just friends.” Conner will never see me as anything more than a friend, and I gave up on my crush on him years ago.

Did you, though, Dani?

“Have you never heard of friends with benefits?” I can just see the twist of Rylee’s lips and the bob of her head as she says that to me.

“He’s my brother-in-law,” I counter, wanting to put an end to this conversation. But the truth is, if he agrees to what I’m going to ask him tonight, we’ll be crossing a fine line, and I just hope it doesn’t ruin what we have.

Brighton lets my arm go and waves to Josie. “Josie, over here.” Josie comes rushing over, a big smile on her gorgeous face. She’s a nurse, and sometimes when I look at these career women, I wonder how they look at me. Not that they’ve ever been anything but nice. It’s just that they all have degrees and important jobs, whereas I run a doggy day care, and Josie’s mastiff Apollo is one of the animals I pick up and drop off every day. A brain surgeon I am not.

“I have to go,” I tell my sister.

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