Page 66 of Stick Work

She lifts her chin, looking positively smug. “When you get to be my age, you either know people, or you are the people. If eloping isn’t your thing, I have an officiant on standby.”

“Grandma, you do not have anyone on standby.”

She shrugs and turns her attention to me. “You’re glowing, dear.”

“She’s blushing because of your teasing,” Elias corrects.

Grandma hums like she knows something we don’t. “It’s so warm in here,” I say quickly, and wave my hand in front of my face. “I need to adapt after coming from the cold.”

She scrunches her nose like she doesn’t believe a word, but lets it slide. I quickly turn from Grandma’s knowing eyes. “Cheryl, Randall. It’s so good to see you both.” Cheryl pulls me in for a hug and I might stay there a little longer than is customary, but her warmth sends me back in time, to when I used to fall asleep on my mom’s lap. I finally pull away and she hugs Elias as Randall wraps me in his embrace.

“Shall we?” Randall asks, and holds his arm out for Cheryl. She slides hers in and Elias does the same for Grandma and me. Grandma smiles up at him as he guides us into the room. Numerous round tables are set up and we search for our names. We finally find them and before I sit, Elias scans the crowd.

“Do you want to come meet Easton and Jenny?”

I nod, anxious to say hello. “I’d love to.”

“Be right back,” he says to his family and steers me through the crowd. It takes what feels like a decade to get to his friends as every five feet someone wants to stop him for a ‘quick’ chat. Apparently, Elias is the hometown hero, the guy who made it to the NHL.

I try to stand back to give him space, but he keeps his arm securely around me. Every time someone stops to say hello, he’s there introducing me, but most already seem to know.

Thanks, Grandma.

“Elias.”

A voice booms and we turn to see a guy with his arms out. I can only assume it’s Easton. Elias excuses us and we hurry over. The two guys embrace like they’ve just won the big cup, and I can’t help but grin. As they pull apart, Elias turns to me and introduces me as his girlfriend.

Girlfriend.

I almost choke. I mean, it’s a normal word. A fine one, and how else was he supposed to describe me. His plus one? No way was he getting away with that when Grandma has been making the rounds. But hearing it come out of his mouth to his childhood friend makes it feel so…real.

Easton turns to me, grinning. “Taylor, it’s so great to meet you.” He glances around the room, holding back a laugh as he searches the crowd. “I was talking to your grandmother, Elias, and she thought you two had eloped.” He arches a brow. “Any secrets you want to share?”

“No,” I say a little too quickly and when Easton cocks his head I laugh it off. “Grandma’s wishful thinking, but we’re not there yet,” I explain.

Or ever.

“Jenny,” he calls out, and a beautiful woman with long dark hair, dressed in a gorgeous emerald dress that matches her eyes comes toward us. “This is Jenny, my bride to be.” My heart jumps into my throat as he slides his hand around her back, an incredible loving smile on his face as he looks at her like she’s the only thing that matters in this universe.

Get out of my head, Grandma.

“Jenny, this is my buddy Elias, the guy I told you about, and his girlfriend, Taylor. Taylor is going to be a big Hollywood star.” I stumble a bit, a little surprised by that. He winks at me. “No secrets when Grandma is around.”

“Right.” I laugh. “Of course not. So nice to meet you, Jenny.”

“Dude.”

I spin to see a giant of a man barreling toward us like a freight train. His piercing blue eyes zero in on Elias, and they exude an incredible amount of warmth and admiration. Why does he look so familiar? I don’t know any of these people but he seems like a guy straight out of a movie, or a lumberjack romance novel.

“Bring it in,” he bellows, and it’s clear the two have been lifelong buddies. He scoops Elias up like he weighs less than a feather, and spins him around. I can barely stifle a laugh.

“My younger, but much bigger brother, Rip,” Easton explains with a smirk, shaking his head, but I can see the adoration in his eyes. “I love him, but sometimes he can be a little over the top.”

“A little,” Jenny says as she laughs, but she too holds that same adoration as she glances at Mr. Lumberjack.

Rip, still grinning like a gentle giant on steroids, turns to me, his gaze mischievous. “So you’re the new wife. Grandma said you eloped.” He lifts me off my feet in one swift motion and spins me around.

“We didn’t,” I say, dizzy from the spin.

---