Page 77 of Pucking Strong

Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me.

My gaze darts to Tess’s jacket. Her patch says, “VICE PRESIDENT.” Caleb’s says, “SGT. AT ARMS.”

“Of course,” I mutter. Caleb Pricewouldbe an enforcer. Even though the guy played forward for his whole hockey career, he gives off fierce d-man energy. Probably why he ended up married to Jake and Mars.

All the other wives and girlfriends press in behind us, laughing and sipping their fruity cocktails. Someone turns the music down, as all eyes focus on Mars. It feels like the scene inThe Lion Kingwhere all the animals are waiting for Simba to roar.

“Are we supposed to bow?” I whisper at Poppy.

“Shh. Just wait.”

With a huff, Tess finally elbows him. “Come on, Mars. You know you have to say it.”

A muscle ticks in his jaw. His eyes narrow, then he declares, “As president of the Jacksonville Rays’ Wives and Guys Club, I now call this meeting to order.”

A cheer ripples across the group. Behind me, Maribel raises her martini and shouts in her thickly accented English, “I second the motion!”

“I third it,” chimes Courtney Fields.

I glance down at Poppy with a raised brow. “Wives and Guys?”

She sips her pink mocktail, swirling the cherries with her straw. “Well, we couldn’t very well stay the ‘wives and girlfriends,’ could we? Not with so many handsome men about.” Glancing over her shoulder, she winks at Morrow.

I’m distracted when Tess steps forward, hands on her hips. Her WAG jacket shimmers with the number twenty on each arm. “A new season of the Rays means we have some new members to induct,” she calls to the group. “New members, please step forward.”

Everyone cheers again as two women weave through the crowd. One I recognize as Christian Lindberg’s wife. She’s a white European woman. The other woman, I haven’t met. She’s cute and young, with light brown skin and long black hair. Her perky boobs fill out her top, and she’s paired her WAG jacket with a miniskirt and boots.

Poppy gives me a push. “While we’re young, Teddy, honey.”

With a groan, I step up and take my place next to Lindberg’s wife. Her jacket has the number thirty-eight bedazzled on the back in teal and diamond gemstones. The nickname “LINDY” crosses her shoulders.

“We were thrilled when we found out we’d be inducting, not two, butthreenew WAGs this season,” Tess calls out to the group. “Astrid and Kelsey, you received your jackets last week.” There’s a smattering of more cheers for them. Then Tess turns her smile on me. “Tonight, we also welcome Doctor Teddy O’Connor. Teddy, as Karlsson’s husband, you are officially the newest member of the Jacksonville Rays Wives and Guys!”

I’m sure I must turn as red as a tomato as the other WAGs go wild for me.

“Yeah, Teddy!”

“Lock him down, Ted!”

Just when I think the worst might be over, Mars steps forward, offering me a large gift bag. Oh god, this is too fucking much. I don’t deserve to be a WAG. Idefinitelydon’t deserve a jacket. Not when this is all a fucking lie. “Please,” I hear myself say. But there’s a lot ofcommotion. Someone turned the music back up, so I lean in closer to Mars. “Hey, you can stop this, right?”

He raises a brow. “Why would I stop it?”

“Surely there’s, like, a trial period or something, right? Shouldn’t we have to make it past some kind of annulment deadline before I qualify for a jacket?”

“Are you married to a Ray?”

I huff, flapping my arm. “I mean,technicallyyes.”

“Then technically, this is your jacket.” He tries to hand it off again.

Tess pops up next to Mars, glancing between us. “Something wrong over here, Prez?”

“No. Teddy was just conveying his gratitude.” He holds out the bag for a third time.

Seeing no other choice, I take it.

“Open it,” a wife calls out.

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