Page 63 of Power Play
"You'll make an amazing father," she says, and fuck if it doesn't heal some part of me that was terrified to ever create another life because of how shitty my father was.
"So, are we doing this? You asking me to marry you?" I tease, needing to lighten the situation.
"We have to consult with the other two, but yeah, I'm on board."
She looks at Ben, standing behind me and apologetically speaks. "I know you wanted our happily ever after. Would you hate me forever if I marry Garrett on paper? So he can save his mother's legacy?"
I watch Ben's face carefully, a million emotions flitting across his face, before he settles on contentment.
"No, pretty girl. You and I never talked about marriage, and I know why. But..." he pauses, drawing out my fucking emotions. Lacey's put a silver platter in front of me and Ben might take it away.
"But?" she asks, licking her lips nervously.
"But...I get to be your maid of honor."
Lacey laughs and it's a sound that sets my chest on fire.
In an instant she's relaxed and happy.
"Bro of honor? Boyfriend of honor? Best friend of honor? I can't call youmaidof honor..."
He steps in close to her and kisses her. "I don't give a shit what you call me, I'm standing behind you when you get married."
The love that passes between them is palpable. All I can hope is that someday we have that.
Lacey pulls back. "We have to ask Scott. I won't marry you if it will upset him."
But when I turn, Ben's already on the phone with Coach, having a hushed conversation between the two of them.
I stare at Lacey, my emotions swinging like a freaking pendulum. Hope. Then a wariness of hope. Gratitude. Then dread. Love. Then fear.
A few minutes later Coach, or Scott, is standing outside of our hotel room.
"How do you feel about marriage?" Lacey asks, all carefree and willy-nilly.
My chest constricts, as this is where I feel like our happily ever after gets snagged.
"Fucking hate it. Never again," he says with a smile, as if he knows something I don't. I don't know what Ben told him on the phone, but it looks like they're all on board.
"So, you wouldn't mind if I married Garrett?"
Coach looks at me, then Ben, then Lacey. "And these fools?"
"Totally on board. Ben's my maid of honor."
Coach claps his hands together. "Then lets fucking do this." He clasps a large hand over my shoulder. "I'll be your best man."
"Are you all fucking serious right now?!" I ask incredulously. No one has ever stuck their neck out for me. No one has ever gone to bat for me. I knew Lacey believed in me. Whether she was misguided in doing so or not. But the idea that three people are willing to sacrifice for me is moving. I blink back emotional tears.
Instead, I kiss the shit out of Lacey. It's easy being the outcast, the fuck up, the bully, whatever teams want to call me. But this feeling of acceptance, or approval, or God forbid love is new territory.
And at some point, I'm going to have to tell my father that I'm married with a kid on the way. And that's a whole other fucking problem.
First, I have to get married.
Chapter thirty-six
Lacey
