Page 36 of Play the Last Track
It was probably a good thing that he did come along in the end. Ivy’s been a mess all day, and Flynn knows how to make her smile. He even cut the little name tags out for the seating chart for her.
“Do you think we should be inviting more than a hundred people?” Ivy says, waving for Flynn to put the two tags back down on the chart.
“No,” Scott grumbles from beside her, fist wrapping around the beer Flynn put in front of him just before. “We should invite less.”
Ivy slaps his shoulder gently. “This is the bare minimum list. You have a lot of teammates.”
“They don’t have to come.”
“That’s rude.” Ivy narrows her eyes. “Stop being a grump about this.”
“Sorry. It’s just … I would marry you right now, right here, just with these two as witnesses. We don’t need all those people.” He leans over and gently kisses her hair, tucking a piece behind her ear. “But, if you want to invite them all, then I’m happy. As long as you are.”
I ignore the stabbing pain in my chest at the image of the two of them. It’s been happening more and more with these guys lately. Watching them be happy and in love, it kind of hurts.
I feel a foot tap against mine from under the table, and I glance at Flynn. He’s staring at me, waiting for me to look his way. When I meet his gaze, his eyes flicker toward the couple across the table, then he pretends to gag.
I laugh.
Out loud.
Oh my god. I clamp down on the smile so fast, but it’s too late. Flynn is out of his chair, his arms above his head. “I did it. I made her laugh.”
“You’re an idiot.” I roll my eyes, but my smile breaks through, and I can’tbe bothered to taper it down again.
He comes around the table, placing one hand on the back of my chair and another on the table in front of me as he leans down, his face inches from mine. “You laughed. This means we’re friends.”
Then he kisses me on the cheek and heads for the kitchen, one fist firmly in the air like he’s just won a game or something.
“You’re blushing,” Ivy states across the table. Scott has gotten out of his seat too, following Flynn.
“I’m not.” I am. I press the back of my hand to my cheek. It’s warm. I’m definitely blushing. Damn it.
“You guys are cute together. He’s the kind of Golden Retriever energy you need in a man.” She nods to herself as she flicks through the magazine in front of her.
“Golden Retriever? We’re comparing men to dogs now?”
“Uh-huh. It’s the newest thing on the internet.”
“And what would Scott be?”
Ivy pauses, glancing over her shoulder at her fiancé. “German Shepherd.”
“So,” I say, looking to change the subject from whatever complicated and confusing feelings I’m having for Flynn onto something else. “Have you guys picked a date yet?”
Thankfully, she accepts it. “No. It will have to be in the off-season next year. I can’t go through trying to plan a whole wedding while he’s always away for games. It’s too hard.”
“I’m here to help with whatever you need.” I reach a hand out, offering it to her. She smiles and takes it.
“I … I want to go dress shopping soon. Will you come with me?” My heart squeezes when I see the tears flood her eyes. Unlike last year, when she was just starting therapy and still working through the grief for her parents, Ivy blinks back the tears instead of letting them fall. I know she’s likely thinking about her mom and how she wishes she could be here.
“Of course I will, Ives.” I shake her hand a little. “You know what we should do? We should have a girls’ night with wine and ice cream and watch your mom and dad’s wedding video. I bet she was a gorgeous bride. You could get some ideas of the things she chose for herself and your dad if you wanted to incorporate something she might like.”
“Yeah.” Ivy blinks a few times and lifts her hand to run her thumb under her eye. “That’s actually a nice idea. I haven’t watched that video in ages.”
I smile gently as Scott joins us again, leaning down to place a gentle kiss on Ivy’s throat. “We’re going to put the football on. Do you want to order some food?”
“Sure. What do you feel like?”
