Page 128 of Forbidden Hockey
“It’s Stacey,” I remind him. In other words, he can worry less about Dash. So much less than he would have if Dash had married anyone else.
“Which is the only reason I haven’t flung him over my shoulder and carried him out of here,” he growls under his breath, muttering, “Fuck. I am like him, and right now I don’t know if I care.”
He’s comparing himself to Maxwell again, isn’t he? I swear to fucking god, the next time I see that man, he’s getting a fist to the jaw.
But anyway, the two unhinged lovebirds sent Trav a text this morning, and I got the invite over breakfast along with Casey. Guess it was in the stars, because there should have been a long-ass wait list for the courthouse, but nope, they just happened to have one opening for them.
At least I got to be the one to calm Trav down. Dash came into my room.
“Um, I need a major favor. Dad’s, well, not in love with us rushing into this. I can tell he’s trying to be supportive, but he’s simultaneously having an aneurysm. Could you go to the restaurant and talk to him off the ledge for me?”
I was glad to. Don’t know if when Dash was asking me to calm his dad down, he meant for me to fuck his brains out, but that’s what I did. Worked, too. I strode into his apartment without a word, pushed him on his back, and rode his dick until he forgot he had a son. Then I was against a wall for a bit, and for some fucking reason, Trav decided my right ass cheek was getting all the love. He left multiple handprints until it throbbed. I can’t even sit on it. Love how it feels, but Dash so totally owes me for sacrificing an ass cheek in the name of this breakaway wedding.
Anyway, it got him here, to this high-brow courthouse in Vancouver. Dash thanked me. But short of dragging Trav into the public washroom for more of my ass, we’re cooked. The officiant needs to speed this shit up, or one of the grooms is about to go missing.
“By the power invested in me by the province of British Columbia, I now pronounce you husband and husband.”
With a firm hand to Dash’s low back, Stacey pulls him forward, dips him, and cradles his head for a kiss as if the rest of the world isn’t here.
Casey and Sutter let loose with obnoxiously loud, spit-slick whistles, sharp and ear-splitting, and I can’t help joining in with my own hoots, clapping alongside Jack and Mercy. Dash is the happiest I’ve seen him—ever. His soul can rest. Stacey will take good care of him. All things Trav’ll see once he calms the fuck down.
Again.
“Thank god that’s over,” Casey says. “I love you, bro, but weddings are boring as shit.”
Sutter moves Casey’s curls off his face. “Don’t worry, kitten. I know you have the attention span of a gnat. Our wedding’ll take the same amount of time as a fast-food run. It’s also not good to let him go this long without food, assholes—where we going to eat?”
Jesus. Sutter acts like Casey’s about to wither and die.
“You called it, babe. My stomach’s eating itself. Trav? Isn’t the father of the groom supposed to provide dinner?”
Read the fucking room, Case.Can’t he see Trav’s having an internal conniption? Actually, probably not. None of them get Trav like I do, and I wouldn’t want them to, so I swallow the shit I want to say like usual.
The conversation caught Dash’s attention, though. “I could use a burger,” he says.
I catch Stacey’s expression. It says, does he offer to foot the bill, or will Trav take offense to that?
“Burgers are on me,” Casey says, finally picking up the vibe and saving his brother from starting a nonsense beef with his new father-in-law.
“Absolutely not. I’m the father of the groom, everyone, c’mon by. My treat,” Trav says in a gruff voice.
Dash frowns.
God dammit. Fuck this. Dash is gonna cry, and Trav’ll feel like shit about it later. I elbow him, risking exposure, but at the same time, it’s not something I haven’t done before. Finally,finallyhe plasters on a smile.
“C’mere, son. Do I get to hug you yet?”
Dash beams. “Dad,Dad? Look. I’m married!” he says, leaving his new husband so he can wave his ring at Trav.
Trav puts an arm around him. “Let’s see it, bud.” He takes Dash’s hand, holding the ring up to the light. “Looks good on you, kid.”
“I’m so happy, Dad. This is all I ever wanted. I mean, this and a family, but I already have that.”
That does it. Trav can’t hold the tears back anymore. They roll down his sexy face, and he squeezes the life outta Dash. “Love you, Dashie. C’mere, Stacey,” Trav says, holding an arm out for him. They form a three-man circle. “Welcome to the family. You’ve always been like a son to me, anyway, was about time it was made official.”
“I’ll take good care of him, Trav,” Stacey promises.
“I know. Couldn’t have asked for better for my boy.”
