Page 60 of The Hard Hitter

“What’s going on?” I quietly ask Quinn.

“Apparently Jamie has an announcement to make.”

Jamie holds his beer up. “I wanted to let you know that I’m getting married!”

A chorus of “no fucking way” sounds from the guys, and I look around, wondering why that’s so hard to believe.

“It’s true. I’m getting married. Sara wanted to be here with me when I told you guys, but she’s experiencing a bit of morning sickness and was worried about the flight. But I wanted to come and tell you all in person.”

Another round of “no fucking way” sounds from the guys.

“Marriage and a baby,” Jonah says, adding a low, slow whistle. “Never thought I’d see the day. I’ll drink to that,” he says, and everyone lifts their glasses.

My eyes go to Zander as we all clink. He stares back, his eyes a stormy blue on this calm Saturday afternoon.

“Congratulations,” Zander says, breaking my gaze and turning to his friend. “I can’t believe Sara finally wrestled you into submission. It wasn’t that long ago you said you were going to be a bachelor for life.”

“When the right girl comes around, you know it,” Jamie says. “And don’t worry, Zander. One of these days, you’ll wake up married with a houseful of kids.

18

Zander

“Why are you so nervous?” I ask as I shoot a glance Sam’s way, taking in the way she’s nibbling her bottom lip. I reach across the seat and give her elbow a reassuring squeeze.

From the passenger seat beside me, she slowly turns her head my way, and I scrub my hand over my freshly shaved face, wanting to present my best self to her family.

“You’re Zander Reed, and my dad is going to go ballistic. So are my uncles and cousins.”

I shrug, but I’m not convinced that’s what on her mind. For the last week, ever since we’d hosted a BBQ for my friends, she’s been quieter than unusual.

“Don’t worry about it, Sam. I’m just a guy going to your Fourth of July barbeque. I’m no different than any of the other guys.”

“You’re an NHL superstar. That makes you different.”

“Not to me.” She adjusts the tea towel under the casserole dish full of ribs she cooked at my place, and I redirect the conversation. “Those smell good,” I say. “I can’t wait to dig in.”

“Only my famous BBQ ribs,” she says with a lift of her chin. “And don’t pretend that you haven’t already tasted one. I saw you sneaking one earlier, and you still have sauce on your face.”

I grab the rearview mirror to check. “No, I don’t,” I say.

She’s laughing when I glance back at her. “No, you don’t, and I didn’t see you sneak one, but now I know for sure you did.”

“You’re going to pay for that,” I tease.

“Can’t wait,” she says. “I don’t cook much but these are Dad’s favorites. He’s going to make quite the mess eating them with one hand.”

“What is the doc saying?”

“He’ll be in a cast for a few more weeks, but things are progressing nicely. He’ll be as good as new. Thank God. He gave us a good scare there.”

“Daddy, I’m hungry,” Daisy says from the backseat, and kicks her legs out.

“Almost there,” I say, knowing the way from when I drove Sam’s mom home from the hospital last weekend. Sam has dropped by her parents’ place every night this week, and I love how much she cares for them. After her visits, she always ended up at my place, with a good long commute back to her place for work in the morning.

I hate that she has to drive, but it’s easier for us to have Daisy in her own home, and Sam swears she doesn’t mind. During the day, while Daisy is at daycare with Quinn, I’ve been hanging out at Sam’s doing some much-needed repairs to her place. She’d even given me my own key, enabling me to come and go as I please, and she kept her end of the bargain up. Pie every day.

“I want to play with Scotty,” Daisy says.

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