Back Check (Aces Hockey #4)(25)

 

The worst part of the experience was the sales guy feeling him up as he took measurements and pinned things. Eventually they'd picked out suits, shirts, cummerbunds, and bow ties. He had cuff links, so he was good there. When Katelyn showed them patent-leather shoes, they all balked.  

 

"Nope," Marc said. "So much nope. Can't we just wear black shoes?"

 

"Yes, you can wear black shoes, as long as they're polished."

 

"I was worried we were going to be wearing orange cummerbunds," Tanner muttered. "Marc said we were going to look like we're dressed for Halloween."

 

"What?" Katelyn laughed. "Good Lord. You'll be wearing orange boutonnieres, that's all."

 

They all handed over credit cards and were soon leaving the shop. They'd be back for final fittings closer to the wedding date. "Dude," Tanner said to Army as they walked out. "It's up to you to make sure we all come back for fittings and get our tuxes before the wedding."

 

Army nodded seriously. "I can do that."

 

"All righty," Katelyn said, on the sidewalk. "That's one more thing to check off the list."

 

"Thanks for your help, Katelyn," Marc said. "You made it easy."

 

"That's what I'm here for." She beamed at him.

 

She was impressively knowledgeable about all things wedding. Too bad Tanner hated weddings.

 

"Katelyn, would you like to have lunch with me?" Hughie asked.

 

What the fuck? Tanner's head jerked back and his hands balled into fists as he waited for her reply.

 

"I'm sorry," she said with a smile. "I have a client meeting I have to get to."

 

"Damn." Hughie sighed. "Ah well."

 

The other guys disappeared, but Tanner hung back to talk to Katelyn. "Do you really have a client meeting?"

 

She gave him a narrow-eyed look. "Yes, I do. Then later I'm meeting Lovey to go over a few things. Why?"

 

"You can't go out with Hughie."

 

"Why not?"

 

"He's too young for you."

 

"Oh really. Well, I don't think it's any of your business, but like I told you, I don't date."

 

"Okay, then. So you and Lovey are going to talk about more wedding stuff?"

 

"Why are you asking?"

 

"Just being friendly. That's what you wanted, right?"

 

"Right." She eyed him with suspicion. "Yes. Also the baby shower for Sidney and Aubree."

 

"Oh yeah. When is it?"

 

"Wednesday next week."

 

He paused. She was meeting with Lovey again, after who knew how many meetings, and running around doing all kinds of things, and there was probably even more to be done. "There's a lot of shit that goes into a wedding."

 

"Yeah. There is. We still have to pick out invitations, do cake tastings, come up with a cake design, plan the menu, meet with the florist … I could go on."

 

They stepped out of the way of pedestrians on the sidewalk.

 

He really wanted to tell her that he was impressed with how much she had to know, and how well she seemed to do her job. Instead, he said, "Seems like a fuck of a lot of work for one day. Especially when they could be doing it again in a year or two."

 

"What?" She glared at him, then poked him in the chest with a gloved finger. "Don't you dare talk like that around Marc and Lovey!"

 

He grimaced. "Right, right. I know that."

 

"Seriously, Tanner. Don't be a jerk."

 

He held up his hands. "I won't, I promise. I'm going along with all this shit, aren't I?"

 

She sighed. "Yes. And most of your duties are done now, until closer to the wedding."

 

"When is this dinner Lovey's having?"

 

"I'm not sure. She needed to look at the team's schedule."

 

 

 

        

          

        

         

 

"Yeah. This weekend we're off to Boston and Pittsburgh, and next week we have home games Tuesday and Thursday."

 

"It makes it a challenge to plan things."

 

"That's our life."

 

"Where are you off to now?"

 

"A meeting with my agent." There wasn't much progress being made on his contract negotiation.

 

She eyed him. "Is that bad?"

 

He shrugged. "Nope. Just an update." Apparently his poker face needed some work. He'd require that when the media started asking about his contract. In fact, they already had. He'd seen the newspaper articles and blog posts with the trade rumors and speculations about what the Aces' intentions were when it came to re-signing him. As of July first this year he'd be an unrestricted free agent and free to sign anywhere. More than one GM thought the Aces likely wouldn't re-sign him and he'd be available. That was crap. Sure, there were some fans who didn't like him and his physical style of play. He was still dealing with the fallout from those two suspensions, even though they'd been years ago. But he'd worked hard this season to cut back on penalty minutes.