Back Check (Aces Hockey #4)(8)

 

"They appear to be making progress," Duper said. "Dieu merci."

 

"French cussing. You must be stressed about this," Army commented.

 

Duper rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm trying not to be. It's Lovey's thing. But when our wedding planner disappeared, she was freaking out, and when she's stressed, I'm stressed." He gulped his beer. "I just want to have a big party and get drunk."

 

Tanner lifted his beer toward his buddy in a toast. "That's what a wedding should be." They clinked bottles.

 

"Should have known Lovey would be a bridezilla," Army said.

 

"She's not." Duper frowned. "She's really not. She wants to have a big party and get drunk too. She just wants to make sure we all look nice doing it."

 

Tanner grinned. "I can do that. Not sure about the rest of you."

 

Duper laughed, grabbing his shoulder and shaking him. "Asshole."

 

"Everyone looks good until one of the bridesmaids drinks too much and ends up puking into a flower arrangement," Hughie said. "Or the groomsmen start doing the worm on the dance floor."

 

They all laughed.

 

"Be right back." Duper set his empty bottle on the granite counter. "Gotta siphon the python."

 

"Python." Rupper snorted. "We've all seen your dick, dude. More like an earthworm."

 

Duper shot him a finger behind his back as he walked down the hall to the bathroom.

 

"Okay, Armdog." Tanner leaned forward, keeping his voice low. "What about the bachelor party?"

 

Army blanched. "What about it?"

 

"You have to plan it."

 

"Fuck."

 

"And it has to be good."

 

Army licked his lips. "Like, what? Strippers? Hookers?"

 

"Fuck no! I mean, okay, maybe strippers. Not hookers! It's your future brother-in-law, man-are you trying to sabotage the marriage before it even gets started?"

 

"No, no." Army's eyes darted around. "Then what?"

 

"A trip to Vegas is pretty standard. Although it's maybe getting a bit clichéd. Where else could we go?"

 

"The bigger question is, when can we go," Rupper said. "We have no idea how far into the playoffs we'll get."  

 

"Or if we'll get into the playoffs."

 

"We will." Army spoke confidently. "We've been building on last year and we will."

 

Tanner nodded. Things had been going a hell of a lot better this year than last year at this time. "Okay, leave it with me," he told Army. "I'll do some checking and see what our schedule allows."

 

"Thanks, man." Army grabbed him and hugged him.

 

Tanner shoved him away, laughing, and as he turned he caught Katelyn watching them.

 

The women were standing, their wedding business apparently concluded for tonight.

 

"We need wine," Lovey announced. "Katelyn, will you stay and have a glass of wine with us?"

 

Katelyn hesitated, her gaze flicking to him and then back to Lovey. "Well. Okay. Thanks."

 

Tanner knew she was twenty-eight, the same age as he was, along with Duper and Army. Amber, Jillian, and Lovey were a few years younger. But all the women were a similar age, all of them pretty in their own way, and Katelyn seemed to fit right in. She trailed behind Lovey as Lovey swept across the living room toward the guys, all standing around the kitchen island.

 

Lovey paused. "Where's Marc?"

 

"Draining his dragon," Hughie said.

 

She laughed. "Oh. Well, one of you other big, strong hockey guys can open this wine for me."

 

Army made a choking noise.

 

She threw her brother a dirty look and handed the bottle to Rupper, then a corkscrew. While he opened it, she pulled four humongous wineglasses out of a cupboard. When Rupper had expertly removed the cork, he poured the wine and Lovey handed each woman a glass.

 

Rupper held up the empty bottle with a mildly incredulous shake of his head.

 

Duper returned. "Who wants another beer?" As he reached into the fridge, a cellphone started ringing.

 

Everyone looked around. It was coming from Rupper. He froze.

 

"That's the ringtone," he said, his face going pale.

 

"What ringtone?" Lovey asked.

 

"The ringtone that means Sidney's in labor. I got her a special phone."

 

"Aaaah!" Lovey clapped her hands over her mouth.

 

"Answer it, dumbass!" Army slapped his back.

 

Rupper fumbled the phone out of his pocket and answered the call. "Seriously?" he barked. "Okay. On my way. You okay, baby? Good. Okay, do your breathing, I'm only a few minutes away." He lowered the phone. "Gotta bounce, guys."