Page 100 of Power Play

“The way you skate, sometimes I don’t know.”

I shove him, and he shoves me back, and then we’re tussling like we’re little kids again. I get him in a headlock, and he struggles against me, but his strength is no match for my sheer force of will.

“Boys,” my dad snaps with a warning tone.

A third hand lands on my back, giving me a firm yank, and Chuck grins at me. “I want in on the fun, too.”

“You’re the worst.” But I can’t help grinning. “Come on. It’s time to get married.”

We troop out of the groom’s closet and through the church to the sanctuary doors. I reach for the handle, but something stops me. The wedding coordinator looks at me with concern.

“Are you ready?” she asks.

“Last chance to back out,” Tony mutters.

“Back out? Are you kidding?”

He holds up his hands. “Just offering.”

My parents are waiting with my abuela, and Cari has Emmy on her hip, my girl all smiles at the sight of her favorite uncle. I drop a kiss on her forehead and she giggles, grabbing at me.

“Dada! Dada!”

My heart warms, as it always does when she calls me that. She’s sixteen months, just starting to walk, and talking up a storm. Most of it is unintelligible to me, but Riley swears she can understand her. Her favorite words are mama, dada, and no.

I give my daughter a cuddle, then deposit her back into my sister’s arms.

I can do this. I can marry my wife.

With one last deep exhale, I nod to the wedding coordinator and pull open the doors to the church.

The music changes smoothly into the start of the processional, and I throw my shoulders back. Focusing on slow, steady steps, I almost forget to be nervous until I’m all the way at the front of the altar next to Father Jimenez. He gives me a nod, and I turn to face the back of the sanctuary.

A hundred and fifty pairs of eyes are on me, and I give an awkward grimace. What I’d give to be in my full pads and helmet right now, my stick at the ready to ward anyone off.

But these are my friends and my family, not my rivals, and we’re in a church, not a hockey rink, so I guess the tuxedo will have to do.

My parents escort Abuela down the aisle, and she gives me such a happy smile, my heart twists. This isn’t important to me, but it’s important to her.

I know the religious part of this makes Riley uncomfortable. She offered to convert, since she has no official religious affiliation, but the priest made sure she knew it wasn’t required. It’s not like I’m an avid churchgoer myself, attending only for weddings, baptisms, and funerals. Being married in the church isn’t important to me. Being married to Riley is.

The music changes, and Tony walks Vanessa down the aisle. Her light purple dress highlights her swollen baby bump. Audrey and Chuck are next, her dress a different style but no less gorgeous. Mitchell and Bex follow behind them, her gown flattering her full figure.

And then I see Cari in a deep purple dress, my princess in her arms. Emmy still hates clothes, but we’ve learned she tolerates bows, so she has a giant, fluffy headband with a bow to match her sparkly purple dress. My sister sets Emmy down, handing her the basket of flowers, and she immediately dumps it onto the floor.

The church erupts into chuckles as Emmy toddles down the aisle. She gets about halfway down before she trips, and Cari scoops her up into a hug before she can start crying.

“Down!” my daughter demands, and so down she goes.

Then she’s breaking free, running down the aisle.

“Dada! Dada!”

I swear my heart melts. Lifting her into my arms, I hold her close.

“Are you ready to see Mommy?” I ask her.

She nods, clapping happily.