Page 14 of He Has It All (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
Mrs. Brown smiles and nods and puts a hand over hers. “I’m afraid our Ryan has some sorting out to do before he’s ready to settle down.”
“Someday he’ll be lucky enough to find someone like I did,” Levi says and I want to gut punch him. He smirks at me.
“It’s no easy task for a man in his position, son,” Doc says. “He’s in the limelight, not tucked away in his office at a bank like you. He has money and fame and he needs to be very careful.”
His wife elbows him. “Let’s not talk about the boy as if he’s not here.”
“You started it.”
“Mom’s right,” Levi says before I have a chance to intervene.
“Hell, I’d rather you all talk about me while I’m here than behind my back.”
Everyone laughs except Chelsea. I can’t read her look except that it’s strained and I’m not sure what it’s about. I want so badly to take her hand and excuse us and take her next door, but there’s no way for that to happen, no scenario where I can finesse that. And if I could, if I did, no way I’d be able to look myself in the mirror in the morning.
She drains her coffee and stands.
“I’m so glad I had a chance to meet you tonight, Mrs. Brown, Doctor, but I have to get going.”
Levi jumps from his chair at the same time as I do and says, “I’ll see you out.”
The three of us walk to the door after goodbyes and I growl at Levi under my breath.
“You’re taking a chance on having a black eye for your wedding day, aren’t you?”
He laughs. “I want to talk to Chelsea about Maggs. It has nothing to do with you. You really need to get your head out of your ass. Not everything is about you.”
“Fuck you.” It’s a lame thing to say. He’s always telling me to get my head out of my ass, why should tonight be any different?
“That’s telling him,” Chelsea says over her shoulder. We both follow her outside and Levi pulls the front door closed behind us. We’re standing on the front portico, white columns framing us, frogs croaking in the distance and the ocean breeze lifting the skirt of Chelsea’s dress until she puts a hand against her thigh to hold it in place.
“I’m fine to drive. I’ll see you tomorrow for the luncheon,” she says, turning to dismiss us.
“Wait a sec,” Levi says.
“Not so fast,” I say.
She huffs out a breath and turns back to us. “What?”
“You were out with Maggs?” Levi says.
“Yeah. We had a little bachelorette party. No big deal.” She smiles and touches Levi’s arm. “She’ll be good as new tomorrow.”
“You seem intact,” Levi says.
“Did you know you look exactly like Denzel Washington when you smile?”
Levi laughs when I would have rolled my eyes. He’s heard the comparison only slightly less often thanhellobased on my observation of him. And I’ve had plenty to observe over the years. Before my sister snagged him, he was my wingman and I was his. They didn’t call us the dynamic duo on and off the ice at BC for nothing.
But I’m over that now. He’s happier than fuck, so I can’t complain, not for real. For kicks I give him shit, though, as often as possible.
“Thank you for not mentioning the bachelorette party to my mother. Or to my dad,” he says. I scoff.
“Why? Don’t they believe in bachelorette parties?”
“Not that. Maggs would feel self-conscious.”
Chelsea nods. She knew.She knows my own sister better than I do. No surprise there, I guess. Conjoined twins. Except for that one year Chelsea was with the Olympic volleyball team.
