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As soon as we are a few feet inside, Scotty and Sam, Eli’s twin cousins, bombard him, bypassing Marc and Ali altogether, most likely because they saw them on the slopes just yesterday.
“We heard about your ankle,” Scotty says. “When will you be back on the ice?”
I place my hand on Eli’s lower back, gently grazing it. His extended family doesn’t really cause his anxiety to flare too much. But still, the panic has been settling in a bit more than usual because of this fresh injury, and he needed an extra therapy session this week because of it.
“I’m putting skates on next week,” Eli says without hesitation.
“Maybe,” I chime in with a pointed glance. “If you’re cleared.”
“Hey, Logan.” Sam’s pale cheeks turn a shade of pink.
“Get the fuck out of here,” Eli laughs.
“I’m just saying, hey.”
“Bullshit,” his twin brother chimes in.
“Hey, Sam,” I say, giving Eli a playful swat on his chest for being his over-possessive self.
“I’ll be playing in the first round of playoffs,” Eli adds with confidence.
I want to believe that’s true, and knowing Eli, he will do it regardless of if his ankle is ready or not, which makes me worried about the long-term effects if he goes back too soon. But he won’t let someone tell him he can or can’t do something. We are alike in that way.
I give him a little squeeze while he’s mid-sentence before I step around the boys to find my seat. Marc and Ali seem awfully cozied up in our pew, despite Ali’s hesitation to be here just earlier this week. They aren’t touching, but they’re sitting as close as possible without showing any public affection.
“Well, hot damn, Logan!” Mary’s tiny body scurries to me, opening my jacket and checking out my dress. “Thank god there’s no bride because you’d be showing her up.”
“Right back at you.” I take a long look at how pretty Mary’s navy-blue dress is. She gives me a spin, never being one to shy away.
“Right?” Jack wraps his arm around his wife’s shoulder. “You’re the prettiest one here, baby.”
“Correct answer.” Mary taps his chest. “Did you see that the Turners made it?”
“Oh, good. We should go say hi before the ceremony starts.” Jack and Mary walk away to find their friends, his arm still draped over her.
There are a lot of reasons why I love Eli’s parents. They raised my two favorite boys, they’ve become second parents to me, and Jack is a trusted friend. But almost more than anything, I’m thankful for their relationship and the example they’ve set for Marc and Eli. I have to assume that the way Eli treats me directly reflects how Jack treats Mary.
I want what they have, and thankfully, I think I’ve got it.
“This is a pretty sweet setup,” Eli says, coming up behind me.
“Yeah, it’s beautiful.”
“Let me go hang up your jacket. Mary said there’s a coat closet in the next room over.”
“I got it. Take a seat.”
“Logan.” Eli’s tone holds a hint of frustration. “I can walk a few feet. Please, just let me do something for you for once.”
I give him a half-smile, peeling off my caramel-colored wool coat. As soon as it’s past my shoulders, Eli’s eyes widen again, just like they did when we were back at the cabin ten minutes ago.
Eli’s warm breath tickles my ear as he bends down and whispers, “Thank god we aren’t in a church right now because my mind is racing with a whole lot of unholy things I want to do to you in this dress.”
I feel my cheeks heat as Eli slips my jacket off the rest of the way before dropping his lips to my collarbone and placing a kiss there.
“I love you, too,” I remind him before he slowly limps away towards the coat closet, careful not to put too much weight on his ankle.
Aunt Grace and Uncle Tommy give me a quick hello and a hug before I slide my way next to Marc in our pew of seats.
