Page 65 of Center Ice

“Sorry, I was just thinking.”

“Because I brought up the L-word? Sorry, I didn’t mean to freak you out.”

I smiled at her. “I just hadn’t really thought about it yet, but I think we are heading that direction.”

Her lips twitched like she was fighting to contain her own smile. “That’s very good news.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, I like you and want to keep you around.”

My stomach dropped. That was so nice of her to say. How would she feel when I told her I was going with Jake to Indiana? Would the other women care, too? This was my first chance at having a solid group of girlfriends. I didn’t want to give that up, but I would. For Jake.

“Hi, ladies!” Addison appeared around the corner of the house with Eli in her arms. Lucy, Amelia, and Elena followed.

“Hey!” Sydney stood to greet them, and I joined her.

“Syd said there was a pool party, so we decided to take advantage,” Lucy explained.

“Don’t you have to work?” Sydney asked.

She shrugged. “I said I had an important appointment today that I couldn’t miss.”

Elena stepped up. “She just didn’t want us to book up all of Dani’s time.”

“Yeah, I even got out of training today to be here,” her sister, Amelia, added.

“No cheating. This was my idea. I invited you guys to be polite.” Addison was sitting on one of the pool chairs, running sunscreen on Eli’s little arms. His eyes were glued to the water like he couldn’t wait to get in. She put a floaty vest on him before heading to the steps and getting in. He was kicking before he was even in the water and squealed when he was waist-deep.

It was adorable, and I couldn’t help but watch.

“Great, you can’t use the baby to steal her attention,” Elena grumbled.

“All is fair in love and war, dear.” Addison grinned and waved me over. I followed her in and clapped with Eli.

“I was serious last night,” she started. “Grant and I have been putting off a wedding because we’re both so busy. I thought things would slow down in the offseason, but he’s got a new endorsement deal that’s taking up so much time. I’m working part-time now, but Eli’s getting more and more active, and I just can’t get myself to sit down and really focus.” She sighed. “I need help.”

This was the first consultation I’d ever done in a pool, which was actually surprising, considering my last location, but I didn’t mind the change. It wasn’t as formal as I was used to, but if I was working with friends, I preferred it this way.

“Do you have any ideas about what you want? Location? Theme? Number of guests?”

“It will be mostly just the team. I’m not really in contact with my family anymore.” Her smile faltered. That was something I’d want to talk about someday, but now wasn’t the time.

“So fairly intimate?”

She nodded. “Neither of us are fussy about the details. I think that’s also why it’s been so hard to plan. Both of us just want to be married.”

“I know I’m a wedding planner, and this goes against everything I do for a living, but have you considered eloping?” It seemed like the perfect idea for them.

“No. Someone,” she said loudly, “did that, and now the rest of us have been forbidden to even think of doing it.”

I glanced back, and Sydney shrugged. “You should have done it first.”

I laughed. “Who did the forbidding?”

“Madi and Chloe were the most vocal, but I think Coach Romney and Rust were pretty disappointed, too,” Addison replied.

“Got it. No eloping, but something simple. I’m guessing you don’t want anything grand or fussy.”