“If I can ask Coach for Chelsea’s hand, you can ask Mr. Knight for Lexi’s hand in marriage.”
“Dr. Knight.”
“Whatever, just man up, ask him, and then ask her … on December twenty-first.”
“I thought you said December twenty-eighth?”
“Pucking hell, just do it.”
“Fine, I’ll call Dr. Knight now.”
“Good luck, but I’m sure the good doctor will be happy to give his blessing to the man who broke his little girl’s heart before he finally grew a pair and swept her off her feet.”
“You’re a real piece of work sometimes, Jones. Go back to pucking Canada.”
“I will, next month when we play the Vancouver Vikings.”
He rolls his eyes at me, turns, and walks away with his phone to his ear. Like a creeper, I stand here and watch him, gradually sliding closer so I can hear him ask. I've never seen him look so nervous but after the question passes his lips, he holds his breath. He looks like he’s gonna upchuck, glad I’m not in hurling distance, but suddenly he’s smiling. I’m telling you, Ronald-freakin’-McDonald McSmiling. Clearly, Dr. Knight has given him the okay to marry his daughter. JJ offers me a thumbs-up, and I find myself smiling back at him.
“What’s got you smiling like Ronald McDonald?” Chels asks me, sliding her arm around my waist and resting her head on my chest.
I chuckle to myself at her Ronald reference since I just used it myself. “JJ just asked Dr. Knight permission to ask Lexi to marry him and he gave his blessing.”
“No pucking way.”
“Yes, pucking way, and now you need to keep it a secret until December twenty-ninth?”
“Why not Christmas?”
“’Cause he doesn’t want to ruin all the Christmases thereafter, hard to top a diamond ring for a gift.”
“This is true, but why that date?”
“It’s random and one I totally made up. I actually have no clue when he’s going to do it.”
“He needs to do it now ‘cause I can’t keep this secret.” Looking up at my husband, I eye him. “Babe, you know I can’t keep secrets.”
“Even though you’re keeping one from me now?” Her eyes widen and then it hits me, she IS keeping a secret. Pulling her closer, I stare into her eyes. “What are you keeping from me, Chelsea Jones?”
“Nothing, I’m—” She doesn’t get a chance to finish her lie because we’re interrupted by Wren and Doucheman.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Wren says with a smile, “but Kallen, it’s time for you guys to give your speech.”
“Sure,” I reply with a nod. Looking back at my secret-hiding wife, I place a kiss on the tip of her nose. “We’ll finish this later,” I tell Chels before I follow Wren and Doucheman to the front of the room.
We stand to the side of the makeshift stage and Wren begins explaining what’s about to happen but I don’t pay attention, I keep staring over at my wife. Worry is etched on her face and that in turn makes me worry because she’s hiding something. And as she said, she’s the worst secret keeper in the history of secret keepers, so the fact that she IS hiding something means it’s big.
“Focus, Jones,” Doucheman growls at me. “I don’t want you fucking this up for me, you’ve already nearly cost me everything, I won’t have you do it again.”
My face scrunches in confusion, what did I almost cost him? He’s the one who got drunk and threw the first punch. He’s the one who landed us in this predicament, not me. He’s such a douche, but I don’t have time to worry about that or my wife and her secret because, it’s go time.
CHAPTER11
CHELSEA
Shit! Shit! Shit!I internally repeat as I stand here and watch Kal and Stefan follow Wren. He knows I’m keeping a secret and the hurt I saw in his eyes was a kick to the va-jay-jay. I know this secret will be worth the surprise, but maybe I need to tell him now. Christmas is still a week away and I don’t know if I can keep lying to him like this. “Puck me!” I mumble.
Someone walks past me and heads toward the kitchen, the scent of raw meat hits me like a freight train and my stomach begins to churn. That ‘ohh shit, I’m gonna vomit’ lump forms in the back of my throat. “Be right back,” I whisper to Lex and before she can say anything, I turn and race away from her toward the restrooms.