Face-Off at the Altar

by Toni Aleo

  “There we go, Big D!” he cheered, and Dawson burped in agreement, which made everyone laugh. “Do I look amazing?”

  Baylor laughed as she pulled her phone out of her back pocket, taking a picture as Markus posed in a silly way, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. “Perfect.”

  As she kissed Dawson’s head, Avery said, “You know most guys hate that.”

  Markus scoffed. “Why? This is awesome. Me and my dude, I don’t even have to carry him. He just hangs. You know, because we’re hanging out,” he said with a chuckle, and Mekena couldn’t help it, she laughed.

  He noticed too and flashed her an even bigger grin that she quickly looked away from. She shouldn’t feel this way, she shouldn’t think he was funny, but apparently, her heart wasn’t listing to her brain.

  “You’re such a loser,” Lucy teased, and Markus stuck his tongue out at her.

  “Hater.”

  Baylor laughed. “Okay, so everything is in there. He should fall asleep as soon as you start walking, and call if you need me.”

  “We won’t,” he said, kissing her temple. “Enjoy your spa time. All of you enjoy. You deserve this, you beautiful ladies you.”

  Everyone grinned as he turned away, heading out the door with a baby bag on his arm and a baby strapped to him like he did this in his sleep. Even with the hatred she was supposed to feel and the fact that she was supposed to ignore him, she still had to admit it was supersweet.

  “He’s such a great guy,” Lucy said, and everyone nodded—except for Mekena and Avery, of course.

  “He loves Dawson something fierce, but he’s like that with all the kids,” Baylor mentioned, and Mekena noticed that Avery smiled.

  “He painted Ashlyn’s toes yesterday and had a tea party with her. That’s Markus, though, he loves kids,” she said, but when she noticed Mekena was glaring at her, she looked away. “But, so what?”

  Lucy laughed. “He did what he did, and I won’t make excuses for him. It was wrong and disgusting, and he knows I think he is a pig for it. But besides that lapse in judgment and stupidity, we all can agree he is a good guy, can’t we?”

  Everyone nodded. Even Avery did because Lucy was right. Markus was a wonderful guy. Good with kids, loyal to a fault, and would give the shirt off his back to anyone.

  Mekena had seen it done firsthand. A guy on campus was sleeping under a tree, no shirt or shoes on, and Markus gave him his shirt and shoes, along with fifty bucks to get something to eat or a place to stay. There were all kinds of moments like that. He was the first to organize the volunteering efforts the Bullies undertook to help the community. The many food drives he did, and how he went to read to the kids with cancer at the local hospitals. Markus was giving, that was his love language, but still, he’d broken her heart. Could that one act cancel out all the good he had ever done?

  The fact that the answer wasn’t clear bothered Mekena to no end.

  “I know I used to go up the middle a lot back at Bellevue, but I don’t here. I’ll carry it in, but I usually pass it up. We can’t be reckless. We have to support our goalie but also give our forwards some opportunities. If you have an opening or a shot, take it, but be smart.”

  Markus nodded over at Jayden as Dawson kicked his legs, leaning his little head against Markus’s chest. As much as he wanted to pay attention to his friend and captain, he couldn’t get the sight of Mekena out of his head. He tried to play it off; he tried not to make it seem like he was drinking in every detail of her. The tight black leggings she wore with the oversize shirt and some nude pumps. Her hair was down, a braid down the side, tucked behind her ear. The thing that stunned him the most was that she didn’t look like the girl he had known. No, she looked like a gorgeous, successful, and professional woman.

  One he was dying to touch and whisper to that she was beautiful.

  She wouldn’t even acknowledge him, though. He wanted to ask if she enjoyed the pancakes, if they were as good as she remembered. He wanted to know how her morning had gone, what she was getting done at the spa. Hell, he wanted to know everything. He just wanted her to talk to him, not scream, but talk. Had she finished Gilmore Girls? What about Game of Thrones? Did she finish the books? What else had she been doing in the last two years?

  But most of all, he wanted to make her smile.

  It was killing him, but he had to put that aside when Jayden said, “I think you did great today.”

  “Thanks, Cap,” Markus said, pride filling his soul, and Jayden smiled.

  “I knew you could do it. Always knew that, but seeing you out there, man, I’m really happy I fought for you.”

  Markus laughed. “Me too. I needed this opportunity.”

  “Yeah, and we’re gonna kill it,” he said, holding his fist up, and Markus knocked his to Jayden’s as Dawson cooed happily. Laughing, Jayden said, “I’m surprised he isn’t asleep.”

  Looking down at his little buddy, Markus agreed. “Yeah, Baylor said he should knock out as soon as I started walking, but he is wide awake.”

  “He’s crazy like his momma. Huh, little guy?”

  Markus smiled at the googly eyes Jayden had for his son, just as Benji, Jude, and Jace walked toward them. Standing, Jayden threw his hands up. “Finally, assholes.”

  “Sorry, I had a call,” Jude said, and even Markus could tell something was up.

  “You okay?” he asked, and Jude shook his head.

  “Apparently, they want to trade me to Minnesota.”

  “Minnesota? What the hell? Why?” Jayden asked, his face scrunching up. “Who could they get for you?”

  “Two awesome defensemen and a first- and fourth-round pick.”

  Benji whistled as Markus hissed, shaking his head while Jayden said, “Oh, well, I guess we’ll see you in Minnesota.”

  “Yeah, it isn’t final, but it will probably happen, and Claire is already upset. She can’t get out of her contract, so we’re really going to be living apart now.”

  Nodding sullenly, Markus looked up from Dawson. “Too bad that Vegas team isn’t ready.”

  “For sure,” Jude laughed, shaking his head. “I’m just ready to have my wife at home more than not, you know? It’s annoying, but we’ll be fine.”

  “Yeah, you will be,” Jace said confidently. “You guys are like mac and cheese.”

  “Peanut butter and jelly,” Markus added with a grin, and Jace grinned back playfully.

  “Pickles and ice cream.”

  “Toast and jam.”

  “Are you two done?” Jude asked, and they both shook their heads.

  “Tuna and mayo!”

  “Ketchup and mustard!”

  “Let’s go. These idiots will be here forever,” Jayden said, walking away toward the golf carts as Jace slapped Markus on the back.

  “Did I tell you that you look like a loser with my nephew strapped to you?”

  Markus shrugged as Dawson looked up at him. “Did I tell you that you look like a doofus, ’cause you do?”

  That had them both laughing as they hurried to catch up with the guys, but a question lingered in Markus’s heart.

  Did Mekena think he looked like a loser with Dawson strapped to him?

  “There is my sugar! Come here and give me a big ole hug, Markus Reeves!”

  Markus’s face broke into the biggest grin as Autumn Moore and her husband River came toward him, wrapping him up in their arms, careful of Dawson who had decided he wanted to stay strapped to Markus. Not that he was complaining.

  As she took his cheeks in her hands, Autumn’s eyes were full of love and she exclaimed, “Your face!”

  “I ran into an umbrella.”

  River scoffed. “That’s gonna be a good story for the kids when we’re older and looking back at these wedding pictures.”

  Markus laughed as Autumn nodded. “Other than that, how are you?”

  “Good, tired. I got called up.”

  A hard slap came to his back from River as he gushed, “That’s great! You couldn’t call?”<
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  “It’s been a whirlwind, I’m sorry,” he apologized as just out of the corner of his eye he saw Mekena enter with Avery and Jace, along with baby Ashlyn. Mekena hadn’t been at the cabin when he went to change earlier, only the fat cat was there. But she must have gone back at some point because instead of the leggings she was wearing earlier, she had on a dark plum dress that stopped at midthigh, with the first few buttons at the top open a bit. Her hair was up in a messy curl thingy to the side of her head, and she looked amazing. Perfect, especially with the high black pumps that made her legs look longer than they were.

  “Oh, it’s fine. You’re so busy, we understand,” Autumn gushed, pulling his attention from Mekena. “Why are you wearing my grandson?”

  Markus laughed, cuddling Dawson to him. “He’s my buddy.”

  “Well, give him here,” she said, but when she tried to take him, Dawson started to wail. “Dawson! What in the world? It’s Nana!”

  “Yeah, but I’m Markus. He loves me more,” Markus teased just as Lucy called everyone to the dinner table. They were in the grand hall, where a large table was set up for the whole family to eat. The flowers were in abundance, and the plates looked high-end and elegant. Benji wasn’t holding back with this wedding, giving Lucy everything she could ever dream of. It was nice, and it gave Markus some intense goals for when it was time for him to settle down. The main thing was giving the lucky woman everything she ever wanted, which would be easy for him.

  For the right girl.

  When Markus sat down between Autumn and Baylor, Jace sat across from him with Avery and Mekena to the left of him and Lucy and Benji to the right. Markus’s eyes instantly fell on Mekena, and God, he wished he could tell her how gorgeous she was. Her face was so much thinner, more angular, but oh, still so gorgeous. When Baylor went to reach for Dawson, he stopped her. “What are you doing? He’s fine.”

  “Don’t you wanna eat?”

  “Yes, but if you take him, you won’t be eating.”

  Baylor smiled, leaning into him. “You’re my favorite.”

  “I know.”

  “Um, excuse me. Husband right here,” Jayden said, which bought him a round of laughter. But that died down once the appetizers were served. Soon everyone was eating and enjoying the conversation, which was basically the Sinclairs arguing and nit-picking at each other. They were honestly their own comedy hour, and Markus loved every second.

  “Are you sure you want to marry her, Benji? You’re such a nice guy, she’s gonna ruin you,” Jude teased, and Lucy glared.

  “Well, Jude, problem is we’re already married, so I’m in it for the long haul,” Benji said, wrapping his arm around Lucy and kissing her cheek.

  “Plus, I didn’t have to beg him to be with me like you had to beg Claire. We all know about the over-the-top girlfriend proposal,” she joked, and everyone chuckled.

  “I loved it!” Claire gushed, and Jude gave Lucy a snide grin.

  “Winning.”

  “I think you just made me sound easy,” Benji said, and Markus’s face scrunched up. Huh?

  Laughing, Lucy said, “What?”

  “You said you didn’t have to beg me to be with you, and we all know I begged. So does that mean I’m easy?” he asked. For a second, Markus thought he was serious, but then he saw the playfulness in Benji’s eyes.

  “Yes, Benji, we all know you put out on the first date,” Jayden teased.

  “How do you know? Wait, didn’t y’all share a room on the road?” Jace accused, and again, a roar of laughter filled the room. “I always knew you had a thing for my brother.”

  “I will squish you like a bug,” Benji threatened, but Jace just laughed.

  “Lucy, get your husband. He’s being mean to your baby brother.”

  Lucy rolled her eyes at Jace. “You started it, brat. How do you deal with him, Avery?”

  “He’s good in bed,” she joked, and then her face went beet red when her eyes met her mother-in-law’s. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Mom.”

  But Autumn was laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe, which made everyone else laugh. These people were nuts, but Markus loved it. He’d never had this. Never had the siblings to pick at or the parents who laughed off stuff like that. No, he pretty much was alone after he lost his grandfather. Thankfully, though, the Sinclairs came soon after that.

  The second course was served then, a disgusting pumpkin soup that Markus wouldn’t touch, but apparently, everyone else thought was amazing. Sitting back in his seat, he played with Dawson as everyone ate and talked about the upcoming wedding.

  “Will the Adlers be there?” Autumn asked and Benji nodded.

  “Yup, along with most of the team, except for Tate and Erik, since they are competing at Worlds.”

  “Oh, yeah, I knew that,” River said, nodding his head. “You know, Elli Adler called me about coaching the Ninjas.”

  Markus’s neck almost broke, whipping his head to River. “No shit?”

  River laughed. “Yeah, told her no. Can’t leave my grandbabies and all my kids.”

  “Dad! That is an awesome opportunity,” Baylor complained.

  “You would be great down there. Coach Saint sucks,” Markus commented, and Autumn nodded.

  “I told him that, also that I’d go with him, but he won’t do it.”

  “My family is here, I have a great job, and my daughter coaches with me. Why would I leave that? I’m happy where I am.”

  Baylor held her father’s gaze. “Are you sure? This could lead to the NHL.”

  “I did my time in the NHL, I watched my baby do her time there, and I’ll one day watch my grandchildren there. I’m good. Don’t worry about me. I’m happy.”

  “He’s stubborn and says someone has to teach Dawson how to play,” Autumn teased, and Jayden pointed to himself.

  “I’m actually sorta good, don’t know if you know that,” he said, which everyone scoffed at. “I’m the captain of an NHL team, and I won the Norris.”

  “You suck,” Jace called. “Like big donkey dick.”

  “Wouldn’t it be horse dick? It’s bigger,” Lucy said, and Jace nodded, pointing to her in agreement.

  “Horrible defense, I don’t even know how you won the Norris for your shit play,” Jude teased.

  “I don’t even know what you’re doing on the ice. I basically have to play for you,” Markus joined in, and Jayden glared. “It’s good that I’m there now.”

  “It’s okay, baby. You’re great in bed,” Baylor added, and Markus sputtered with laughter. Soon, everyone was laughing again. Even Mekena. Her eyes were bright, beautiful, and he swore he had never seen anything so mesmerizing.

  He kept staring boldly, with no cares. That was until Autumn pulled his attention away. “So tell me the goods. Anyone special?”

  Markus looked away smiling as Lucy teased, “Come on, Mom. You know Markus is enjoying that single life.”

  Markus laughed. “Eh, not so much enjoying it.”

  “No?”

  He felt Mekena’s gaze on him as he looked down at his plate, shrugging. He wasn’t lying; he hated being single. The different girls, the shitty dives where he found them. Never really knowing if they’d have his back, or if they were out for the money he didn’t have. In a way, he didn’t feel single—he felt empty.

  Looking up to his pseudomother, he smiled. “Yeah, I mean, I’m single, technically, but my heart is owned by someone I don’t deserve.”

  He felt everyone’s gaze on him as he wet his lips, glancing across the table where Mekena was looking very interestedly at her plate. He had known that she was special, that she had meant a lot to him, but at that moment, he realized she owned his heart—completely.

  “Is that right?” Autumn asked.

  He nodded just as Mekena looked up, his eyes locking with hers. He hadn’t meant to say all that, but it was true. Beyond true. True as it may be, though, he knew that no matter what, he had fucked up and he would not get another chance. No matter how desperate he
was to have one. God, he just needed another chance.

  Not that he deserved it, but man, he sure wished he could have it.

  “Yup, not sure I’ll get it back anytime soon either.”

  He looked down at the top of Dawson’s head just as Autumn asked, “It isn’t Lucy, is it? You know she’s getting married.”

  It was like time stopped, and when he looked up, Lucy was choking on her drink as he looked back to Autumn, horror in his eyes.

  Oh, crap.

  “What? Why would it be Lucy?” Benji asked, just as confused as everyone else at the table.

  Autumn, never the wiser to the tension in the room, just laughed, “Because they had that thing.”

  Lucy was choking on her wine, and Markus didn’t know what to do, what to say as his best friends, aka Lucy’s brothers, who all looked at him in confusion along with some anger.

  “What thing?” Jace asked.

  “You had a thing with Lucy?” Jayden asked as Baylor snorted with laughter.

  “Oh, my God! Mom!” Lucy complained.

  “What is she talking about?” Benji asked, and Markus looked down, knowing this was not going to end well.

  “It was nothing, really. Just one time,” Lucy said and Markus scoffed.

  “I mean, it wasn’t nothing. We had fun, made love, but then we realized we were better as friends,” he said simply for his pride’s sake. Sex with him was good, dammit, and not nothing.

  “Markus!” Lucy snapped. “You’re not helping!”

  “Wait! You slept with my sister?” Jace asked, and Markus shrugged.

  “Like a million years ago,” he said and Jayden glared.

  “You and Lucy?”

  “It’s really not a big deal, people!” Lucy cried, her face turning red as Benji looked at her in disbelief.

  “You never told me you slept with him,” he said, and Lucy laughed.

  “I didn’t tell you about a lot of people I slept with! It was after I left Rick. It was one time, I was lonely.”

  “And so was I,” Markus said with a shrug. “And we all know Lucy is hot.”

  “Markus!” she snapped, and he looked at her, confused.

  “What? You are!”