Face-Off at the Altar

by Toni Aleo

  Closing his eyes, he shook his head, and Baylor laughed, pulling away as they both looked back at Jayden.

  “Shut it, Sinclair. You know I’m yours.”

  “Damn right you are, Sinclair,” Jayden said, such heat in his eyes.

  Jealousy ate Markus alive at that moment. He wanted that. He wanted that undying love and admiration that his best friends had. He wanted it with Mekena so damn bad, but it all just seemed unfixable. Hell, forgiveness felt unattainable. Everything seemed out of reach. Like an uphill battle he’d never win. But Markus was made for winning. Every time he was down, he got up and he fought for what he wanted. Yeah, he needed a reminder every once in a while, and it was usually Baylor giving that reminder. But once he got his head out of his ass, he fought. He fought for everything, and he wasn’t about to let that change now.

  Sitting with her hands in her lap, Mekena watched as Jayden, Baylor, and Markus came back around the table, taking their seats as Autumn gushed with happiness. “You came back. I thought you would be mad at me!”

  Markus laughed as he sat down, leaning into her. “Mad at you? Because you outed your daughter and me and almost got me beat up by your big, strong sons? Never, I love you, Mom!”

  Everyone snickered, well, everyone but Mekena and Benji. Benji looked just as miffed as she was sure she looked. It was just so frustrating. Markus was getting around with God and everyone, while she was busy pining over him. It was irritating and pretty damn infuriating! How Mekena had gotten through dinner thus far was beyond her. Not only did everything he said and did get under her skin, she couldn’t keep her damn eyes off him. Every move he made, she saw. Even if it was just to reach for his beer or the way his face wrinkled up in such an adorable way when the soup was served, she saw it, and man, she was disappointed in herself. Why did he matter? Why did she want to watch him? She needed help. Like professional damn help. But she’d have to worry about that later. First, she had to get through this damn wedding week.

  With a roll of her eyes, she fully expected dinner to continue to be awkward, for everyone to be hung up on what Markus and Lucy had done, but they weren’t. Within seconds, everyone was joking and carrying on as the rest of the courses came out. It was mind-blowing, but then…was it? It happened so long ago, and it was obvious Lucy was head over heels in love with Benji. It just gutted Mekena though, the forgiveness. She wished she could have even an ounce of it. The ability to forgive like they had.

  “So karaoke tomorrow, right?” Lucy asked, looking around the table as she held her spoon up, some of the pudding on the end of it.

  Everyone agreed as Benji said, “I hope Angie starts feeling better. I bet she would love that.”

  “Angie is sick?” Mekena found herself asking, and everyone looked over at her, probably because she hadn’t said much during the whole dinner.

  “Yeah, she’s got a bug. She’ll be okay, just needed some rest,” Lucy said, resting her chin on her hand as Benji leaned into her.

  “Maybe we should go check on her, get settled in since we have the skate party with the Assassins tomorrow afternoon.”

  Skate party? “Am I shooting that?”

  “Whoa, leave your guns at home, Mekena,” Jace teased, and she rolled her eyes.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “I think Libby is shooting it since you’re invited and all,” Lucy said warmly. Avery grinned over at her, and Mekena knew she had no way out. She wasn’t much of a skater, and she sure as hell didn’t want to go anywhere she didn’t have to since she knew Markus would be there.

  “Won’t that be fun, Mekena! We all know how you love skating,” Avery teased, but no one else knew she was a horrible skater.

  When Markus chuckled, she glared over at him as he said, “Yeah, I can’t wait to see that.”

  Markus looked surprised, while Avery rolled her eyes.

  So what if she couldn’t skate? She’d just hang out because she had to go. She wouldn’t give Markus the satisfaction of thinking he was right.

  Even though he was.

  Standing, she held her hands up. “Dinner was amazing, so beautiful. Thank you so much for inviting me, but I have an early morning. So, excuse me. Thank you again.”

  “Oh, we’re all heading out, I think,” Lucy said, and as she did, everyone started standing, gathering their things and saying good-bye. Since Mekena didn’t really have anyone to say bye to except Avery, which she had already done, she made her exit, hoping to get to the cabin before Markus. She wanted to be in her room, the door shut and locked before he even got there. Only three more days and then she could kick him out into the main hotel since she couldn’t bring Mr. Right in there.

  Going out into the chilled air, she wrapped herself up in her arms and started around the main house for the pathway to her cabin. The night sky was so clear, dark with sprinkles of beautiful white lights. She loved the October sky; it was her favorite. Fall in Nashville was unforgettable, and she hadn’t realized how much she missed it. The brisk air, the orange and red leaves, and how she wanted nothing more than to wrap up in a blanket with a cup of coffee and a good, big book. Or even cuddle with Mr. Right and watch some Netflix.

  She only felt like that when she was in Nashville. Nothing about Florida made her want to cuddle or drink coffee. Lie on the beach, yes, but there was nothing like a big blanket, a fire, some coffee, and a good book as the sky sparkled with lights. She missed it here a lot and, in a way, wanted to come back. Not that she would. She had a life. A life she was going to love one day. It was coming, she just knew it.

  When she heard a stick break, she looked behind her to see Markus only a few steps behind her.

  “Not a late night?” she asked as she turned, looking ahead. Why she asked him that was beyond her.

  “Nope, got an early morning.”

  “Surprising.”

  “No, really. I don’t do much.”

  “From what I hear, you do a lot.”

  “Guess you’ve been lied to,” he threw back, and she glared.

  “Happens a lot. Lots of lies. All the damn time,” she snapped, and she heard his intake of breath.

  “Mekena—”

  “Nope, gotta go,” she said and started walking faster to the cabin. Annoyed that she couldn’t enjoy the night sky, she furrowed her brow as she made it to the cabin, opening the door and walking through it with more force than needed. She went to slam it, but he filled the doorway.

  Walking back a few steps as she looked up at him, she found herself out of breath. He looked amazing. His shirt was wrinkled and pulled in spots from where he had been carrying Dawson all day. His tie was out of place and he had crumbs all over his pants, but he was just so big, so handsome, and damn it, why did she still want him? Why did it make her heart flutter at the thought of him carrying Dawson all day? Why did her insides burn with the need to fix his tie? Why was he so fucking irresistible to her?

  Frustrated, she said, “Stop following me.”

  “Wasn’t following you. We’re staying in the same cabin, in case you forgot.”

  “How can I forget? You leave shit everywhere!”

  “Oh,” he said, looking around as he shut the door. “I hadn’t realized. I’ll pick up. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize unless you mean it,” she threw back at him, and he held her gaze, his eyes going darker than the sexy butterscotch they usually were. She hated the way he made her feel, the wildness he brought into her soul, reasons why she had steered so clear of him for the last year and a bit. She had been so infatuated with him and then it turned into more, and he broke her heart. Somewhere in there, she should have learned, but apparently, her girly parts were not listening.

  “That sounds loaded, and I’m not sure where to go with that. I was just making sure you got home safe, and I’ll clean up. Sorry.”

  “I’m fine,” she yelled. Why did she yell that? God, she was a weirdo. “And don’t feed my cat!”

  His brows pulled together. “I didn’
t.”

  “You left out the damn pancakes, and he ate them all.”

  Markus’s eyes widened as he laughed a little. “Has no self-control, huh?”

  She glared, but soon her eyes grew big when he bent down to pick up her cat. Mr. Right didn’t even fight him; he cuddled into Markus’s neck as he nuzzled the cat. “We need to practice self-control, good sir. Those were your mommy’s pancakes.”

  Closing the distance, she pulled her cat from Markus’s grasp and glared. “Don’t touch my cat.”

  “He touched me first,” he complained as Mr. Right dug his nails into her arm. Crying out, she set him on the ground, her body shaking with anger. Why did he like Markus? Damn traitor cat!

  “I give you treats,” she growled at him, but Mr. Right didn’t care, waddling off into the bedroom.

  “But I gave him pancakes, apparently,” Markus said, and she scowled up at him.

  “Don’t follow me, don’t talk to me, and don’t touch my cat!” Turning on her heel, she knew she sounded ridiculous, but she wasn’t acting like herself. All because of him.

  “Anything else?”

  “No! That’s all,” she said, going to her door, but before she could slam it, he stopped her.

  “Okay, can I say something before you slam the door?”

  “Can you be quick?”

  Why did she ask that? Slam the door, you idiot!

  “You can talk to me, you can follow me, and if I had a cat, you could touch him. But above all that, I’d really like to talk to you. Just me and you, if you wouldn’t mind.”

  She could only blink. What in the world? “Why in the hell would I talk to you?”

  “Because I think we both need to discuss some things.”

  “Well, I think you’re an idiot, and I don’t want to talk to you.”

  “Well, I think you’re beautiful, and I want to talk to you. So let me know when you’re ready.”

  Again, all she could do was blink as he looked back at her, yearning in his eyes.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Okay, well, I’m patient.”

  She scoffed. “I know for a fact that isn’t true since you wouldn’t wait for me.”

  “Which is why I want to talk to you.”

  He was so quick on his feet, so sure of himself, and she was standing there, unsure about everything. One second, she wanted to throw something at him. The next, she wanted to sit down and listen to everything he had on his mind. She wanted to nuzzle into his chest, ask him questions, talk about TV shows they had loved and books they had read together. She wanted to know why he wasn’t in the NHL yet and how it was going with the Assassins. But then, she wanted to wish him into the deep depths of hell. She was insane, and she couldn’t trust herself.

  She didn’t know what she would do.

  So instead of answering him, she slammed the door.

  As she stood there sucking in deep breaths, she expected to feel invigorated, strong. But instead, as the wood grains of the door went fuzzy, she felt…awful.

  Mekena was positively the biggest idiot on the face of the earth.

  Looking down at the pair of ice skates adorning her feet, she shook her head. How in the hell did she get into this position? Oh, that’s right, she was too proud to give Markus the satisfaction of knowing the truth about her and her horrible skating abilities. Dumb Mekena. She saw the ice rink was full of the families of the Assassins. Everyone was skating with ease, laughing and having a great time. Meanwhile, Mekena was trying to get feeling back into her toes while trying to look like her phone had the most important email known to man on it.

  “When will Audrey be back?”

  Looking up, she saw Lucy standing with two women she didn’t recognize. They were gorgeous, like most of the damn Assassins wives were. And really, that was a bit sickening. Like, why were all these people so damn beautiful? Weren’t hockey players supposed to be a little busted?

  “She told me she’d be back Friday morning to do the cake, and then she delivers it on Saturday morning, right?” one of them asked, and Lucy nodded.

  “That’s what she told me.”

  “Yeah, Piper told me she was staying with all the kids while Audrey flew back, but I wasn’t sure when that was. And I feel like she needs more than one day to do a cake,” the other lady said.

  “Don’t underestimate my sister. She’s a genius when it comes to sweets,” the second woman said, and Lucy grinned.

  “You got that right, Fallon. I can’t wait. I’m so excited,” she said, leaning her hip into the boards. Fallon. Mekena knew that name. Ah! Lucas Brooks’s wife.

  “You look so happy.”

  “I am,” Lucy said, her eyes so bright and so full of love. “I really am, Reese, thanks for noticing.” And Mekena knew that name, Phillip Anderson’s wife. Man, she was good.

  “Are you hiding?”

  Startled, she looked up to see Libby standing above her, her camera in her hand, right as she snapped a picture. Laughing, she said, “Ha! I’m framing that one.”

  “I will cut you,” Mekena warned, and Libby eyed her.

  “Why aren’t you out there having fun?”

  “Yeah! Mekena, come on. It’s a great sheet of ice. It’s new just for us. Even I can skate on this,” Lucy gushed, and while Mekena loved Lucy, she did, at that moment she wanted to cut her too. She was way too giddy. But then, if Mekena were marrying her happily ever after and had her initials painted in the middle of the ice, she’d be giddy too. “Not well, but I can skate. Somewhat.”

  “I’ll be out in a few,” Mekena said as happily as she could.

  “Oh, crap. Is that my kid trying to ride Shea like a horse? Shit, it is,” Fallon said, skating off in a hurry with Reese, and thank God, Lucy was behind her. Sighing heavily because she was pretty sure Lucy was going to try to bring her out there, Mekena looked to Libby.

  “Shouldn’t you be taking pictures or something?”

  Libby grinned. “And miss picking on you? Nah, I’m good.” Sitting down beside her niece, she crossed her legs and leaned into her. “Have I mentioned before that Avery and her love toy make me sick?”

  Glancing to where Libby was looking, Mekena laughed as Avery and Jace skated together in a very sugary sweet way. Avery was holding Ashlyn as she skated, and Jace was holding both of them, looking like an image from a poster for family skate night.

  “You’ve said it a few times. But man, she is so happy, and she needs that.”

  “I know, I know,” Libby said, waving her off. “I’m a hater.”

  “You are.”

  Grinning, they leaned into each other as they looked around, and Libby took pictures here and there. Everyone was having a blast, and Mekena couldn’t help but smile as she watched all the families and friends interact. She felt a little out of place since she wasn’t a part of any of this, but it was nice to watch everyone. An outsider looking into the awesomeness that was the Assassins team.

  When her eyes fell on Markus, though, her lips pressed together. He hadn’t been at the cabin when she had woken up that morning. She’d figured he had practice or something, but he didn’t look the least bit tired. Instead, he looked fresh and happy, so damn happy. There was a pile of kids around him asking for rides, and he was in heaven. His eyes were bright and joyful as he skated each kid around, lying on the ice with them, and chasing them. She could watch him for hours; he was so good with kids. He always said he loved them because he’d wanted a little brother or sister. Growing up alone, he craved a younger sibling, which was why he clicked with children so well.

  It was nice.

  But a bit painful.

  He would make a great dad one day.

  “So where is our Markus?”

  With horror in her eyes, Mekena shushed her quickly, smacking her in the process. “Libby!”

  Still laughing because, obviously, they were in high school, Libby looked out onto the ice. “Oh, I see him.”

  “Shut up.”

  “Wow, he is
sexy.”

  “Please Lord, shut up.”

  “Damn, he’s got one hell of an ass. Bounce a quarter off that sucker.”

  “Oh Lord, please take me now.”

  “Damn, have you seen those eyes? I really could use some caramel right now.”

  “I hate you.”

  “Aw, the kids love him. That’s his godbaby, right? Dawson?”

  “Libby, please be quiet. People can hear you.”

  “Maybe I should go introduce myself. Do you think it would ruin the party if I kicked him in the balls?”

  “I swear on everything holy—”

  “He doesn’t look like a douche, though. I kind of feel bad for saying that.”

  “Libby, shut up!”

  She hadn’t meant to yell it, but when she looked up, everyone was staring over at her like she was crazy, while Libby just laughed.

  “Jeez, Kennie, you’re so mean,” Libby teased as she got up and headed onto the ice, skating with ease. Thankfully, nowhere near Markus. Mekena wasn’t sure if her crazy aunt would actually try to take out Markus, so she’d need to keep her eyes on her. But that was hard when Markus was there. He skated effortlessly, owning the ice as he spun with Dawson in his arms. It was so adorable.

  Damn it.

  Rolling her eyes, she leaned back against the bench as she held her phone back up, hoping everyone would think she was just working and not avoiding the ice like the plague. She figured if she stayed over where she was, undetected, she could avoid getting out on the ice and making a fool of herself. She knew Avery was busy and Lucy and Benji were being gushed over, so she should be good.

  That was her plan, at least.

  She was knee-deep in an intense game of Candy Crush when she heard Markus’s voice. Her heart stopped, her stomach clenched, and when she looked up, he was standing only feet away with Shea Adler.

  And really, it was unfair for two men to be so gorgeous.

  “Yeah, for sure, I’ll take any advice.”

  Shea nodded, tucking his hands into his pockets. “Cool. Listen, you’re great, everyone is happy with your performance. I know this, I’m sleeping with the boss,” he joked, and Markus laughed. “But when I was watching this morning, I noticed something. So I went back to your footage from Bellevue and then in the AHL, and again, I saw it. You’re not playing unless you have the puck.”