The Attack Zone (Slap Shot #2)

30. Mitch

CHAPTER 30

MITCH

FIVE DAYS LATER

I think I might be in love with Stacey Anderson.

It hit me right around the time I wandered into the living room to find a fort complete with Christmas lights hanging from the top and The Mighty Ducks on my TV screen ready to be played. Then the flowers arrived, and Stacey didn’t immediately impale me with a kitchen utensil for being her secret admirer for over a year, and I guess that kinda sealed the deal.

The problem is, I have no idea what to do about it. I’m also in no position to be making big life decisions right now, and the last thing I’d want is to ask Stacey to be with me and then have to go back on it when my brain takes over.

It’s been a week since my little meltdown and I’m finally starting to feel more stable. I’m definitely still a bit on edge, but I feel more in control than I did last weekend. Which is good, because today is Caleb and Cassie’s wedding and I want to be my absolute best for them. I drove up to the mountains yesterday for the rehearsal dinner but I didn’t go out with the rest of the team. I got plenty of sleep and I feel totally ready to take on my groomsman and co-wedding planner duties.

Stacey and I had already booked separate rooms, and Cassie stayed with Stacey so Caleb wouldn’t see her this morning, so I haven’t seen Stacey since the rehearsal dinner. I reach for my phone on the nightstand of my hotel room and unplug it to text her.

Mitch: Good morning, love. I’m going to head downstairs for breakfast soon if you want to meet to make sure everything is ready for today?

Stacey: Sure! I’ll be down in twenty.

Mitch: Perfect. See you soon.

I roll out of bed and walk across the room to get into the shower. Once I’ve finished actually cleaning myself, I let the water fall around me for a few minutes. I’ve been taking extra-long, extra-hot showers all week. Something about them helps me feel more grounded and centered.

I dry off and search my overnight bag for my medication. I find the two orange bottles and take a pill from each, popping them into my mouth and gulping down water to take them. I’m sure Stacey will be dressed perfectly as always, so I don’t just throw on sweats. Instead, I put on a nice pair of jeans and a button-up shirt, rolling the sleeves up to my elbows.

Stacey: Heading down!

Mitch: Be right there!

Our check-in goes well, and everything appears to be ready for the day, so we go our separate ways to get over to the venue and get ready with our respective halves of the bridal party. I’m playing cards with Thomas and Caleb in the cottage we’re supposed to be getting ready in when my phone buzzes .

Stacey: Do you know if the florist is here yet?

Stacey: Wait, the linen delivery needs to be here first!

Stacey: Crap, I have to go get my hair done.

Mitch: Stacey. Love. Take a breath. It’s going to be fine.

Mitch: But if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll go check on the reception set up.

Stacey: Are you sure? Don’t you need to get ready?

Mitch: I have to put on a suit. It’s hardly going to take the four hours you have allocated on the tick tock.

Stacey: Is it weird that I’m turned on by you using the phrase ‘tick tock’?

This is the first time Stacey has talked about anything remotely sexual in a week, so I’m not about to let it pass.

Mitch: Well in that case ...

Mitch: Tick tock.

Mitch: Project management tool.

Mitch: Spread. Sheet.

She sends a laughing emoji followed by a kissing emoji. I send a heart back before I walk across the field towards the reception space and try to ignore the woods in the distance where Stacey and I agreed to be friends with benefits. Her pulling me against a tree to kiss me was hot as hell, and I don’t need to be horny all day, but also that was where we agreed to be friends with benefits, and I definitely don’t think I want that anymore. I think I want more. A lot more.

Once I’m satisfied that everything is going according to plan at the reception space, I walk back to the cottage and get changed into my suit. It takes all three of us to force Caleb’s messy hair into submission, but in the end we look pretty damn good, if I do say so myself. The guests have started to arrive, and according to our tick tock, it’s time for Caleb to see Cassie for the first time today. He and Thomas walk out of the cottage with me behind, and I’m about to follow them when I see her.

Stacey is standing on the porch of the women’s cottage. Her red dress hugs the curves of her chest in a way that’s going to drive me insane all night, and her long hair is pulled into an updo that leaves her neck exposed. I find myself wanting to kiss my way up and down it before lightly digging my teeth into her favorite spot. That’ll have to wait, though, because we have a wedding to celebrate.

“Hey, you,” she says as her light smile spreads into a big grin when she sees me.

“Hey, love. May I escort you to the ceremony?” I say dramatically, offering her my arm.

She giggles and takes my arm as I guide her down the porch steps. “You may,” she says.

We walk across the field until we reach the edge of the ceremony area, where Cassie is hiding behind a tree, Caleb hanging right by her side, kissing her cheek on repeat. If I wasn’t such a romantic, it’d honestly be gross how into each other these two are.

The music starts and my heartbeat picks up. All the work Stacey and I put into this thing and it’s finally here. I reach down and take her hand to give it a quick squeeze. She gives me a smile and we find our place behind Thomas and Hazel. Caleb starts things off, followed by Ralph, Hazel’s son and oversized ring-bearer/junior groomsman. Hazel and Thomas follow shortly behind him, and then it’s our turn. Stacey laces one arm through mine, holding onto her bouquet with the other. I have to say, Gabe absolutely nailed the flowers. They’re perfect.

We walk down the aisle and I manage to keep Stacey on her feet despite her insisting on wearing heels in a grassy field. We reach the end of the aisle where Anthony, Cassie and Caleb’s boxing coach, is waiting to officiate. Stacey removes her arm from mine and I can’t help but reach down to kiss her on the cheek. A few people in the crowd let out various versions of “aww” as we walk to our separate sides of the arbor. When she turns towards me, with the mountains in the background, I’m able to really take her in again. It’s a good thing Anthony is the officiant, because I’d probably be speechless. There’s something about Stacey that does that to me, I guess.

The music changes and Cassie appears. Based on the collective inhale of the crowd, I’m not the only one who’s speechless now. Cassie looks beautiful, and the smile on her face when her eyes meet Caleb’s tells me that this is going to be a marriage for the history books.

Their vows prove me right. They’d wanted a short ceremony, so only a few minutes have passed, but as Cassie talks about how Caleb opened her up to love, I have to reach for the handkerchief Caleb gave me this morning. Once I’ve blotted my eyes, I look over at Stacey. Caleb is putting a ring on Cassie’s finger now, but all I see is Stacey, tears sparkling in her eyes. This past week has been so hard, and despite everything she stood by me. I’ve seen more of her, the tender side of her, and I love what I see.

It may have taken getting halfway to a mental breakdown and a beautiful wedding, but as Cassie places Caleb’s ring on his finger and repeats her vows, I’ve never been more sure of anything. I really am madly in love with Stacey.

She smiles at me from across the aisle and my grin probably looks so wide and goofy, but I don’t even care. All I care about is proving to Stacey that I deserve her. I may not even believe it myself yet; I might feel like a selfish ass for wanting her to love someone like me back, but I can’t help myself.

Before I know it, Caleb and Cassie are kissing and dancing back down the aisle. Stacey steps towards me and I take her hand. We dance down the aisle together and don’t stop dancing when we reach the end. Caleb and Cassie are being whisked off by the photographer to do portraits during the cocktail hour, but we just stand at the edge of the crowd and bounce to the beat of the music. Thomas and Hazel join us, and we dance until the music comes to an end and most of the crowd has moved on to the bar. I’m not planning on having alcohol any time soon, but just dancing with Stacey is enough to make me feel a little tipsy.

We dance our way through the whole night, from our entrance into the reception to Thomas lying to the DJ about it being my twenty-second birthday so I’m forced to dance to Taylor Swift. I look nothing like a twenty-two-year-old, but whatever. When it’s finally time to pack it in, I’m exhausted and sweaty and I want a shower. But I also want Stacey in my arms.

“Want to come back to my room tonight?” I whisper in her ear as we’re climbing into the elevator of the hotel.

“Sure, but I’m exhausted,” she says.

“Me too,” I say. “I just want you next to me tonight.” And probably for the rest of my life.