God, I am a whipped fucking asshole.
I smirk, letting myself into the house. I’ve only got about forty-five minutes before I have to leave for the arena. I hurry through my routines, passing my kitchen full of roses. I shower, shave, and do some stretches while I have a snack.
Meanwhile, Tess maintains total radio silence.
I slip into my suit and head down to the laundry room where I keep my gear bag. I retrofitted a shower and hang-up area for all my stuff. It keeps it from stinking up the rest of our stuff in the main closets.
I grab my backpack, ready to stuff my workout gear, a change of underwear, and some fresh socks inside. I pull the zipper and my eyes immediately narrow. There’s something tucked into the front pocket. I widen the zipper and tug out a blue file folder. Flipping it open, I peer down at a legal-looking document. It’s an application of some kind, with spots for your name, address, and phone number. It’s been filled out in blue pen. My heart thrums as I work through the first few lines.
“Oh my god.” Tears sting my eyes as I trace my finger along the lines, stopping when I see my last name: L-A-N-G-L-E-Y.
Now I’m smiling like a fool. This is a name change application. We talked about doing it a while ago. I had just returned home from an away game and she asked me if she could take my name, even with us not being married.
“Tess Owens is my past,” she said over shared cartons of pad Thai. “I want Tess Langley to be my future…even without the ring.”
Of course, I said yes.
The next day, Doc stopped by with a set of fancy, monogramed towels that had them both laughing for ten minutes straight and ended with them crying and hugging.
That was the last time she mentioned it.
I find the date on the form and my smile spreads. This is dated from over a month ago. These are the copies she already submitted that carry a government seal and signature.
That’s when it hits me. She’s not changing her name. She already changed it. I think she changed it the day after we discussed it. She’s Teresa Langley now.
Yeah, nothing is going to keep me from getting to this game. And Tess better be there, ready to get on one knee.
“What’s up with you?” Sully says, lacing up his skates. “You’re being weird today.”
“Leave him alone,” Jake shouts from across the locker room. “He’s a man in love.”
“We know,” says Walsh on my other side.
“Yeah, but tonight Tess finally makes an honest man out of him,” Jake calls to the room.
Sully looks at me wide-eyed. “Wait, is he serious, Langers? Are you finally joining the Married Men Club?”
“We don’t call it that,” says Jake.
“Oh, but we should,” says J-Lo, stuffing his head inside his jersey. “It’s the most exclusive, most elite club.”
“How do we know Tess is gonna ask you tonight?” Walsh asks, snagging my stick tape.
“We know,” Jake and Sanny say at the same time.
I just roll my eyes, letting the guys tease me as I punch Walsh and steal back my stick tape. I’m halfway down the blade when a very confused looking Teddy comes stumbling in. “Uhh…guys? Is this allowed?” He steps back and four men in sparkly red and white striped suits and straw hats come marching in.
“What the fuck is this?” says Novy, getting to his feet.
But I already know what this is.
“Please, God, no,” I mutter. “Anything but this.”
“Hello,” the tall man with the ginger mustache calls out to the room. “We’re looking for Ryan.”
The whole locker room hoots and hollers as they point me out, because apparently there’s no sense of brotherhood left in this damn sport.
I get to my feet, already in my skates. “Listen, you really don’t need to—”
“You’re Ryan?” Mustache asks.
“Oh, yeah, that’s him,” says Sully. The asshole is way too gleeful about this.
All around the room, the guys are getting their phones out. My gaze flashes to the corner where Doc is leaning against the wall by Mars, her arms folded. Catching my eye, she winks.
Oh, fuck her. She is so dead.
Mustache blows on some little flute thing. “Ready, boys?”
And then I’m knocked to my ass on the bench as the quartet breaks out in boisterous singing and arm-swinging:
Bum bum bum bum.
Tonight’s the night that Tess will get on one knee.
Bum bum bum bum.
And you and she will live oh so happily.
Your hair is blond, your eyes are green, your face is like a dream.