He groans. “Alright, well, I’ve got our twins out here because I really think we need to settle this once and for all,” he calls, one hand each on Harrison and Amy’s shoulders. “Seattle, I know you may want me to be your best man but—”
“What?” Harrison cries, slapping Jake’s hand off his shoulder. “No fucking way, asshole. Rachel is my twin. I will literally stab you in the throat if you try and take this from me. I’m best man.”
“See, this is the problem,” Jake calls. “Your brother is threatening to murder me if I’m your best man!”
Inside the closet, Rachel is laughing. “Jake, you know I love you, but Harrison is my best man.”
“Damn fucking straight,” says Harrison. “You’ve been a Price for all of three hours. I’ve been a Price for almost thirty years. You want a job, be their ring bearer.”
Jake holds up his hands in surrender. “Hey, man, that’s cool with me. I totally agree. You should be her best man. That’s what I wanted to say. I’ll hold the rings. I’ll hold her flowers—”
“I’m holding her flowers,” I say, my hands back on my hips. “Best friend holds the flowers.”
“Right, Tess holds the flowers,” Jake corrects. “Why don’t—how about I stand up with Mars, huh? I’ll just stand over by Caleb and Mars,” he calls out for Rachel’s benefit.
Rachel smiles. “That sounds great, babe. Was that your only concern?”
He groans again, glancing to Amy. “Well…there’s still the issue of who’s going to be my best man when I marry Cay. And babe, I love you so fucking much—”
“Hey, don’t even try it, jerk face,” Amy huffs. “I flew all the way from Japan for this. I’m your best man.”
“And that’s what I want,” Jake says quickly. “Am, it’s you and me. Comptons for fucking life. I want it to be you, I just—” He sighs, glancing over his shoulder at me.
That’s when I finally crack a smile. “You just don’t want to hurt Rachel’s feelings or make her feel left out. Right?”
“Exactly,” he says, relief etched on his face at being understood.
God, this man is too damn precious. He’s like if a golden retriever came to life and started wearing bespoke Armani suits. And here I was grilling Rachel about needing an exit. What’s the point? No matter where I might take her, this man will just follow us. Jake Compton Price is Rachel’s end game. I have absolutely nothing to worry about by putting her happiness in his hands.
“I’m coming out,” Rachel calls.
“NO!” Four voices say at once.
Jake slaps his hands back up over his eyes as she steps around me. She moves into the doorway, the tail of her gown whispering across the carpet.
“Wow,” Harrison huffs, his dark eyes wide as he takes in his twin for the first time in her rocker glam wedding look. “Sis, you look…holy shit.”
“That good, huh?” she says with a laugh.
He steps forward, quickly wrapping her in a hug.
“God, this is fucking torture,” Jake groans.
“You really do look amazing,” says Amy, tears shining in her eyes.
“Thanks,” Rachel replies, slipping loose of Harrison’s hug. “Alright, we’re officially calling this Twin Summit to order,” she declares. Then she turns to Jake’s sister. “Amy, I would never dream of taking the spot that only you can fill. You’re Jake’s best man tonight. No question.”
Amy nods.
“And H, you’re mine,” she adds.
“Of course,” he replies.
Rachel places one hand on Jake’s shoulder. “Angel, look at me.”
“No,” he replies. “I don’t want to jinx us.”
“I don’t believe in superstitions,” she says gently. “Besides, I think Twin Summit rules outweigh wedding superstitions. I want you to look at me.”
Slowly, he turns, dropping his hands. The moment he sees her, I swear my heart skips a beat. That look he gives her, it’s the look of pure love. His whole face changes from one of anxiety and worry to one of unbridled joy.
“Oh my god,” he says, struck breathless by his bride’s beauty. “Baby, you look fucking amazing.”
“So do you,” she replies, sniffing back her tears.
“Fuck, I wanna marry you right now.” He cups her face with both hands.
“I love you so much,” she murmurs.
“I love you,” he replies. “God, my heart’s beating a million miles a minute,” he adds with a nervous laugh, taking one of her hands and dropping it down to his chest. Her fingers splay over his heart as she gets to feel it beating for her.
Inside my own chest, the dull thumping of my jaded heart echoes in its loneliness. Battered and broken, she beats in survivor mode. It pulses to the cadence of a single word. It’s a harsh reality. A life sentence.
Alone. Alone. Alone.
I tune out that sound, focusing instead on my friends. This is their moment.
“H, when you married Somchai, I thought it would change us,” Rachel admits, glancing at her brother. “And it did, but now I realize it’s supposed to change us. Somchai is your person now. He’s your number one, not me.”
Harrison just nods.
She turns the other way. “Amy, I really hope you’re okay with this, because I love your brother so goddamn much. And I swear, I’m going to be so good to him—”
“I know,” Amy assures her. “I’ve never seen him so happy, Rachel. You and Cay and Mars, you deserve him. And he deserves all the happiness you can give him,” she adds, eyes shining as she smiles up at her brother. “I just want you happy, Jake. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“Then you approve?” Jake says, his hands still holding steadfast to Rachel.
Amy nods again. “Yeah, I do. I defy anyone to see you four and think you don’t belong together,” she replies. “You got everything you ever wanted…and a few things you didn’t even know to want,” she adds, and we all laugh.
“God, isn’t that the truth,” he replies.
“So, we’re all good?” Rachel says, glancing between them. “The twins are good?”
“I’m good,” Amy replies still smiling.
“Yeah, I’m good,” Harrison echoes.
“Jake, you’re good?” Rachel adds, her gaze landing on him.
He nods, still calmer being in her arms.
“What about you, Tess?” Rachel calls, glancing at me. “You approve of this chaos? A four-way L.A. wedding?”
I huff a laugh and smile. “I had a feeling we’d all be standing here eventually. You’re too unorthodox for your own good.”
“Well then,” Rachel replies, taking Jake’s hands in both of hers. “Jake Price, I want to marry you. Tonight. But first, I want to watch you marry Caleb.”
3
“I’m just saying, don’t you think it’s all a little weird?” Davidson shuffles in front of me as we take our seats.
Is this weird? Of course, it is. It’s our last night in L.A., we’re fresh off another win against the Kings, and instead of crashing asleep in my hotel room, I’m standing in my game day suit in rock legend Hal Price’s Beverly Hills living room, balancing an Old Fashioned in my hand.
I’d say that’s pretty weird.
Oh, and the only reason I’m standing in Hal Price’s living room is because I’m about to watch his daughter—who happens to be my team doctor—marry two of my teammates and my equipment manager.
Again, pretty fucking weird.
We all had our suspicions about her and Compton, but it was never more than gossip. Then, last week, the truth came blasting out. Boom. Compton and Sanford are out as gay. Fucking finally. No surprises there. That news was almost boring in its predictability.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m totally happy for them. Love is love. Give me a flag and douse me in glitter. I’m down to dance at a pride parade. And Sanny and Compton were practically already married. That they’re rushing down the aisle is a surprise to literally no one. I already bought them nine rounds of His & His golf as a wedding present.
But then, boom again. Just as soon as we all settled with the news of their relationship, they flipped the script on us. They’re in love with each other…and Doc Price…and they’ve all been secretly living together practically since the start of the season.