“It won’t.” He shrugs. “But they need the truth. They won’t make the Calder Cup playoffs if they’re playing like that.”
The team bus is quiet as we head back to the Ice House Arena. Scarlett falls asleep listening to another audiobook, but this time she seems determined not to use me as her personal pillow. Instead, she props her bag on her lap as a barrier while I watch a replay of today’s game.
We’re almost home when a message comes through from my sister.
Carmen
I just found out Laila can’t make it to my wedding. My maid of honor broke her leg in Switzerland!
Brendan
Uh-oh. What happened?
Carmen
A ski accident in the Alps that started with her filming a cute TikTok and ended with her skiing into a snowbank. She broke her leg in three places and now needs surgery. She’ll be spending the next month recovering there.
Brendan
Oof. That’s rough.
Laila might be insufferable, but my sister genuinely loves her, which means I need to be careful how I handle this. But she still has two other bridesmaids left—Jaz, whom we’ve been friends with for years, and also Taylor, Aunt Elana’s daughter.
Carmen
Scarlett’s coming, right?
Brendan
Yeah.
Carmen
Good. Because I want you to ask her to take Laila’s place.
Brendan
Wait. You mean as a bridesmaid?
Carmen
Uh, yes?? What else would I mean
Brendan
I don’t think that’s a good idea.
Carmen
Why not? She’s your girlfriend, and our mothers have been friends for years. She’s almost like family already.
I shift uncomfortably in my seat, already feeling the pressure building in my chest. Scarlett only agreed to come to the family events for the week. If she’s a bridesmaid, she’ll have to come to everything.Allof the wedding festivities with me.
Brendan
Don’t you have other friends you could ask?
Carmen