Challenging the Center (Santa Fe Bobcats #6)(70)

“Aww.” Cassie smiled warmly down the table. “That’s sweet.”

Michael and Matt both made gagging noises at the same time. Kat rolled her eyes, but he caught the smile she tried to hide behind her napkin.

“Any particular reason?” Josiah asked, spooning some potato salad onto his plate.

Mags and Stephen started speaking at the same time, then both stopped and grinned at each other.

Matt coughed.

“You,” Mags said softly, nudging Stephen’s shoulder with hers. Then she settled back against his chest, clearly content to remain on his lap.

“We wanted you guys to all know before anyone else. Well, anyone else outside my mom and sisters.” Stephen wrapped a hand around Mags’s waist again. “We’re getting married.”

There was that dead silence again. Just for a beat. Then Cassie squealed, the sound practically inhuman, and leapt out of her chair to dash around. “Let me see! Let me seeeeeee!” She reached for Mags’s hand, only to stop short when it was found to be devoid of an engagement ring. “Stephen! You didn’t get this girl a ring?”

“No, but that’s probably because she wasn’t ready for one.” Stephen’s voice was amused. “Sit down, Cass, we’re not quite finished.”

“You better have details to make up for the lack of pretty shiny,” Cassie warned, sitting back beside Trey, who looked amused by his wife’s threat toward one of their best linemen.

“Wedding details? Sure.” Stephen nudged Mags gently. She turned and pressed a kiss to his temple.

Matt and Michael made gagging noises again because it was expected. Kat scowled at him in a way that asked, what is your deal?

Just kidding, he mouthed.

She rolled her eyes, but he saw her lips twitch.

“We’re getting married on Monday after your next home game.” Mags smiled a little when Josiah dropped his fork on his plate with a loud clang. “We’re just doing it here, at the house. Nothing fancy. His mom and sisters were already planning to make the trek out to see the game, and it seemed so perfect…”

“You mean, no big wedding to plan?” Cassie gripped the edge of the table with white fingertips. “No rounds with the florist, no poofy dresses that get caught on everything, no cake testing or catering confusion?”

Mags grinned. “Nope.”

“Genius.” Cassie flopped back in her seat, looking up at Trey in amazement. “Why didn’t we—”

“Because your father would have killed us,” Trey reminded her, pecking her nose to quiet her.

“It’s sudden though,” Matt said. “Not that I’m not happy for y’all. Seriously. Just curious why the rush, instead of waiting until after season.”

“Because in a few more months I won’t fit into any dresses I like.” Mags said it so calmly before taking a dainty bite of her salad that Michael wasn’t even sure he’d heard it correctly.

But he only had to look at Stephen’s face to know he had. The man looked like he’d swallowed the f*cking sun, he was so bright. Joy was actually seeping out of his pores.

“Holy shit,” Josiah whispered, sitting back.

“Clarify, please?” Trey asked.

Cassie bounced in her seat, silently clapping her hands together. It was like her butt was doing a dance, rocking her side by side.

Kat just looked around, shrugging and eating her potato salad.

“We’re pregnant.”

Cassie nearly flipped the table over as she jumped up on another eardrum-piercing squeal, running over to throw her arms around the happy couple. They all laughed, watching the mayhem unfold.

After a moment, the guys all stood to give Stephen and Mags hugs. As Michael stepped back from hugging Mags, he noticed Trey and Stephen talking in a low voice. Then Trey nodded and walked back to stand beside Cassie.

“We’re good,” Stephen said over the din of noise. “I know people are worried, with all the changes coming up, if I’m okay. I’m doing fine. Seriously. This one keeps me on a short leash.” He wrapped his arms around Mags and pulled her against him. She leaned into his embrace with the ease of practice. “And I’m in constant contact with my sponsor. I go to all my AA meetings. It’s all good, promise.”

There was a noticeable sign of relief among the friends, all of whom had his—their—best interest at heart. Sobriety was a tricky thing, they’d learned, in watching him fight like hell through rehab and climbing back up after a massive weight loss. To see him so happy, with love and a family on the way…

It was encouraging.

He realized a minute too late that Kat must be feeling left out, not having met anyone in the party before then. Glancing back at the table, he found her watching her plate, not upset, but a little removed from the celebration. He went and sat beside her.

“Hey.”

“Hi.” She looked up then, smiling toward the expecting couple. “They look happy.”

“They are.” He let out a long breath. “It was a rocky road to get there, but they’re disgustingly happy. They deserve it.”

“Good people should be happy.”

She said it wistfully, and he wondered if she were thinking about herself, or someone else.

Then the doorbell rang, and everyone jumped in surprise.