Page 119 of My Husband Problem

Everyone looks at Lawson, who immediately gets into position.

“They know they’re on the same team, right?” I ask Alex.

He sighs. “Only when there’s actually a game or scrimmage going on.”

“The other night at Perks and Rec, they seemed to be getting along.”

“They’re making an effort. Lawson doesn’t poke at him as much as he used to. But there’s still tension.”

“Any idea what it’s about?”

“Yeah, I think a few things. But mostly a pretty, sweet little blonde.” He inclines his head towards Sutton.

Interesting.

I watch as Beckett tries to skate from one end of the rink to the other with a hobby horse between his legs. Lawson doesn’t have to try that hard to defend him.

Handling the stick horse and his hockey stick and trying to get the puck around another excellent player proves to be too much.

“Well, if we’re doing it for fun, Lawson shouldn’t be playing defense like it’s the fucking championship finals,” Beckett grouses as they skate back over to the group.

Lawson crosses his arms. “If you think that was my best, you have not been paying attention.”

Beckett frowns at him and opens his mouth, but Sutton interjects before he can say anything. “What about instead of the hobby horses, some of the players dress up as horses to go along with the knights?” she asks. “We could also have a jester and…” She waves her hand. “Whatever other characters there are in this fantasy world.”

“Dragons,” three of us say at once.

I grin at Quinn and Hudson.

Sutton smiles back. “Great. Dragons. The kids will love that.”

Beckett nods. “Yeah, that could work. I guess we don’t all have to be knights.”

“It’s a great idea,” Lawson says, frowning at Beckett. “It’s also what she suggested last week when we were talking about this.”

Beckett shakes his head. “No, she didn’t. We didn’t talk about horses last week.”

Lawson slides closer to him. “Yes, we fucking did. And Sutton came up with this idea. The one you think is great. You never fucking listen to her.”

Beckett scowls now. “I have been listening to her for twenty-five years. I know she’s brilliant. I don’t fucking needyouto tell me that.”

“Obviously you do,” Lawson says, sliding closer again. “She always has creative, fun ideas. And with that huge head of yours, you would think your ears would work extra well.”

Beckett reaches up and shoves Lawson back. “I’m surprised you can hear anything she says as distracted as you always are staring at her ass.”

“Why are you so obsessed with me?” Lawson asks.

“I think you’re?—”

Wes and Alex both step forward at the same moment, obviously prepared to break up what’s happening, but instinctively I raise my voice and say, “Enough.”

Everyone straightens, stops what they’re doing, and turns toward me.

“This is hockey practice,” I say. “You play for my wife’s league. Scrimmage, dressed as knights, horses, and dragons or not, wearegoing to make this great.” I look at Sutton. “That means you do whatever Sutton tells you to do.” I point at Beckett and Lawson. “Without commentary.” I gesture for Sutton to go on. “It’s all yours.”

She gives me a pleased smile, then skates over to the bench where she digs in the big tote she set down and withdraws a clipboard. She comes back to the group. “Nora is already working on getting costumes, stuffies—dragons, of course—and foam swords overnighted. The costumes are for you, the stuffies and swords are for the kids.” She glances at me. “It’s going to be kind of expensive to get them last minute, but Nora said that Astrid said not to worry about it.”

Of course, she did. I give Sutton a wink. That makes her smile grow. She turns back to the group.