Wyatt made it back to Crystal Lake in record time. He’d spent the previous afternoon and evening in Detroit, attending several charities his brother Travis and some of the other Detroit Red Wings supported. That had been the deal to get them to come to Crystal Lake on a rare day off, and he’d been happy to do his part. They’d visited a homeless shelter, a greyhound rescue center (man, the dogs were big but sweet as hell), and an inner-city sports complex.
He’d done his duty and had been happy to do so, but now it was time to get things started in Crystal Lake.
Wyatt checked his phone as he pulled in behind the two chartered buses he’d arranged for the Red Wings and their families. The old arena was a buzz of activity with the players arriving, their wives, girlfriends, and kids running around, and Hudson there to make sure things went smoothly. Aside from Jarret and a few others, he was the only person who’d known about Wyatt’s plans, and they’d been sworn to secrecy.
There was a message from Regan. It was short. To the point. And so Regan.
Bella misses you.
He cracked a smile and slipped out of his truck, typing back a rapid-fire message before joining his brothers near the entrance.
Ditto. See you soon
“That is one hell of a goofy look on your face.”
Wyatt glanced up at Travis. “Huh?”
Hudson elbowed the youngest Blackwell in the ribs. “It’s a new thing. We call it the Regan Thorne look.”
“Regan Thorne.” Travis’s eyebrows rose comically, as if Regan Thorne and Wyatt Blackwell being together was out of the realm of possibility.
Wyatt scowled at Hudson. “Will you shut up?”
But Travis wasn’t letting it go. “Regan Thorne. Like, Doctor Regan Thorne.”
“That would be the one,” Hudson replied.
“Like hot Doctor Thorne. I ran into her at Thanksgiving and seriously considered asking her out, but…” Travis looked at Wyatt, a frown on his face. “I thought she hated your guts?”
“Don’t you have to go stretch or something?” Irritated, Wyatt shoved his cell phone back in his pocket.
Travis chuckled. “Yeah. I guess I’ll get on that. See you boys in a bit.”
He wasn’t having this conversation. Not with Travis or Hudson, or anyone, for that matter. What he and Regan had wasn’t for public consumption. It was private. It was…
His scowl deepened. Hell, he didn’t exactly know what it was, and maybe it was time he did something about it.
Wyatt watched Travis walk away, not taking his eyes off his brother until he joined his teammates.
“Jarret got the last modifications done?” he asked, turning back to Hudson.
“All done.”
“Transportation?”
“Pickups scheduled. Dixon Grady down at the taxi service was over the moon to get the business. He broke out the old Cadillac and hired his grandson to help out.”
“Catering?”
“Yep. Put in a call to Angie at Coffee Corner, and she’s got it covered. Sandwiches, sweets, coffee, and tea. Just liked you asked for. She’s setting up inside as we speak. Nash is helping out with burgers and dogs, and I borrowed two deep fryers from the community center for fries and onion rings.”
“Good.” Wyatt was pleased.
“All the food, by the way, was donated.”
“Yeah?” That surprised Wyatt. He’d planned on covering the costs himself. “By who?”
Hudson shrugged and shook his head. “Hell if I know. I mentioned invoicing to both Angie and Nash, and they said everything was covered. When I pushed for a name, both of them clammed up.”