Play On - Michelle Smith Page 0,80
cocks an eyebrow and shushes me.
Noted. I turn back around. Remembering what Jay told me that night at his house, I add, “That said, the ball’s in your hand. This is your call. You do what makes you happy. If you’re not ready, don’t push it. He gets it. He loves you, man.”
He inhales sharply. Jay looks away. I swear, if I end up being the one with the normal relationship out of all of us, I’m buying five thousand lottery tickets.
“I’m ready,” he says, meeting my eyes. “I’m just scared, Braxton.”
I can’t even imagine what the hell’s going through his head right now. I don’t have some motivational speech or any words that could touch his fear. All I can say is the one thing I know for a fact.
“Whatever you decide to do, we’ve got your back.”
Felix’s (now) wife is probably one of the hottest women to ever come out of Lewis Creek, and one of the sweetest. Back when Felix played ball for the school, the two of them were the town’s golden couple. Good for them for being a golden couple that actually, you know, worked. The person other people expect you to end up with usually turns out to be a dead end. I’ve seen plenty of couples kick the bucket once the heat of summer hits.
Marisa must catch me staring at the (correction: second) hottest person in Lewis Creek because she swats me on the head again, right here at our table in the reception hall. I grin. She rolls her eyes for what’s probably the hundredth time today, but she can’t fight that little smile no matter how hard she tries. Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I pull her in for a side-hug.
“It’s craziness, huh?” I ask. “Half of Lewis Creek’s population, plus bright pink and purple decorations, plus strobe lights, plus punch that’ll knock you off your rocker, equals Marisa Marlowe’s worst dance nightmare come true.”
“It’s like Barbie puked in here. Felix is lucky I love Jay, so I love him by association.” She scans the room. “Speaking of your partner in crime, where is he?”
I crane my neck, looking around the hall, but there’s no sign of Jay anywhere. “Dunno,” I mutter. “The rest of the bridal party’s here.” In fact, Felix and Lana are already seated and about to start the toasts. I don’t want to go looking for the guy, but he can’t miss this.
The door to the hall opens, spilling the late afternoon sunlight across the floor. Brett steps into the room. So does Jay. Brett looks like he just ate Momma’s attempt at deer jerky. Jay looks like he’s about to pass out cold any second. Marisa reaches into my lap and grabs my hand right as Jay grabs Brett’s, lacing his fingers through his.
Son of a mother-effer. They did it.
They’re two deer trapped in headlights, unmoving, but what I think they realize is that no one even notices. Until they do start walking to our table, and I spot old Mr. Morgan and his wife scowling at them. And Mrs. Carter’s mouth drops open. And Mr. Lincoln flops back against his chair with his face all twisted up. All of that’s just at the table beside us. I know I shouldn’t expect much more from folks in Lewis Creek, but a guy can hope, right?
Jay and Brett take their seats at our table, with Jay sitting on the other side of Marisa. Brett’s usually tan skin is white as Casper himself. I think I can actually see his heart pounding through his jacket. His gaze stays on the table, but Jay meets my eyes. He grins like a fool. So do I.
“Brett,” I say quietly. His head pops up. “Good for you, man.”
While the corner of his mouth twitches, he doesn’t fully smile, which doesn’t surprise me. A pastor’s kid walking into a reception holding another guy’s hand isn’t exactly on par with what’s considered normal around here. I glance at Marisa, though, and I’m reminded of just how stupid normal is. A little bit of crazy is a hell of a lot better.
“Yeah,” she says with a smile. “Crazy really is better.”
“I’m startin’ to think you’re actually reading my mind.”
“I’m startin’ to think you need to get yourself checked out because you talk an awful lot without realizin’ it.”
Leaning in, I rest my forehead against hers. “You just dropped not one, but two Gs.”
She shrugs and gives me a quick kiss. “I spend all