Page 53 of Love at a Funeral and Other Awkward Conversations

He bursts out in a big laugh.

It’s contagious, and I laugh too. “Why are you laughing?”

“The way you said it,” he says after a while. “You’re the boss of this whole thing, and you hate it. It’s funny.”

“My misery is funny?”

“A little.”

When I look back to the window, he keeps his hand on me, fingertips stroking up and down the side of my neck. My skin tingles under his touch, and I want it all over me. I should tell him to stop. I should push him away. A voice in the back of my head reminds me there is no room in my life for Vince and his open, giving heart. There’s nothing I can give him in return. And yet, when his hand moves down, pressing in a soft massage, I smile at him.

And he smiles back.

And I shove that voice away, pretending I’m not broken. At least for now.

“I told your aunt I’d help find you,” he says. “The last game just finished.”

“Who won?” I ask.

He smirks his answer.

“Your team?”

“Of course.”

“Well, I hope you enjoy your gift certificate to Big Al’s Barbecue.”

“Great.” He tugs on a lock of my hair. “I can take you on a date.”

I ignore the flip of my stomach and shake my head. “My tastes are more expensive. I’m more of a champagne and caviar gal.”

“Okay,” he says. “I’ll remember that.” He drops his hand to put Gracie’s leash back on her. “We better get you back out there. You need to present me with my prize.”

I roll my eyes but follow him out of the car, our arms brushing against each other as we walk. Juan is playing “Karma Chameleon” over the sound system, and Vince sings it softly. I stare at him until he grins. Then I grin.

And I’m fourteen again.

The moment is ruined when Aunt Joanie palms my shoulder. “Where the hell have you been?” She doesn’t let me answer. “Alvarado’s basically taken over. He’s acting like he put this all together.”

“Well, I?—”

“Go over there and say something.” She pushes me to where Juan is at the table with the sound system.

I hesitantly shuffle over to grab the microphone. I tap it twice to make sure it’s on. “Hi…hello, everyone. It’s me again, Cass. I wanted to once again thank you all for coming out. And present our winning team—” I motion to Aunt Joanie, and she hands me a basket filled with gift certificates and a couple bottles of alcohol, along with a paper of the teams “—with the prize.”

“Our third-place team is the Blue Barracudas.” A woman with short gray hair walks up to me to accept their fifty-dollar gift certificate and other prizes. “Second place are the Leopards.” A group of teachers from the middle school jump and cheer as Mr. Alvarado accepts their gift certificates. He gives me a thumbs-up, and I pretend to be happy for him. “And to our champions, the Big Ballers…” I chuckle at the ridiculous name and the team’s even more ridiculous celebration.

With the prizes awarded, Aunt Joanie hands me another piece of paper. “The winner of the 50/50 lottery will receive $246, and it goes to…” I glance down at the name and choke. “Victor Alvarado.”

Mr. Alvarado strides up to me and leans in to the microphone. “I will, of course, give this money back to Cassandra to add it to the total.”

A round of applause sounds, and I continue, “I hope everyone had fun today. With all of your help, we’ve raised over three thousand dollars to purchase new laptops for Edison.”

The crowd whoops and hollers their praise, and I offer one final thank-you before they start dispersing. By the time I finish shaking hands and speaking to every person who stops me, the field is littered with garbage. I find a bag to clean up, noticing Mr. Alvarado has split the scene, literally taken his money and run, and it pisses me off. Also missing is Nell, not that I was looking forward to her company, but an extra pair of hands would be nice. My parents speak to a couple by the fence. Well, Mom cries and Dad has his arms folded.

“Hey,” Vince says at my side. He’s got a pair of Big Ballers behind him. “We’re going to grab a couple drinks. Want to come with us?”

The men look friendly enough, but I don’t want to be the sad, tagalong little sister. “No, thanks. I’m good.”

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