Page 40 of Play Along

The question sounds a whole lot like “what are you wearing,” which is also something I’d love to know.

“Tequila.”

My grin takes over my entire face. “Dangerous. I’ve heard people make drunken mistakes on tequila.”

“I’ve also heard them referred to as happy accidents.”

Eyes on the ceiling, I’m sure she can hear my smile through the line.

“Isaiah?”

“Hmm.”

“Are you still mad at me?”

Hesitating, I think it over. “Kind of hard to be mad at you when you just agreed to be my wife.”

“It’s okay to be mad at me if you need to. You don’t always have to keep that smile plastered on your face.”

I pause, feeling this conversation hitting far too close to home, but attempt to playfully push off the vulnerability. “You’ve been noticing my smile, Kenny?”

“Mm-hmm. I notice that you smile even when you don’t want to. Like with me. I hurt your feelings today, and instead of leaving me to deal with everything on my own, you saved my job and made sure I was smiling before you left.”

I didn’t realize she noticed that. I didn’t think anyone noticed that.

“But you’re allowed to be mad at me,” she continues. “It won’t change how I feel about you.”

You’re allowed to be mad at me. It won’t change how I feel about you.

I clear my throat. “So, you’ll still hate me?”

“Exactly.” I hear her swallow. “Isaiah?”

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you try anything with me that night in Vegas?”

Jesus.

“You’re drunk, Kenny.”

“Doesn’t mean I don’t want you to answer.”

Every ounce of blood in my body shoots south at the sound of Kennedy Kay asking why I didn’t try something with her.

“By try something, you mean other than marrying you?”

“Yeah. Other than marrying me.”

“Did you want me to try something?”

“I don’t know. I’m just wondering why you didn’t.”

“Well,” I exhale. “I was just as wasted as you, so there’s that. Plus, I think my mama would come back from the grave and take me with her if I ever touched a woman while they were drunk. But at the end of the day, even though I’ve spent all this time trying to get your attention, I won’t try anything with you unless I know you want my attention too.”

There’s a heavy beat of silence.

“Did you want my attention that night, Kenny?”

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