Page 29 of Lyrical

“That’s because I am.”

She winked. “Me too.”

“Hey, Perry.” Chase came around the corner. “Stephen need a hand?”

“Maybe. There’re a few cases in the truck.”

“Come back through the garage,” I told him as he was going out the door. “You can keep it in the basement.” I wasn’t expecting them to bring beer too, but at least I didn’t need to send Chase out to get any now.

Perry hung up her coat in the front closet. “Now you know where they’ll be hanging out all day.”

“That’s fine. They can clean while they’re at it. That’s all I have left to do besides start on the appetizers.” I picked up one of the bags, peering inside. “What all did you bring? You guys went a little overboard.”

Perry followed me into the kitchen. “There’s this new liquor superstore that opened by our house. I couldn’t decide on a flavor. I wanted to try everything.”

“Flavor? You make it sound like a”—I pulled out a bottle of adult strawberry milkshake—“dessert.” I shook my head. “Seriously?”

“There’s chocolate and banana too.” I brought those out, along with a peach pie and a cinnamon roll. She shrugged. “They were on sale.”

“You know you’re the only one who’s going to drink this stuff.”

“That’s not true. It’s a college party, isn’t it? They’ll appreciate it.”

I took a bottle of Spotted Cow out of the fridge and set it aside. I’d need it for the beer dip I had to get started on soon. “This isn’t Hell Week. And besides Daniel and one of his friends, there won’t really be any here in that age range. So no, not a college party. I’m planning on doing a graduation party in the summer when a lot more can make it.”

We unloaded the rest, setting the wine and soda on one end of the table, all the sweet crap on the other. They must have spent three hundred bucks easily. “This is crazy, Perry. Let me pay you guys back.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it.” She popped the lid on a container of cookies, sticking a pink frosted star in her mouth. “We’re gonna save a ton of money on the wedding anyway.”

“Hopefully, but you’ll have to figure out what you’re doing first.” I grabbed a glass bowl from the top of my cupboard and broke a package of cream cheese into it.

“We already did.” She came over smiling, holding a handful of pink to her chest. “We officially have a place as of yesterday.”

“Oh my God, Perry, this is huge!” I almost whipped the wooden spoon at her in my moment of excitement. After all these months trying to get someplace nailed down, it was that big of a deal. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She hopped up on the counter. “I’m telling you now. Whatcha making?” I popped off the cap, showing her the bottle before pouring some into the bowl. “Oooh, yum.”

She didn’t like beer, but she could eat a whole pretzel bag’s worth of my beer dip in one sitting.

“You haven’t told me anything yet.” Argh. The top of the new mayo jar would not twist off. My wrist ached. I started banging it against the counter.

“Hey, that reminds me. How’d that stuff work out for you?”

“What are you talking about?” I tried it again, and it popped open that time. All the contents went into the bowl, followed by a bag of cheddar cheese. Probably the most unhealthy stuff I made, but so, so good.

“That Boob Banger spray.”

I gave her a quick look. “It’s Blaster, and don’t ask.” She opened her mouth. “And you were right, so don’t say ‘I told you so.’ Unfortunately, the product’s name is accurate.”

“But—”

“Uh-uh.” I pointed a pretzel rod at her. “I’m done with Michelle’s advice, okay?”

“Okay.” She smiled big because she loved when I told her she was right. Then she snatched the pretzel from my hand. “Pass that bowl over here. At least give me something to put on this.”

“Not until you tell me about the wedding. Come on, Perry. Where’re you having it?”

“Oh right. So, you know my Auntie Em—I just love saying that—who lives in Bumfuck Egypt up somewhere near Madison, or maybe you don’t, but I’m sure you saw her at some point over the years.” She leaned over and pulled the bowl towards her, scooping up a wad of dip with her pretzel. “She owns a farm, and God, I wish I could remember what town she’s in, but it’s so freaking small, I don’t think it even has a name.”

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