Page 32 of You're All I Need

“Then it’s settled. You bring Adrienne as your date.”

I exhale slowly. “We’ll talk about it.”

Gram whips around and pins Adrienne with a look. “He can be a little shy sometimes.”

Adrienne chews on the inside of her lip to keep from laughing, while Jack snorts. “Shy. Right.”

“I’m going to use the little girls’ room, so I’ll leave you to ask her out.” Gram stands up, and all of us around her do the same.

“I’ll go too, Gram,” Scarlet states, escorting her down the bleachers.

After they’re gone, Jack leans over my shoulder. “You’re going to your ex-fiancée’s wedding?”

“Apparently,” I grumble, crossing my arms over my chest as I watch a little more of the game.

“Do you want me to tell you all the reasons why this is a bad idea?”

“No need. I already know them,” I insist.

“And yet, you’re still going.”

It’s not a question, but a statement, and one I’ve thought to myself a dozen times since I spoke to Gram on the phone. Of course, this is the first time I’m actually considering bringing a date. Before, I was just appeasing her, but now that she’s airedour dirty laundry in front of half the fans in the G section of the bleachers, I find myself contemplating inviting Adrienne to go with me.

“This is absurd,” Jack maintains.

“I don’t think I’ve heard this story,” Stevie chimes in, her voice hesitant.

I lean back, resting against the bleacher between her and Adrienne. “I’m sure Jack will give you the colorful version when you get home.”

My oldest friend snorts. “Colorful. That’s definitely the version I know.”

We watch a little more of the game before Gianna asks, “Uncle Caden, do you like my hair?”

I spin toward her. “I love it,” I inform her proudly. “You are the most beautiful girl in the world.”

She grins widely, showing off slightly crooked teeth her dad will have to fix with braces soon. “Thanks, Adrienne.” Turning to her dad and Stevie, she adds, “I’m gonna run back up and sit with my friends and show them my hair. Bye!”

“Ten going on seventeen,” Stevie says with a chuckle.

As Gram and Scarlet return and the game winds down, I’m able to push all thoughts of the upcoming wedding out of my head and just enjoy the game. I’m happy to spend all my free time watching Joshua play b-ball and love it even more when family and friends join me. I stand up and clap, happy to see Joshua’s team come away with the win.

“Go, Joshua!” my little buddy hollers, throwing his arms in the air to celebrate the victory. “Shake and bake, Uncle Caden!” he adds, holding out his fist for a bump.

“Shake and bake, buddy,” I say as we both make our fists explode.

“You ready to head home, Christian?” Jack asks, standing up and stretching before waving to Gianna that it’s time to go.

“Nope, I’m staying with Uncle Caden.” Christian crosses his arms over his chest, standing his ground.

Jack just stares back at his son, his eyebrows drawn up into his hairline.

Smiling, I reach down and pick him up. “Dad and Stevie say you gotta head back with them now, but we’ll get something planned for a boys’ weekend soon. We can eat pizza, belch, and have aDie Hardmarathon.”

“Yes!Die Hard!”

“NoDie Hard,” Jack interjects.

“Party pooper,” I tease.

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