Page 52 of Just One of the Groomsmen
At least shewasuntil Tucker’s team scored again and he jostled her and went overboard celebrating.
“I think it’s time for pie,” Nonna said. “Maybe that’ll turn this game around.”
“I happen to like where this game is going,” Tucker said.
Nonna gave him a dubious look. “Great. Now you can no be my coconspirator. How’d I forget you’re Saints fan?”
“Does that mean I’m off the hook for being your lawyer?”
“Never,” she said, shooting him a diabolical smile. “I get in far too much trouble to risk going without my very own attorney.” She turned her smile on Addie. “You okay, sweetie?”
“I’m fine. But pie would tip the scales to better.”
Nonna rolled her finger, and she recalled their plan and raised her voice. “With ice cream. I’m craving ice cream like whoa. Doesn’t ice cream sound good, Tucker?”
“You ladies are gonna get me in trouble,” Tucker muttered, and then he voiced his desire for ice cream, nice and loud, and Mom caved.
The pie and ice cream worked their magic, lifting Addie’s mood considerably. But what truly turned the night around was the two Falcons touchdowns in the last seven minutes. The two-point conversion sealed their win, and Addie didn’t hold back celebrating her own victory. “Time to spill your guts, Crawford.”
He gave her a crooked grin. “I’ll make good on my promise, but I need a few more days.”
“What kind of bull-crap win is that?” She threw a whole lot of mocking into her tone. “Oh, I’ll pay up when I’m good and ready, and you have to deal with it, regardless of how I clearly lost the bet.”
“Come on, you know I’m good for it.” He added eye-batting and prayer hands. “Just give me seven little days before you send your goons after me.”
She put a fist on her hip. “You have five.”
“Deal.” He thanked her family for the food and company and then turned to Addie. “Now, why don’t you walk me to my car like a gentleman?”
“I swear. You and the gang are always telling me I’m a dude, and now Nonna wants to set me up with girls. I’m about to get a complex.” She shoved him in the direction of the door.
Their footsteps echoed against the porch, and she bounded down the stairs, two at a time, freezing when she noticed the big truck in their driveway.
“I also wanted to show you my truck so you’d stop mocking me,” Tucker said.
“That was overly optimistic on your part.” She laughed at his flabbergasted expression, but her laughter died as he put his hand on the small of her back and nudged her toward the vehicle. “Does this have something to do with your new job?”
He clucked his tongue at her. “Patience is a virtue, Addison Murphy.”
Using her full name like that? “Them’s fightin’ words.” Anyway, they should be. For some reason, her traitorous heart liked the way it’d sounded coming from his lips, something she so couldn’t focus on right now. “And you know patience isn’t a virtue I have.”
“Oh, I know.” He opened the door to the truck, showing off the interior before leaning against the side. “So? What do you think?”
“It’s real fancy. In other words, a good truck for a city boy.”
He jabbed a finger to her ribs, making her let loose a squeal. He covered a yawn with his hand. “Man, I feel like I’m about to pass out.”
“Yeah, that pie and ice cream was the hard stuff—I should’ve warned you.”
He rolled his eyes. Then, without warning, he grabbed hold of her hips and swiveled her in the other direction.
“Look.” His arm stretched past her head; his finger pointed to the sky. “See it?”
The falling star flickered out in an instant, but she’d caught the tail end.
“Make a wish,” he whispered, and she closed her eyes and made a wish about being in a wedding.
And while she was making unlikely wishes, she also made one that involved the guy standing behind her.
