Page 48 of Emerald Moon
“Have Cass pick you up so you can roundhouse kick the cake.”
“Still wouldn't.That’s an awful waste of good cake.Plus I don’t want to ruin the wedding!I just want to make it through.”
Wil’s features softened.“Maybe aim a little higher.Maybe say you’ll find some things to enjoy this weekend.”
“If I aim low, then I can’t be disappointed.”
“If you aim low, you might miss out on something.”
Jo sighed and thought it over.“I’ll keep an open mind.I’m such a mix of everything right now.On the one hand I’m like ‘everything is awful and I wish I could just stay home.’And on the other hand I’m like ‘watch me go be a cool, new badass in front of my family.’”
“There!”Wil leapt out of her chair.“That’s what I want to see more of!”
Jo waved a dismissive hand.“Too bad, that’s all I got.”
“No it’s not.You have more badass in you.”
“I’ve never heard you say that word.”Jo narrowed their eyes, thinking back to the time when they first met Wil.“I don’t even think I’ve heard you swear before.”
“There’s a time and place for everything.And hyping you up is important enough to cuss.”
Jo laughed, a smile settling into place after.“I’m honored.”
“And you’re running out of time.Cass is going to be here any minute.”
Jo rushed around the room putting the last of everything into their small suitcase and making sure again and again that they had their meds in their backpack.Cass texted that she was outside and Jo circled the room to make sure they hadn’t forgotten anything important.
“Remember to be a badass!”Wil yelled as they left.
“I will!”
Rushing down the stairs, Jo had just enough time to start to twist their stomach in knots again with overthinking, but the moment they saw Cass outside, they couldn’t help but laugh.“That shirt is amazing.”
Instead of many tiny birds like most of Cass’ shirts, this one had a huge falcon, wings outstretched and wrapping around to the back of the shirt.“I wanted to make a good first impression.”
Jo could picture Cass standing in front of her closet of bird shirts and carefully picking out which one would be best for the occasion.“That is exactly the kind of energy I want heading into this weekend.”
Jo settled into the passenger seat, feeling better.“So how’d we meet?”
They had texted back and forth during the week, but none of it was about the upcoming wedding, except for when Cass asked what colors Jo would be wearing so they wouldn't clash.The two of them needed to get their story straight before meeting family.
“I saw you at my pack house.And then again when we went camping.”
“No, I know, but in our fake story.How did we meet?”
“Why does it need to change?”
“You’re right.Rooting it in reality will make it easier for us to remember.So we met at your pack house and again when we went camping.How did we start dating?”Jo wondered.“I bet you’d have to ask me out because I’d never work up the nerve.”
“Really?”
“Oh yeah, I’d talk myself out of it.”
“So you’d never make a first move?”
“Maybe not never.I can be impulsive.”Jo clapped their hands.“So we met like we really did meet,” they summarized.“You asked me out.Maybe we started dating just after the camping trip?”
“Yes, and I waited in the bakery until the end of your shift, then I gave you flowers and asked you if you wanted to go on a date with me.You said yes and I asked if now was a good time.You laughed, but I was serious.You insisted on going back home to change, and after that we went to my favorite restaurant because it’s a place I’d want to share with you.After dinner, it was a little cooler outside, so we went for a walk in the park at the center of town until the sun got too low in the sky.”
