Page 53 of Wild Hit
I did get confirmation from the photographer but I changed my mind and now want the VIP package
Can you also check with him? Pretty please?
“Hey dude, who you texting?” I feel Lucky shift closer to peep at my screen, and I angle it away from him. “And also, why is it a secret?”
“Have you ever heard of nunya?” I offer casually as I finish firing off one last text where I tell Amelia that I’ll owe her big, big time.
“How sassy. This must be important then.” He lowers his voice, which isn’t really necessary with reggaeton playing at full blast, and the others chatting up a storm. “Is it your real girlfriend? Secret wife?”
“No, and no,” I say, because I know him enough by now to realize he will never let go until he gets a satisfying enough answer. “The only girl I’m really attached to is my daughter.”
Then a text comes in from my cousin.
Super Agent
Last I checked with the florist they were turning over every stone to find you green flowers, you freak. But I’ll check in again and I’ll call the photographer too
I need you to get me the phone number of your friend who’s gonna post this on SM. Need to approve what she posts before she does
What if she snaps a picture of you picking your nose and with a wedgie and blasts that to the internet??
Me
I don’t pick my nose in public
Super Agent
But you do get wedgies
You might forget sometimes, but you’re only human
I know that… very well. My eyes lift to the back of the limo, where Audrey sits along with her roommates. She looks surprisingly calm, for someone who was freaking out this morning. Maybe they’re making wise use of liquid courage, or she’s come to terms with our ridiculous plan. And here I am, trying to make this wedding decent so that she doesn’t spiral, because I care about what happens to her more than I’m ready to admit.
I run through the checklist in my mind again. Marriage license, check—filed online yesterday and secured today. Chapel check—the late notice caused me to do some bargaining with money involved, but it was worth it. Florist and photographeralmost finalized. Audrey doesn’t want to wear a traditional white dress, so no need to rent one. We’ll go clubbing before the wedding, rather than doing a reception afterward, so that also took care of itself. Limo, check—we won’t be without transportation all night. Dinner, already done—no one’s starving under my watch. And hotel room, check.
My face twitches and I focus back down on the texts with my cousin. Players and staff stay together in the same hotel for every away series, and for this one we’re two guys per room. I couldn’t kick out my roomie—Lucky, funny enough—because then he’d have to book his own thing and that’s just not fair. So I had to get a different room.
Here’s the kicker, Audrey doesn’t know about that yet. I’m not sure if she’s planning to squeeze in with Rose and Hope, or if she already got a room for herself. But I got her an even better one so that she can decompress and bask in her newfound freedom after the ceremony.
Super Agent
Are you sure you want to do this?
My thumbs hover in the air, and I really reflect on the gravity of the question.
This is gonna change things. Like, we’re not gonna have a married life or anything, but we’ll be more involved. Part of my flabbers are gasted that I’m doing this. But another part is actually looking forward to it, not even worried about the mess, a future fallout, or what anyone will say. I’ve even been practicing how to break the news to Charlie Cox after this is done, and it feels just the same as stepping up to the plate does.
Indeed, I’ve gone and lost my mind.
Me
Yeap
Amelia doesn’t counter that. I bet she’s even talking with the florist now. I really want those green carnations in Audrey’s bouquet, they’ll make her happy.
When I finally put my phone away, I find her attention on me across the limo. Audrey studies me like she has never seen someone stranger, with two whole heads and five eyes, green skin and steam coming out of his mouth.
That’s all I glean from her because she turns back to the conversation with her besties, which is great because now I can linger. She’s always gorgeous, but right now she looks like she could fool anyone into thinking that she’s in love. Rosy cheeks and lips, flowing hair framing her face, a girly dress that really accentuates her, um, girl attributes, and legs for miles.
