Page 57 of Wild Hit
I know, I know. What else could he have possibly been all along? His pronouns have been clear, his testosterone levels seem pretty healthy going by his musculature, and he seems perfectly capable of growing a beard, even if he chooses not to.
But despite all of that I had put him in a very rare category of male friend, which has a tiny population. He registered more as a person than as a man. And before meeting him, he was in a mythical category reserved for baseball legends past and present, and for celebrities I have no chance of ever meeting in person.
Except that he dances very well.Toowell.
I didn’t say anything because I’m not sure if that’s a stereotype, but when I told him I couldn’t follow a tune to save my life I wasn’t lying. I can’t even do justice to my favorite songs. But he asked me to focus on him andmoved melike it wasn’t the first time we were doing this—the waltz doesn’t count, because I wasn’t close enough to see that he has spectacular eyelashes, and is really hot. Temperature wise.
Which in turn, made me notice that he’s really freaking hot in the other sense.
Pretty sure he noticed that I was sweating bullets and probably attributed it to the exercise. In the meantime, I was losing my mind over the fact that I’ve treated this specimen of man like he was my bestie. I have been my most uncool openly in front of him. Heck, the first time he saw me I was in my fave pajamas and bunny slippers.
Bunny stinking slippers.
And now we’re getting married.
How am I even going to be a convincing stepmom for Marty? The natural partner of someone like her dad would be a super accomplished, gorgeous woman who matches his calm and joyful energy. Not a neurotic mess who can’t get out of problems on her own.
“Oh, Cade says they found Lucky,” Hope informs us while reading from her phone screen. “Apparently he was just stuck in the men’s bathroom because the door latch didn’t work. So the search became a rescue too.”
Rose laughs. “I love him, there’s never a dull moment with him around.”
See, that’s also why Lucky wouldn’t have been the right option for this absurd plan. Who could possibly believe that I’d capture his attention when I’m a dull English rose whose sense of humor consists of sarcasm to mask things I don’t actually find funny?
I slump on the couch and cradle my frozen cocktail cup. It catches the girls’s attention and Rose asks me, “Are you ready for the real show?”
“No,” I spew out before I can make use of my stellar sarcastic skills.
It really quiets the room.
“I mean, is it too late to stop all of this?” I squirm and fix my dress to busy myself and pretend like I don’t want to crawl out of my own skin.
Hope’s expression turns very serious. “We can stop at any time.”
“I agree but…” Rose bites her lips. “Then what’s plan B?”
Nothing.
I’ve overthought this to death and nothing else is feasible. Dad would find me even if I become a sequestered nun. He bought a whole ass baseball team just to keep tabs on me, after all.
“Welp.” I slap my thigh like I’m eighty seven years old and stand up. “Guess we’re really doing this.” Then I down the rest of my cocktail and set the cup down before letting out all the air in my lungs.
“Atta girl.” Rose squeezes my shoulder. “I can’t believe you’re the first one who’s gonna get married out of us.”
I cringe. “Sorry for stealing you guys’s thunder.”
“Nah, please.” She waves a hand.
Hope laces her arms with ours. “This is great, actually. I didn’t want to be the first one because what if I screwed up somehow?” The two of us look at her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you more nervous.”
“I’m gonna barf,” I say in total deadpan.
“Hello, ladies!” Lucky bursts into the room, arms spread wide. “Miss me no more, I’m back and ready for the next leg of the party!”
“Good for you,” I mumble under my breath. The girls shoot me amused glances.
Behind him, the other guys appear as well. Logan is the one who calls out, “The limo is here. Ready to go?”
I stay quiet.
