Page 72 of Sprite Wedding
We all agreed.
“Now that we’re all here, we should celebrate this new beginning.” Gianna raised her index finger. “I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” Nova asked.
Gianna tipped her head to the front door. “Come with me to the store.”
The little trip to the market resulted in us filling up on many appetizers, drinks, and Gianna’s beloved champagne.
After we all settled in the living room, Sebastian asked, “Anyone up for a game?”
“No, I want to celebrate.” Lucas went over to his record player and played David Bowie. “We have to follow his suggestion.” Lucas flashed a one-sided grin. “Let’s dance.”
I laughed as it was the song playing. “Okay.”
When he offered his hand, I took it. He led me away from the furniture.
“Good plan, my man,” Sebastian said. He motioned to Gianna. “Want to dance, my beautiful mate?”
“Of course,” she replied.
Although I’d never be as skilled of a dancer as Lucas, I loved to dance with him. He never made me feel self-conscious. He never made anyone feel that way. It was fun. That was how Lucas lived life with joie de vivre.
Even Nova and Diego danced. He had a brightness on his face that seemed to come out when Nova was nearby.
We danced for several more songs until Gianna said, “I need a breather. Refills, anyone?” She topped up champagne glasses, and we all returned to sit around the coffee table. Despite it being moving day, which could be draining, we were having such a great night. I didn’t want it to end.
“I’m still up for a game if anyone else is,” I said.
“Whatever my fiancée wants.” Lucas slapped his thighs and then stood. “Which one?”
“Hmm, so much pressure,” I said. They rarely played a board game by the rules and instead made-up wacky variations. For Scrabble, we had to invent words and describe them with a definition. In Monopoly, properties needed backstories. After all we’d gone through lately, I didn’t want to use the brainpower to come up with new things. I’d rather relax with friends and have fun. “How about Cards Against Humanity?”
“I’m up for it,” Lucas replied.
“I’m in,” Sebastian added.
“I’ll get the game,” Diego volunteered.
Lucas went to his record player and put on Phil Collins’s “In the Air Tonight” at a low volume. Then he sat back beside me and slung an arm around my shoulder. I leaned against him.
Diego returned, and we set up the game. When it was time for the signature drum break, almost everyone paused to play air drums, and we laughed.
We played the game for over an hour while listening to more records. Lucas had to be in a Phil Collins mood as he put on a Genesis album.
During “That’s All,” Gianna sang a line as living with you is “Phooey all of the time.”
Lucas turned to her with wide eyes. “Did you just sayphooey?”
“Yeah.” Gianna stared at him. “Like he’s fed up.”
Nova chuckled and lowered her head to her hands. “Your misinterpreted lyrics never cease to amuse me.”
Gianna tossed her hair over her shoulders and grinned. “What can I say, it’s a gift.”
They shared some of her other renditions, most of them nonsense. I leaned back and observed the good-natured ribbing, happy to be a part of this strange family.
After the game ended, Gianna and Sebastian left.
