Page 103 of The Mistakes I've Made
Lani giggled, having never met my sister in law, but I had a feeling, if they had a few minutes together, they’d become instant friends.
“Hotisn’t really the word I’d use, but, yeah, he looks all right. John Smith, I’m guessing?”
“Yeah. How’d you know?” Dean asked, looking fairly impressed.
“Well, it wasn’t based on you, idiot,” I said, motioning toward his dime-a-dozen white peasant blouse and black jeans. “You look like a Disney reject. But your beautiful wife, that’s a different story.”
“Hey now,” Dean warned.
“You really do look stunning,” Lani said of Cora’s intricate Native American costume.
“Thank you,” Cora said. “Have you guys entered the King and Queen Competition?”
Lani cocked her head to the side. “The what?”
“Yeah…no, we won’t be doing that,” I said nearly at the same time.
She seemed to be slightly more interested at my almost-instantaneous dismissal.
“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” Cora promised. “I honestly think Molly couldn’t come up with a better title.”
“So, what is it?” Lani asked.
“It’s a competition,” Dean explained. “One we happen to be the reigning champions at.” His eyes rose in my direction. “Huh, is that maybe why you don’t want to enter, brother? Intimidated?”
I blew out a loud breath through my teeth. “Hardly.”
“Then, what’s the reason?”
All three sets of eyes were on me, and I felt sweat dripping down my back.
“I, uh…”
“Isn’t it a couples thing?” Lani asked, saving me.
I sent her a silent,Thank you, from across the circle.
The question seemed to throw Cora a bit, but she answered it all the same, “No. I mean, usually. But there are several friends who enter.”
“Molly and I were partners for years,” Dean said before adding, “You know, before we were actually—”
“We got it,” I answered.
“So, what say you, Taylor? In or out?”
I tried not to think about the last time I’d been asked that question.
Lani’s father had asked me that question weeks ago and I was still too afraid to answer.
Turning my attention to Lani, I lifted a single challenging eyebrow and watched as her shoulders shrugged, giving me all the answer I needed.
“We’re in.”
“We have to perform?” she almost shouted as we sat down on the grass near the mouth of the bay.
“Now, you know why I never enter.”
She let out a heavy sigh. “I feel like I really should have asked more questions before giving you the go-ahead for this, but honestly, I heardQueen, and my brain kind of went to mush.”
