Page 40 of Holiday Unscripted
“You kicked me,” he hisses out, not touching on the remark from before or maybe he doesn’t remember. But with the way he looked at me, I know he does.
“I did not.” I shake my head. “I accidentally fell forward with my leg connecting to your shin. It was as much of an accident as the clue ending up under a table.” I shrug. “Anyway, what the heck are you doing?”
“I told Belinda I would get a couple of pictures of Joshua in high school and some of us growing up.”
“I haven’t seen a real picture in forever,” I mention, leaning over and grabbing the stack. “Everything is all digital these days.”
“You know what is making a comeback?” he asks, as I flip through the pictures. “Those disposable cameras.” I gawk at him. “I know someone who works with me always brings it with her. We were at a team dinner the other day, and we all posed for a picture and she took out this square thing from her purse. It had the flash and everything.”
“But then how do you know if the picture is good or not?” I ask him and he shrugs.
“You find out like in the old days when it’s printed.”
“Oh my gosh.” I turn one of the pictures over. “Is this prom?”
“I think it was semi-formal,” he replies. I look back at the picture of both of them in suits, standing side by side. My eyes go to just Nate, who was always hot, even back then. But it was different, he was just Joshua’s best friend back then. He was also one of the people I could have counted on just like Joshua and Jack.
“That hockey flow.” I laugh at their long hair.
“Don’t knock that haircut,” he retorts, “it’s making a comeback too.”
“So is the mullet, who would have thought?” I mumble as we look through pictures. He finds one of the two of us, sitting side by side, our hair wet from the pool with towels on our laps, his arm around my neck, hanging. “I’m keeping this one.” I show it to him.
“No, you aren’t.” He snatches it from me. “It’s mine, go find your own.”
“Where?” I get up.
“Where do you think I got these from?” He holds up the pictures. “Your parents.”
“You’re so annoying.” I grab my cup. “I’m going to get dressed to slay the day.”
“You do that. I’m going to sit here and watch my trophy.” He smirks at me. I slap it off the counter and watch it fall to the floor.
It rolls over twice and just lies there. “Oops”—I put one hand in front of my mouth—“my bad.”
I walk upstairs and head for the shower. “We have to be there at eleven!” he screams up at me.
“Worry about yourself,” I tell him before walking into the bathroom and finishing my coffee as I wait for the water to warm up.
“If I never see this venue again,” I say to Nate as I get out of his truck, “it’ll still be too soon.”
He laughs at me as I look over at him with his white sneakers today. His light blue jeans are just right with their fit and show off his package and his ass, as if they were made for him and only him. The white hem of his T-shirt is sticking out below his light gray-and-black long-sleeved sweater. The front of his black puffer jacket is open, showing you his outfit. His hair is pushed back, and you can see where his fingers pushed through it. It’s annoying how hot he is with no effort at all.
He holds open the door for me and I step into the room and see rectangular tables set up all around. Two chairs are on each side with small bowls in the middle of the tables.
“There he is,” Joshua greets, walking to us, “the winner of the scavenger hunt.”
“I think you mean the cheater of the scavenger hunt,” I correct him as he slaps his shoulder, trying not to laugh.
“It’s all hearsay.” Joshua sticks up for him and I look around to see Evie is here talking to my mother, with Jack holding her fist in his hand.
We make our way to them. “Morning,” I say to the group and Jack side-eyes me, “how is everyone?”
“Great,” Evie grumbles, “just peachy.” She tries to get her hand away from Jack, who just smirks at her. “Let me go.”
He releases her hand but it’s only to wrap his arm around her waist and pull her to him. “Never,” he vows, looking into her eyes and I roll my eyes when I see softness come into her expression. “I’ll never let you go.”
“He’s just the sweetest,” my mother coos as Jack kisses Evie softly and then turns back to smile at Mom.
