Page 4 of Delay of Game

I say, “I didn’t bring a date because I’m too busy being in the wedding party. And you should go make sure the guests find the right seats, yeah?”

“Yeah, yeah, I can take a hint,” she says, and places a kiss on Tangela’s cheek before leaving the room.

The rest of the wedding party files into the room, along with my dad, who looks dapper in his suit and dark red bow tie. My mom always said I was a carbon copy of my dad, but the truth is I could never pull off a bow tie. His eyes are shining, and I think I can see some dried tears on his freckled cheekbones. I need to look away before I start crying too.

As I look around the room, I see Robbie chatting with one of Tangela’s bridesmaids. After I joined the Manticores last year, Alex and Robbie took me under their wing pretty quickly and we’ve been good friends ever since. Especially Robbie. When he found out my parents retired and moved to the East side of thestate, leaving me to spend Christmas alone, he invited me over. Easy as that.

Tangela was in town visiting, and I decided to bring her along. I didn’t expect her to be immediately so taken with Michael. I definitely wasn’t. He’s kind of a doofus in my opinion—almost thirty, working as a bartender downtown, living with his parents. And yet, he must have some good qualities, because after dating for less than a year, my sister said yes to marrying him.

The last of the rain clouds are clearing up just in time for the wedding ceremony and the people are being ushered to take a seat. We all get into position as the wedding planner instructed us during rehearsal, but my partner in crime for the day is missing.

I look around but don’t see her anywhere. Before I can ask Robbie where she is, the back door slams open and Alice runs in, wincing at the force, and heads straight for my sister, presenting her the large bouquet of flowers she’s holding.

Tangela gasps and says, “You are a lifesaver, Al. I thought I’d for sure have to go out without a bouquet.”

“Please, I would have scrounged something up from all these flowers before leaving you hanging.”

“Thank you.”

“Places, people. We’re on a schedule!” the wedding planner yells out.

Alice quickly takes her spot next to me, looping her arm through my elbow, just like we rehearsed. I frown as I look down at her small hand on my forearm. It’s covered in cuts and scrapes.

I lean in so only she can hear me and say, “Alice, what happened to your hand?”

She looks up, startled, and her dark blue eyes are glued to my face, roaming around like they don’t know what to land on.

“Al?”

“Oh, right. It’s nothing, J. I offered to redo the bouquet because it was coming apart.”

“You should put something on those cuts.”

“I don’t have time right now. Later,” she says, brushing me off and turning to face the other couples lined up in front of us.

I study her profile for a moment. Alice is five feet, four inches of pure sass. Her dark blond hair is styled half down, with a twist in the back and plenty of hair strands falling into her face and eyes. And the bridesmaid dress she is wearing looks like it’s perfectly made for her.

The burgundy material hugs her in all the right places, especially her ass, and I need to shake myself out of it when I realize I’m staring at my best friend’s sister, who is six years younger than me at that.

What is wrong with me?

Maybe I should have brought a date.

Alice

I takea deep breath to steady myself. My hands are itchy and this dress is tighter than I expected, but I got it on the Internet and it came in a couple days ago, so it’s not like I had time for a complete re-haul of my outfit. On the bright side, I’m pretty sure I noticed Jordan checking me out a second ago.

Someone yells out that we’re next and it’s like I’ve forgotten everything they told us at the rehearsal yesterday. Walk fast to the beat of the music—no, wait—walk slowly to give the people at the front time to get to their assigned places.

My steps pick up without my thinking and Jordan gently holds me back, taking charge of the pace.Good. I’m so nervous, I’m a mess.

Michael is getting married. After being an idiot for most of his life, he’s finally pulled his head out of his ass and found the perfect girl for him. And I’m so happy. I want this to be the best day ever for them, and if that means taking on some odd chores and fixing up a bouquet at the expense of my manicure, then so be it.

As soon as we get up to the altar, I let go of Jordan’s forearm, but he catches my hand back at the last second. My head whips to him and he gives me a small smile and kisses the back of my hand. The whole thing happens so fast that I’m dumbstruck.

Then he’s shaking Michael’s hand and moving to stand with the rest of the groomsmen. Michael wraps me up in a hug and says, “I know I torture you most of the time, but I love you Al.”

“Wow, not even married yet and already you’re soft,” I say, teasing him and hugging him tight. “I love you too.”

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