Page 52 of Emerald Moon
“You’re going to kick ass, right?”
She said the swear word like it was a foreign language.Jo couldn’t help but smile.“You're right.I’ve got to remember that.”
“Jo’s here!”They heard as soon as they opened the door.June rushed down the aisle from where she’d been standing next to her husband-to-be, Daniel, under an arch covered with white flowers and vines.She collided with Jo, hugging them too hard, the way she always had.Their height difference also meant that June’s clavicle went right into Jo’s neck when they hugged.
“Good to see you too, Junie.”Jo hugged her back, feeling years of distance closing between them.
“No, but, like, it’s really, really good to see you.”June pulled back enough to look at Jo.She sighed, a gentle thing, as her head tilted a little to the side like she was lost in thought.Jo could only imagine what she was thinking until she snapped out of it and bounced on the balls of her feet.“I’m so happy you’re here!And you!”She turned her attention to Cass.“The first time our Jo brings anyone home, and she’s tall and hot.”
Cass held out a hand.“Nice to meet you.I’m Cass.”
June took her hand in both of hers.“I’m very happy you’re here, too.We were all wondering who Jo’s mysterious plus one was going to be.Not going to lie, I thought you were just bringing a friend — wait, you two are together, right?I just assumed.”
“Yes, we’re dating,” Jo clarified, feeling a jolt up their spine when the lie left their lips.Telling a random aunt was one thing.Telling June was something else entirely.
“You go off to the mountains and get yourself a girlfriend!”
“You go off to med school and get yourself a husband.”
June beamed.“I have done well for myself.I mean, have you seen him?But, more importantly, wait until you see me tomorrow.I’m trading in my scrubs for a dress that makes me look amazing.I spend all of my days with my hair in a messy bun and wearing scrubs that have heaven only knows what on them by the end of the day.Do you know how good it feels to look nice for once?”
“I don’t.I’m always in hoodies.”
“And those ratty Converse sneakers, like you always wore in high school.”
Jo glanced down to their shoes, rolling one foot to the side.“You know it.Nothing screams 'aging millennial’ like a pair of super old Converse.Or Vans.Brought those, too.”
June laughed.“Same old Jo.I’m glad some things don’t change.”She clapped her hands.“Okay, so, the wedding planner is back out in the hallway with the other bridesmaids.If you want to go out there and y’all can figure out your walking order and I’ll be out there soon to practice walking in.And you —” She pointed at Cass.“Can make yourself comfy.There’s, like, only a million chairs set up.”
“I’m sure I can find one,” Cass said.
June hugged Jo one last time before heading back up to the front.
Across the room, Jo locked eyes with their mother and waited for anxiety or anger to bubble up inside of them, but Cass threw an arm around their shoulders and gave them a side hug and there wasn’t room for either of those emotions.
“That your mom?”Cass asked under her breath.
“Yep.”
Cass waved, but she didn’t just wave politely.She waved like she was furiously waving at a cruise ship coming into port and desperately wanted to be noticed by the people on board.
Jo stifled a laugh.“What are you doing?”
“Making a good first impression.”
“You’re nailing it.”
Cass stopped waving and looked down.“Really?”She was like a puppy waiting for praise.
“Really,” Jo assured.“And you’re making it way more fun to be here.”
“‘Fun’ isn’t usually a word people use to describe me.”
“Well, get used to it, because I think you are.Now, I’ve got to go, but you find a seat and, whatever you do, dodge my mom at all costs.We’re going to minimize interacting with her this weekend and kick this wedding’s ass.”
“So you’ve said.”
“And you know what?I kind of actually mean it now.”
