Page 19 of Pitching for Keeps
"You can't just say things like that!"
"Why not? It's true." He grins. "You're also cute when you're flustered."
"I'm not flustered. I'm... thermally elevated."
"That's not a thing."
"It's totally a thing."
"Tracy—"
"Ceremony time!" Megan's voice carries across the lawn. "Places, everyone! Tracy, stop flirting and get in line!"
"I wasn't flirting!" I protest.
"You were definitely flirting," Jay murmurs as we separate. "And I was definitely flirting back."
I take my place in the bridesmaid line, trying to calm my racing heart. This is Megan's day. I need to focus on being a wonderful sister, not on how Jay looks in that tux, or how he still smells like the same cologne mixed with baseball field, or how his hands felt when he caught mine, or?—
"Processional positions!" the wedding coordinator announces.
Jay's with the groomsmen, and as we line up for the walk down the aisle, he leans over.
"Hey Tracy?"
"Yeah?"
"After this, want to discuss my base running some more? Maybe over dinner? When I get back from the road trip?"
"Are you asking me on a date at my sister's wedding?"
"Is it working?"
I bite my lip to keep from smiling. "Maybe."
"I'll take that."
The music starts, and we begin the processional. As I walk down the aisle, trying to maintain appropriate bridesmaid posture and pace, I catch Jay watching me from where the groomsmen are already stationed.
He mouths something that looks suspiciously like "Beautiful."
I mouth back, "Watch the ceremony."
He grins and replies, "Make me."
"Stop flirting via lip reading!" Sarah hisses behind me.
Right. Wedding. Sister. Important life moment. Not the time to be having silent conversations with Jay Talley about our maybe-date.
I take my place at the altar, arranging my bouquet and trying to look serene and bridal-party-appropriate. The music changes, and everyone stands for Megan.
She's radiant, absolutely glowing as she walks down the aisle. I tear up immediately because she's my sister, and she's beautiful and she's marrying the love of her life.
I glance at the groomsmen and find Jay watching me, not Megan. When our eyes meet, he smiles softly and touches his chest, right over his heart.
The gesture is so familiar, so him, that I have to look away before I start crying for entirely different reasons.
As the ceremony begins and the officiant talks about love and commitment and building a life together, I try to focus on Megan and Greg. Really, I do. But my traitorous eyes keep drifting to Jay, who seems to be having the same problem.
