Page 19 of 3rd and 4
I shrug casually. “Maybe.” I lean down a little, like I’m sharing a secret. “Didn’t you get the email?”
“Email?” Jillian and Lindsay whisper together.
Eva pushes past them to stand next to me. “We notified the team we’d be doing this.”
“I’m gonna make her pay for this!” Shaye screeches like a B-rated movie villain, complete with shaking raised fists.
All humor bleeds from my expression, as I stare down at them. “You got a problem with anything; you take it up with me.” I pound my chest.
“Or me.” Eva declares, then winks at me and pounds her own chest.
“AHH!” Shaye storms off, no doubt in search of more photos. Too bad she won’t find them all, I plastered the men’s locker rooms for the cheer squad and the football team. And I giggled like a little boy the entire time. It’s the little things in life, you know?
Jillian and Lindsay rush after her. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief, then we break apart to finish getting ready for the game. Daya slinks out of the locker room and sidles up to me. I put my arm across her shoulders and kiss the top of her head.
“You did this for me?” She blinks up at me, her eyes big and fathomless, her cheeks lightly flushed.
“We all have moments that aren’t exactly flattering, no reason yours should be the only one on display.”
“I can’t believe you did this for me.” She turns to the stragglers in the hallway, “Thank you.”
Tori, a senior cheerleader, smiles at Daya. “No need to thank us, we got your back. Besides, some of these pictures are fucking hilarious and gonna be used as fodder for years to come. The fuckoning is upon us!”
She raises her hands in the air and strides back into the women’s locker room chanting, “The fuckoning!”. I shift to stand in front of Daya, my hands caressing her neck, my thumbs running along her jawline. “Edee was very helpful, taking pictures of everyone on the squad at inopportune moments, I printed them out, and taped them up with Eva’s help.”
“I want to be shocked that Edee helped, but I’m not. She hates Shaye.”
“Yeah,” I say with a chuckle, “she was quite eager to participate.”
Daya’s smile drops, her eyes darting up to mine, brows dipping with worry. “You aren’t going to get in trouble for this?”
With a shrug, I respond, “Nah. It wasn’t hazing or harassment. Eva and I sent out emails to everyone letting them know what we were doing. Not my fault they didn’t check their inbox…or spam folder.”
Appeased, Daya’s sinful lips stretch back into a brilliant smile. On her tip toes, she kisses me. Passionately. She breaks the kiss way too soon, whispering, “Thank you.”
I kiss her again. “Anything for you, Itty Bitty.”
“And me? Do I get a little action, too?” Shit. I drop my head to my chest and start laughing. I forgot Eva was still here. Right next to us. Making it weird.
Daya laughs, then launches herself at Eva, peppering her face with smoochy kisses. “Thank you!”
Eva frowns, “No tongue?”
Daya 13.
I was not prepared for this week. I went to a big high school in Florida where spring break is a lifestyle not just a vacation. But nothing, absolutely nothing could have prepared me for Homecoming week. The university goes ALL out to celebrate. Alumni are everywhere. Each day there’s something new. And my brother and parents have been here for it all. They’ve experienced the same culture shock as me since they arrived four days ago.
When they got here on Sunday evening, there was a showdown that Wyatt Earp and the residents of the OK Coral would envy…but then Dad and Brad fell under Addy’s spell and they’ve been besties since. I won’t say I lost respect for the men in my life, but I’m realizing that Mom and I might be the more cutthroat members of the family, must get it from Pappy. Of course, that was before Mom started doting on Addy and totally forgetting I exist.
I’m a lone wolf now.
Edee, Ty, and Eva have hung out with us a few times, usually at mealtimes. But Lyndell has stolen my mom’s heart. She and Addy’s mom have been stealthily trying to win his favor all week. If one more person slips him something sugary, Ty is going to lose his shit. And it will be funny as hell to watch.
Mr. and Mrs. Addelsbach arrived Tuesday. His Uncle Hal, his aunt, and cousin Elyria arrived yesterday. Needless to say, finding a table big enough for all of us is growing more difficult by the day.
But my heart is full. Almost bursting. All my favorite people are together. Some I’ve known my whole life, some I’m just meeting now, but every one of them is part of our story. Addy and I wouldn’t be the people we are today without them. We wouldn’t have found one another and that would be a travesty that doesn’t bear thinking about.
I’m so happy my family is here. I missed them something awful, however, I am looking forward to them going home so I can be alone with Addy. It’s been days and I’m gonna start twitching soon from withdrawal.
