Page 105 of My Life with the Walter Boys
“Thanks, Cole, but you’re already dressed. I wouldn’t want you to get your suit dirty.”
“That’s no problem.” He started to shrug out of his jacket. When that was off, his fingers began working the buttons on his shirt, and I couldn’t help but stare. Soon he was down to his dress pants and undershirt. “Okay, boss,” he asked, setting his clothes aside where they wouldn’t get dirty. “What do you need me to do?”
It took me a minute to regain my composure, but then I breathed a sigh of relief. “Here,” I said, handing him the empty icing tube. “If you could fill this with yellow frosting and start on that row over there, that would be amazing.”
“Sure thing,” he said, taking the tube from me. “And by the way, you have frosting on your nose.”
“Did I get it?” I asked, using the back of my hand.
“Here,” Cole said, stepping forward. He brought his finger up to my face and rubbed it off. Then he stuck his finger in his mouth and sucked away the frosting. “Got it.”
My cheeks went pink, and I turned back toward the table to hide my embarrassment. “Thanks,” I said, grabbing one of the sprinkle containers. “We should probably get to work.”
“Of course.”
I risked a quick glance in Cole’s direction. He was already spooning the yellow paste into the tube, his hands quick, but on his face was the classic Cole smirk. We both knew that he had gotten to me.
***
“Are you kidding me?” I complained to Nathan when we reached our assigned table. My name card was right between two boys—Cole and Alex, to be exact.
Will and Haley had already said “I do” in a ceremony by Katherine’s blooming garden, and cocktail hour had just ended. For dinner, there were two huge tents set up in the backyard, with enough room to seat all the wedding guests.
“This is going to be an enjoyable evening,” Isaac said. Rolling his eyes, he pulled back his chair.
I shot him a dirty look and turned to Danny. “Would you mind switching with Cole?” I asked.
Danny quickly sat down. “I’m sorry, Jackie,” he said, looking regretful. “I can’t.”
“Why not?” I asked, still hovering behind my spot. Was it really that hard to move one seat over?
“Well, you see…” He trailed off, almost as if he felt uncomfortable finishing his sentence. Then Danny grabbed the water glass next to his plate and took a long sip so he didn’t have to answer me.
“He doesn’t want to lose our bet,” Isaac said with a grin as he unfolded his napkin and set it on his lap.
“You made a bet?” I asked, whipping around to glare at Danny. Isaac was addicted to gambling, but for the most part the boys knew not to indulge him. This was so unlike Danny that it made me furious.
“I know I shouldn’t have,” Danny said, hanging his head. “But if I’m going to move to New York, I need some extra money.”
Sighing, I yanked back my chair and took my place. “Why didn’t you say something?” I demanded. “You know I’d be more than happy to help you.”
He shrugged. “I didn’t want to owe you anything.”
“Apparently he’d rather owe me,” Isaac said. “I’m earning a hundred bucks on this.”
“A hundred bucks?” I asked in shock. “What’s this stupid bet anyway?”
“That Cole and Alex won’t be able to get through dinner without fighting over you,” Isaac explained.
“And?” I asked, not knowing if I wanted to hear the rest.
“I said they wouldn’t last five minutes,” Danny responded quietly.
“Wonderful,” I said, sinking into my seat. “Just wonderful.”
“At least they will both be happy,” Nathan said, trying to look on the bright side of things. “Well, for a little bit.”
He was right. Cole and Alex would both be happy to find that they were sitting next to me. However, they would quickly get fed up with each other. The worst part was that I was going to be stuck in the middle.
