Page 132 of Puck with Karma
“The song, dude, the song,” Van whisper yells at him when nothing happens and the song is still playing, but not from the top as I asked.
“Uh, okay.” Jared looks all thumbs when he taps on the small screen. “Hold on. Okay.” The song finally starts over. “There.” He gives us all a happy smile, like he saved the day.
Someone shoves a hockey stick in my face, and I’m about to punch them in the face when I realize what it’s for.
“Microphone,” Van speaks in the corner of his mouth. “So you look more professional.”
The first words toMarry Meby Train come on, and I start doing my thing. It is a slow song, and the chorus comes way too soon. I only have time to add the name of the only person I would ever consider asking anything like this.
“Abigail, marry me…”
The guys behind me start singing along too, and when I glance to the side, I realize they are all swaying side to side as they each hold a piece of paper with the wordsSay yeson it.
Brandon Karlsberg is the only one who’s just watching. He’s not singing along, definitely not swaying, and the sign he’s holding is upside down, but he doesn’t seem to give a shit.
“Isn’t it too early for this?” someone comments from somewhere, but I couldn’t care less. I pour my heart into this song, and I don’t even realize it when everyone else stops.
“Okay, Frank Sinatra,” Van tries to stop me. “We lost internet connection, so nobody can see or hear you anymore.”
“Except for us,” Jared snickers. “I didn’t see this one coming.”
I go into panic mode.
“But did she see it?”
Bran sighs from his spot by the wall.
“She saw it.” He doesn’t sound happy at all. “She’s blowing up my phone about it. And so is my girlfriend.”
He pushes himself away from the wall and walks toward me. I am positive he is about to knock me out, and I don’t plan to fight him back. He deserves this one freebie. I stare him in the eyes and brace myself for impact.
Bran stops only inches away from me.
“You know what this means now, right?”
“Which part?” I smirk at him, hoping he gets aggravated enough and does his thing, so we can get it over with. “Just know that it will be the only time,” I growl at him.
He leans forward a bit. “I sure fucking hope so. Because I’ll kill you if you do it with someone else later.”
He doesn’t make any sense. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“You have to marry my sister now.” He looks like he is grinding his teeth when he speaks. “What the fuck areyoutalking about?”
I lean back, hoping to put more space between us.
“You are only getting this one freebie. After this, if you lay a hand on me, I’ll break it.”
Bran watches me for the longest time. First, there is confusion, then understanding, and, finally, smugness.
“One freebie you say?” I’m not sure I like where this is going. “I’m gonna save it for a rainy day.”
He turns around and walks away. No one says a word until he is out of the locker room.
“Leyla!” Van’s voice booms over all of us. “I might need to stay for another year. I need to see first hand how all this is gonna play out.”
He then opens his arms and walks my way.
“Welcome to the team, fucker. You won’t regret it.”
