Page 12 of Love at Teamsgiving
No, I didn’t forget how tall he is, how broad his shoulders are, or how the way he wears his clothes teases me about how toned he is.
I haven’t gotten over how unfair it is that this guy is half-Italian like me, and a veritable giant. While my maternal kinsfolk aren’t known for being overly genetically gifted in the height department, I got slotted with the short genes, never mind that I’m also half Russian with a lot of height in my paternal ancestry.
Erica and Shane exchange a loving embrace as if they’ve been apart for days rather than a few hours.
Be on my best behavior?Pfft.
Not breaking eye contact with Miguel, I say, “The enemy has arrived.”
He tilts his head to the side. “As charming as ever. It’s nice to see you, too, Junie.”
Like a cat that heard the rustle of the treat bag, Erica perks up and turns around. “Junie?”
“You didn’t hear that,” I mutter, not appreciating that Miguel still uses his nickname for me. I dropped his, chained to a cinderblock, into the East River.
Turning back to him, I ask, “Bynice,you must think you’re still asleep because this is a nightmare.”
“You said it, not me.”
“Children, please,” Erica says, scolding us.
Shane sits down, and she joins him, holding hands.
Miguel and I turn slightly to face them. In the crowded café, we’re closer than I’d like to be, especially since he must’ve recently showered and smells like aftershave and ... I grit my teeth, not wanting to let myself think it. Fine. He smells like home. Familiar and comforting.
“Listen, guys, we know you two have a past, but we’re starting our future,” Shane begins tactfully, demonstrating that he’ll make a great father someday.
When I got out of line, mine pinched my ear to remind me to listen. Miguel’s pinched the back of his arm when he wouldn’t keep his hands to himself.
I hate that I know everything about him, even the contours of the tight muscles on the back of said arm, the tattoo with my name on it against a banner, and surrounded by roses. He probably had it covered up with a skull and crossbones.
Erica takes Shane’s hand, a united front. “Kids, we think this is going to be a really good learning and growing experience for you.”
I cut a glare at Miguel. “Kids? More like a baby who can grow a beard.”
His eyes crinkle at the corners like he’s amused and holding back laughter. I don’t want him to think my comment is funny. No, I want him to go crying home to mommy. Never mind. She’d call my mother, and I’d face worse than a pinch on the ear. Mama also went for the soft spot on the back of the arm when Asher and I would get out of line.
“Manners,” Erica hisses.
I cross my arms in front of my chest and roll my eyes. To his credit, Miguel seems nonplussed by this situation, as if this is just a regular Thursday. Meanwhile, I’m seething.
How could Erica do this to me?
Forget that, why would she think this is a good idea? Then another question hops the turnstile. “How will this work? He lives in St. Louis, last I checked.” My comment and complaint slow to a mumble because I don’t want Miguel to think that I’m keeping tabs on him or anything. But they do say to keep your enemies close. Maybe that’s why Mama and Carlotta Cruz lived in the same city for so long.
Shane nods as if he anticipated this and any other objections I have. “Right. Erica and I discussed our plans at length.Juniper, since you’re moving to my home state—Go Knights!” He pumps the air.
I expect Miguel to counter with the battle cry of his team du jour—in the three years of his career, he’s been in three different organizations. I’m about to hype the Kings, we’re in New York, after all.
However, Erica picks up where her fiancé left off. “Shane has T-minus six weeks until his residency is over. Woot! Woot! But we’re stuck here until my program is done in December, making it hard for us to do the planning remotely. See, Shane’s Gam-Gam can’t travel anymore and my family is all over the country, so they’d have to travel no matter where we host the wedding. We figured it’s perfect because you’ll both be local.”
The words bump into each other but refuse to fall in line. I say, “We’llbothbe local? Have you looked at a map lately? Nebraska and Missouri aren’t exactly neighbors.”
Shane nods and smiles. “Actually, you will be. Well, maybe not technically, but in the same town.”
Erica jumps in, classic tag-team parenting style. “Juniper, with you moving to Nebraska, I don’t have too many ties left here. Because Shane’s family is there and we want our future children to grow up around family and with their cousins?—”
“Wait, Junie, is moving to Nebraska?” Miguel asks “Mom and Dad” as if I’m not right here.
