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“You okay?” Caroline asks. She gives my shoulders a little shake. “You’ve got this space cadet look on your face.”
“Fine, yeah,” I say, smiling. “What do you need?”
“You and Paisley are going to be my Vannah Whites. Okay? Decide between yourselves who reads the numbers and who gets to spin the cool little ball thing.”
I look up toward the fireplace in the lobby of the bed and breakfast. Caroline has rented a legitimate, fancy ball spinner thing for tonight. Of course she has.
A few of the people staying at Caroline’s have already set up spots for themselves at the tables and folding chairs we arranged. I’m expecting mostly the older folks from around town to show for this. Grams and Edgar are already sitting together in the back. She’s wearing a very loud, attention-grabbing leopard print coat with a big fuzzy fur hat. I grin. I guess Grams is enough motivation for Edgar to give up his taped Bingo and settle for the real thing.
I look up at the sound of loud voices and laughter coming from just outside the front door.
I crane my neck just as the doors thud open and Jake Summers comes walking in with a smile on his handsome face. Behind him, Jesse, Carter, Maddox, Liam, and Nolan all follow.
“What are they doing here?” I hiss under my breath to Caroline.
“Getting ready for a great time?” she says, apparently not surprised in the slightest.
“I thought it was just going to be like… older people.”
Caroline crosses her arms. “You think Bingo is just for older people, Mia? You don’t think the thrill of being the first one to shout that word and stand up with your card appeals to the young masses?”
“Um, no?” I say, laughing.
She bites back a smile and leans close, lowering her voice. “I didn’t expect any young people to show, either. But hey! Let’s roll with it.”
Roll with it. Right. I’ll just “roll” with pretending I didn’t let Nolan Saulters fuck me on the prep table of Taste two nights ago. Yep. No big deal.
I do a pretty good job of acting busy while we finish setting up for the game. More and more people come in, and the demographic continues to skew younger with just a pinch of older folks.
Edgar and Grams look like they’re talking about something very serious at their table. He’s gesturing wildly and wearing a green visor, track pants, and a windbreaker. If you ask me, that’s basically a professional Bingo uniform.
Andi catches me as I’m counting the cards we have to make sure there’s enough. “You good?” she asks.
“What? Yes. Why wouldn’t I be good? I’m just counting Bingo cards. It’s not like it’s rocket science. It’s not like I could–”
She laughs. “Slow down, hombre. You are seriously wound up. Is it because Nolan is here?”
“Nope.” I say.
She waits three seconds, then laughs and gives my arm a squeeze. “Mia… I’m saying this as your friend. Your very pregnant friend who you should not argue or disagree with because we should all worry about the health of the baby.”
I grin. She has been using that one to death. I think she’s only half-joking, too. “I’m listening. As your friend who will play along and let you think you’re right. For the health of the baby.”
“You need to work on your shit with Nolan. Obviously you’ve got unresolved feelings there. Whenever you two are in a room it looks like a ghost just inserted a baseball bat up each of your asses. And from what I can tell, neither of you are into that.”
I grin. “My ass is empty, thank you very much. And… let’s pretend I didn’t just say that.”
We both laugh.
“Seriously, though,” she presses. “What’s going on in your head? Are you hoping something happens? Are you hoping nothing happens? Think about my poor, unborn baby and how curious they must be to know. You wouldn’t leave a delicate pregnant woman and her curious baby out of the loop, would you?”
I sigh. “Maybe the loop is too ‘x rated’ for your unborn baby.”
Andi’s eyes bulge. She puts a hand on either side of her belly. “I have plugged all baby ears. Spill it, mamma.”
I told myself I wasn’t going to admit what happened with Nolan, but maybe it would feel good to get it off my chest. “Okay, okay. But tell Caroline and Paisley to meet me in the office for a second. I know if I tell you, they’re going to find out there’s some gossip. And I don’t feel like repeating it two more times.”
Andi bounces, fists bunched in excitement. “Dude! This is so freaking exciting!” She starts karate chopping the air and does a little stunted kick.
