“I guess you inspired me.” Marissa’s eyes are searching mine for a reaction. Maybe she did detect the note of uncertainty in my tone. “You made me realize that I need to make myself a priority.”
There’s a beat when I don’t know what to say.
“I’m telling you, it’s the paintball course,” Shelby says, keeping the mood light. “It’s the most romantic place on earth.” Her eyes have turned into cartoon hearts, and for one terrible, nauseating moment, I have a vision of my brother dressed as Mario’s archnemesis. I blink it away before my breakfast burrito revisits me.
“The paintball course?” Pooja looks confused.
“It was so much fun,” Shelby tells her. “And Jesse jumped in front of Marissa and took our team’s shot. He sacrificed himself so she wouldn’t be out of the game.”
“No shit,” Pooja breathes. “That might be the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”
“I know, right?” Shelby beams at a blushing Marissa.
Then her expression changes.
Oh no. I know this look of enthusiastic determination. She’s about to pitch something.
“What are you guys doing tonight?” she asks. She looks in Marissa’s direction. “And don’t say Jesse, because you have all day tomorrow to do him.”
“I…” Two pink dots form on Marissa’s cheeks as she trails off. A small part of me is pleased that she doesn’t deny it. Her eyes meet mine and I notice her pupils are dilated. Maybe I’ve miscalculated. Maybe she doesn’t want last night to be a one-off.
“Perfect, so you’re free,” Shelby confirms. “Come with me to tonight’s Ina Garten Cookbook Club.”
“What on earth is Ina Garten’s Cookbook Club?” Pooja raises an eyebrow, looking intrigued.
“Exactly what it sounds like. Once a month, the girls and I make a dish from one of Ina’s cookbooks and then we bring them to someone’s house and have a potluck. Oh, and we also dress up as Ina. Really adds to the experience.”
“You do this every month?” I can’t decide if Pooja is horrified or impressed.
Shelby shrugs. “There’s not much else to do around here on a Saturday night.”
“It’s already four o’clock.” Marissa sounds skeptical. “I don’t have time to make anything, much less acquire a chin-length wig.”
“You can do a quick charcuterie board. Ina would not want youto stress,” Shelby reassures her. “And you can borrow some costuming from me. We’ve been doing this for a while now and I’ve garnered quite the collection of denim shirts and tasteful scarves.”
Marissa’s eyes drift to mine and I shrug as I give her an amused smile. I know my sister-in-law: Once she’s gotten an idea in her head, there’s no talking her out of it. The best thing Marissa can do is lean in and let it happen.
“This sounds like something I cannot miss,” Pooja agrees. “One must always do it for the plot.”
Shelby retracts her measuring tape and makes a note on her phone.
“Perfect. And I’ve got the final measurements, so I can go ahead and order the cushion for your bench. I’ll pick you guys up at seven, if that works?”
The other two women nod, and Shelby joins me by the door, looping her arm through mine.
“See, I told you we’d be in and out,” she says. “How easy was that?”
23JESSE
“Six ball, right pocket,” I say. I bend closer to the table, focusing my eyes on the ball. I need to get my head in the game. I’ve missed my last three shots and Toby is mopping the floor with my ass. I draw my arm back slowly, then take the shot. The ball rolls to the left, missing the pocket by a good six inches and ricocheting off the short rail.Goddamn it.
My brother bellows with laughter. “You’re losing your touch, bro.”
I shake my head and take a long swig of beer. “Bullshit. I think the table is slanted. Probably needs maintenance.”
Toby crosses his thick arms. “That’s one possibility. Another possibility is that there’s something on your mind. A young lady, perhaps?”
“‘A young lady, perhaps?’ You need to start watching adult movies again. You sound like a Disney sidekick.”
