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“Oh, honey, don’t you worry. That kiss toldeverythingwithout you even saying a word. Now, let’s get in that reception hall before you miss the toast you have to give. Need help walking? After a kiss like that, I’m not sure your extremities will function on a normal level.”
Cassie gave her friend a glare. “I’m fine, Aria. He just took me by surprise, that’s all.”
“Whatever you say, Eskimo. All I’m saying is that kiss could melt all the snow in your home state.”
Cassie shook her head. “You’re a jerk,” she grumbled under her breath.
“A jerk youlove!”Aria replied, throwing her arm around Cassie’s shoulders. “Now, let’s go toast our best friend and gag ourselves with spoons at how ridiculously in love Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are.”
Cassie and Aria walked into the reception hall where everyone else was already sitting.
“You’re late to the party, girls,” Max said, pulling both of them in a hug. “What have you been up to?”
“Well, Maxi-pad,” Aria began as Callie’s dad frowned at the nickname she had given him the first time they met, “I walked in on-“
“Nothing, Max. She didn’t walk in on anything. I was just feeling lightheaded for a second,” Cassie said with a pointed look her friend’s way.
Aria snorted. “Is that code for playing ton-“
Cassie pulled herself out of Max’s warm embrace and grabbed her friend’s arm before she could finish ratting Cassie out. “Comeon, Aria! We have to go sit down.”
“See ya in a bit, Maxi-pad! Remember, you promised me first dance!”
“I can’tbelieveyou almost told Max what I did, Aria!” Cassie screeched as they duo made their way to the head table where the rest of the wedding party was already seated.
“Why is it a big deal? So you kissed a super-hot, ridiculously built man. There’s no harm in that.”
“I don’t want my, my…well, my practically adopteddadthink I’m some hussy kissing guys at hisdaughter’s wedding!”
“Relax, Alaska, before you hyperventilate. The secret’s between us. And also….just so you know…the hottie is totally undressing you with his eyes right now.”
Cassie and Aria walked by the groom’s side of the table as they headed to their seats. Sure enough, Jamal was watching every step Cassie was taking.
“Why does he keepstaring?!”she whisper-shrieked, trying her best to hide behind Aria.
“The better question would be – why do you have a problem with him staring? If a man likehim,”Aria motioned with her hand toward Jamal, “Stared at me like I was a big piece of gooey chocolate cake he wanted to devour, I know I would not have a problem with that.”
Cassie shoved Aria’s arm down that was pointing to the topic of conversation as they took their seats. Cassie cut her eyes his way to see him staring at the two of them in amusement.
“Where have you been?” Callie whispered to her friends.
“Oh, I’ll tell you where she’s been,” Aria began. Before she could finish, however, Jamal raised his champagne glass and tapped the side with his fork, the tinkling sound quieting the chatter of the rest of the guests at the reception.
“I’ve had the honor of playing with Kyle Kelly since we were both drafted by the Thunder at the ripe old ages of twenty-one,” Jamal began.
“Five years later, we’re still playing on the same team, but now he’s not just my teammate. He’s my best friend. He’s the brother I never had but always wanted. When he finally tamed the beast, as the team liked to call our feisty Callie here,” Jamal said, eliciting a laughter from the guests, “I knew he was a goner.”
“Hey, hey, mister,” Callie called from her end of the table, pointing her glass Jamal’s way, “There was notamingofanyone.”
“I stand corrected, ladies and gentlemen,” Jamal said with a nod Callie’s way. “No taming, Cal. Gotcha. No matter what you want to call it, I could see the change in my friend. In fact, I think it’s safe to say weallcould see the change when he played awful in game three of the championship series last year. That is a game Iknowmy friend here would like to forget.”
“Agreed!” Kyle piped up. “I’ll toast tothatstatement.”
“Don’t be interruptin’ my speech now, Mr. MVP. I’m not finished spilling my heart.”
Kyle tilted his head. “Continue, my friend.”
“As I was sayin’, we all saw the change in him. But it was change for the better. Callie, you have this man of yours wrapped around your finger. He loves you more than I knew anyone could love another person. Here’s cheers to you two, growing old together in rocking chairs on your front porch, watching little tow-headed kids and then grandkids playin’ in the yard.”
