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“You and Faye, I mean?” Eric looks curious, and as I look for the other shoe to drop or the mean edge to the question, I don’t see it. Yet.
“We’re together,” he says, simply.
“But like, are you serious?”
Zeke stiffens, curling his hand under his jacket and into my stomach.
“I’d say so,” he says, stroking the skin around my belly button with a feather-light touch. “What do you think, Faye?”
“I don’t think Faye has the best gauge of relationships,” Liza says, nudging Andrew.
“Damn…” Eric says under his breath at the same time Andrew says, “Easy now.”
The problem with Edie marrying her high school sweetheart is that the whole bridal party has been around for all the drama, and so everyone knows exactly what she’s talking about. There’s a low rumble of awkward laughter and I feel my cheeks heat as the rest of me grows cold and rigid.
Zeke pulls me back against him tighter and strokes his fingers against my ribs.
“If I’m being honest, Faye’s the one calling the shots here,” Zeke says with a self-deprecating laugh. “I’m just happy to be along for the ride.” He brushes the tip of his nose against my shoulder, as if asking a question.
“Awww, that’s the sweetest,” Hadley coos as he kisses my temple. I feel my cheeks flush and squeeze the arm that’s wrapped around me, but it feels like I’m going through the motions.
“So, what is it, Faye Ellen?” Liza says, licking the corner of her lips as she looks not at me, but at Zeke. “You gonna be his ball and chain? Or is it more modern?”
I blink, feeling put on the spot. Other than that moment in the parking lot last night, we haven’t had a chance to figure things out, and I don’t want to misspeak or put him on the spot. But at the same time, he’s the one who told my parents he’s my boyfriend, long before anything happened. At all.
Except it had. It had been simmering for a long time, at least on my end. And now, here he is, telling people who have only ever seen me as the pathetic, chubby, big sister to their Homecoming Queen, that I’m the one calling the shots.
“We’re together,” I say with more certainty than I feel. “He’s my best friend and the best man I know… it’s serious,” I add.
Zeke tenses, then tightens his arms around me.
Hadley coos again as Liza’s nostrils flare around her tight, catty smile. One of the groomsmen curses, though I don’t catch which one.
“We’ve all been wondering what it would finally take,” Andrew says.
“What’s that?” Zeke says, hovering over me a little more, as if to shield me from something terrible.
“To finally catch Faye,” he says, simply. “No one was ever good enough. We’ve been wondering.”
The others nod in agreement, and I realize, slowly, that they’re sincere. My cheeks flush and I blink quickly, embarrassed.
“I just figured she’d finally settle,” Liza quips with a snort.
“Shit, Liza,” Hadley says with an offended laugh.
I feel her words drill into me, deep and painful, and I swallow hard while trying to keep the smile on my face. Never let them see it get to you, and all that.
“Well, I hope you’re right,” Zeke says.
Liza’s eyes flicker to him with suspicion. “Why’s that?”
“I sure as shit know I’m not good enough. I hope she settles for my bullshit.”
The guys crow over his comment and Hadley coos even louder, bouncing next to me, as if that will convey her excitement. But Zeke just presses a hard kiss against my cheek. And yet, his hand quivers over top of mine.
“You okay?” he whispers.
I nod as I notice the elevator open. Gwen stomps out of it, her face red and her chest a little shiny, as if she was sweating. She approaches the table and stands there for a long minute. Then she takes a full shot glass and knocks it back.
