“Me, too,” he said. He picked up her hand and kissed her palm. “Lacy, this thing we have going is so much more than I could have ever guessed. I’m so…”
His eyes brimmed with a range of unexpressed thoughts and emotions, but they were taking it slow. Better to leave them unexpressed for now. “Me, too,” she agreed.
“I should probably go before Coach Wilson has a boondoggle heart attack because I skipped the flapjacking game,” he said.
“I should get back to the band.”
“If we were still in high school, I would give you my letterman’s jacket.”
“And I would wear it proudly,” she said. She picked up her clarinet and handed him his helmet. He took it and they looked at each other.
“This feels a little surreal, doesn’t it?” he said.
“Like we’re getting a high school do-over,” she said.
“Yes! I feel like I’m going to have to leave here and have to put my parents to bed after another night of boozing.”
“And I feel like I’m going to go home and get so involved in a book that I think it’s the seventeenth century for a while again.”
“But it’s not high school,” he assured her. “We’re not kids anymore. High school is over. We can be whoever we want to be, do whatever we want to do. The future is wide open.”
“It just keeps getting better and better,” Lacy said. They paused at the edge of the bleachers. He gave her one final kiss, put on his helmet, and jogged onto the field. Lacy climbed the bleachers, sat, and draped her clarinet over her lap.
“Where have you been?” Jody asked.
“The past,” Lacy said. “But I’m back now, and I intend to stay.”
“You’re really weird, Lacy.”
“Yeah, I am,” Lacy agreed.
“So am I,” Jody said. “Weird is much more interesting than normal.”
“Is anyone normal?” Lacy asked.
“I suppose it depends on the definition.”
“I think you should get back together with Carter.”
“Wow, what a rapid and personal change of topic.”
“The weekend is almost over and it needs to be fixed. You guys should be together. You love each other; you’re perfect for each other. Everything is wrong if you’re apart.”
“Sometimes things don’t work out. Not everyone gets the fairytale.”
“In my world, they do,” Lacy said. Thoughts of happy couples reminded her of Tosh and Riley. She scanned the cheerleaders until she saw her sister, and she was heartened by her appearance. She looked beautiful and perfect, just like usual. She waved a pom-pom in the stands with a wickedly flirtatious smile. Lacy turned to see that Tosh was the recipient and he looked properly smitten. Maybe they would work themselves out.
The centennial ceremony dragged. The governor’s speech was long and generic. Lacy thought Ben had more personality and pizzazz than his boss. She glanced at him and caught him stifling a yawn. He winked at her and she faced forward with a blush. The man was disconcerting.
The governor finished and the school district’s superintendent stood. He presented a special award to the band director, Mr. Mertz, whose vacant smile clearly said he had no idea why he was there or what was going on. Strangely, he had done a perfect job directing the band during practice that morning. Perhaps music did more than soothe the savage beast.
There was also an award for Coach Wilson. Not only had he served as gym teacher for almost as long as Mr. Mertz had been the band director, but he had also recently survived lung cancer. Lacy supposed that explained his wife’s hovering, over-protective attitude.
After the awards, the superintendent gave a long winded speech, and then it was finally time for the game. This was perhaps the first time Lacy had ever really watched a game, but now she had a vested interest.
“Jason Cantor never gets any less spectacular,” Jody said as Jason threw a long pass. Lacy knew nothing about the game, but people cheered, so she thought it had been a good thing.
“He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen,” Lacy agreed.
Jody elbowed her. “Sounds like someone has a little crush.”
“Oh, it’s not little. It’s one of those forest fire, mudslide, all-consuming inferno kind of things.”
“You should call him up sometime. Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Jody said, but her dubious tone told Lacy it was a long shot. “Or maybe I’ll call him.”
“I’ll cut you good, Jody,” Lacy said. “I’ve got dibs.”
Jody laughed and Lacy saw Carter glance their way. “You know what? This is ridiculous. Why do I keep waiting for someone else to do something instead of doing it myself?” Lacy said. She stood and began scrambling toward the percussion section. Jody guessed the direction of her thoughts and tried to pull her back to no avail. “Excuse me, sorry, coming through,” she tossed out as she made her way up the bleachers and over her fellow band members.
She landed in front of Carter and had to pause to recover her breath. “Hey, Lacy. There’s not a problem with the Star Wars gig, is there?” he asked.
“No. I was coming to talk to you about Jody. Why aren’t you guys together? I mean, really, I see the way you look at her, and I know you still love her.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Uncomplicate it for me,” she said.
“I’m the building and supplies manager of a Home Depot and I build robots on the side.”
“So?”
“So she’s a professional. She’s a forensic pathologist. I’m not even very good at my job. I got it because my cousin works there. I’m twenty six, and I still have no idea what to do with my life. She has a solid career and life plan. How can I compete with that?”
“Why would you want to compete with it? Being in a relationship with someone isn’t about being perfect; it’s about supporting each other even when you’re not.”
He shook his head.
“So, that’s it. You’re okay with Jody moving on to date someone else.”
His eyes snapped back into focus. “Is she dating someone? Did she say that?”
“She just now expressed interest in someone,” Lacy said. “And I think it’s highly likely that she could end up with someone this weekend.”
“Who?” Carter said.
“You don’t know him,” Lacy said.
“What’s his name?
“Michael. His name is Michael, he’s a musician, and I can almost guarantee that they’ll go on a date by the time she leaves tomorrow.”
“I can’t believe she’s dating again,” Carter said.
“Hasn’t it been years since you broke up?”
“Yeah, but it’s Jody. She doesn’t move on. I thought she would never move on.”
“Well, Carter, people change. You have to seize the day. What would Han Solo do? No, wait, he was the one who went for Leia, right? And that’s me. No, be the guy who got back together with Natalie Portman after so much time apart. What was his name?”
“Darth Vader?”
“No, the cute little Jedi boy.”
“Darth Vader.”
“No, the one that Liam Neeson picked out because the force was so strong.”
“Anakin.”
“Yes!”
“Lacy, that’s Darth Vader.”
“Are you sure?”
“You’re talking to a guy who has written forty fan fiction stories when I’m not building robots that look like C3PO. I’m pretty sure it’s Darth Vader.”
“Okay, fine. Look what happened to that cute little boy when he lost Natalie Portman. He turned into Darth Vader. Don’t be Darth, Carter.”
“Why is this so important to you?” he asked.
“Because you guys were the one good thing about high school. You two had so much fun with each other. You were this awesome love story in the midst of pubescent angst. You made me believe in happily ever after. You’ve loved her since you were fourteen years old. If you can’t make it, who can?”
<
br /> He sank to the bench, defeated. “I’ve asked myself that same question. But I just…can’t. Too much time, too much water under the bridge.”
Lacy had pushed him as far as she could. The decision was his from here on out. “Think about it, okay?”
He nodded. “Chester Campbell is trying to get your attention,” he said.
She spun to find Chester waving frantically in her direction. “Lacy,” he called.
“What?” she said.
“Get in your seat and stay there,” he said.
“Was he always such a weasel?” Lacy asked.
“Pretty much,” Carter said.
Lacy turned and made her way back to her seat. As she went, she pulled out her phone and dialed. Michael answered on the first ring.
“Will you go out with one of my friends tonight?” Lacy asked.
“Sure,” he said.
“I’m basically using you in a shallow and immature attempt to make her ex jealous.”
“I already said yes; you don’t have to keep trying to sell me on it,” Michael said.
“You didn’t ask the typical male ‘what does she look like’ question.”
“Why should I care? I’m spending one evening of my life with her, not having her face tattooed on my arm.”
“You’re really starting to grow on me, Michael,” Lacy said.
“Like algae on a sloth,” he said and hung up without saying goodbye.
“You have a date tonight,” Lacy informed Jody as she reclaimed her spot.
“What? With Carter?”
“No, with Michael.”
“Who’s Michael?”
“A friend from work. You don’t know him.”
“Then why am I going out with him?”
“To try and motivate Carter to get his act together,” Lacy said.
“That will never work. Carter is solid, not the type to be jealous.”
“Then do it because it’s time to move on. Michael’s a good rebound date; he’ll help get you back in the game.”
“I’m not sure I want to be back in the game.”
“That’s what Carter said you would say. He said you would never move on after him.”
“Oh, he did, did he?” Jody’s eyes shot flames in Carter’s direction. “We’ll see about that.” She paused. “What’s Michael like?”
“Sort of indescribable.”
“Why don’t you go out with him?”
“I’m seeing someone,” Lacy said. “Even if I weren’t, I’m not sure the sparks would be there. He pushes my buttons, and not in a good way. He thinks I’m stuffy and too set in my ways. He’s always pushing me out of my comfort zone, trying to get to me to dream bigger, to try new things.”
“He sounds amazing,” Jody said.
“Yeah, he sort of is. Don’t tell him I said so.”
“And the guy you’re seeing is somehow better,” Jody said.
“Well, yeah, he is, for me, anyway. We have a good thing going. I had to be dragged into it kicking and screaming. I had no idea a relationship could be so healthy and fulfilling, no idea it would be so all consuming. I was engaged once, and it was nothing like this.”
“Sounds like true love. PS, Tony Rico is staring at you from under the bleachers again.”
Lacy forced herself not to look. With sudden clarity she recalled the flash of Tony’s hair and eyes the last time he had watched her under the bleachers. They were the same hair and eyes that had watched her through the door of the fitness room. “Don’t look at him,” Lacy said. “I’m going to ease in that direction and try to catch him.”
“Okay, that’s weird, but I’m learning to expect nothing less from you,” Jody said.
“If I don’t come back in twenty minutes, you should probably check on me. He may be trying to kill me.”
Jody laughed. Lacy hoped if she didn’t come back, then Jody would realize she had been serious. Had Tony been following her the whole reunion? If so, why? Lacy descended the stairs at a meandering pace. She headed casually in the direction of the snack stand before abruptly spinning on her heel and dodging under the bleachers. Tony saw her and started to run, but he was no athlete, either. She overtook him by hopping on his back. He carried her a few paces, but when he couldn’t shake her free, he gave up.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“What are you doing? You’ve been following me.”
“No, I haven’t,” he said.
“Yes, you have,” she said. “This is the second time you’ve watched me under the bleachers, and I know you were in the fitness room. Did you turn out the lights to scare me?”
“What? No way.”
“Then why did you follow me?”
“I can’t talk to you when you’re on my back like a tree monkey,” he said. He shook her free, and this time she let him. “Let’s sit.”
They sat in the gravel and dirt beneath the bleachers. “What did Summer do to you?” she asked.
He blinked at her in confusion. Lacy decided to start with the most pressing question first. Had he killed Summer?
“She didn’t do anything to me,” Tony said.
“I find that hard to believe. Everyone from our class has a Summer story, including me. Someone told me yours is epic. I would really like to know what it is.”
“There was nothing. In fact, she did me a solid once.”
“She did you a solid?”
“A favor,” he clarified.
“What was it?”
“I had a crazy crush on this girl. She locked us in the band room together for hours.”
“But I was locked in the band room with you for hours. Who else did she lock you in with?”
“No one,” he said.
“Oh.” Her mouth puckered in surprise. “You had a crush? On me? In high school?” She peered closer at him. Was he legally blind, or was he as crazy as everyone said he was?
“What can I say? I had a thing for redheads. You were sweet, and you weren’t into all the drama like other girls. You did your own thing. Most of the time your head was in the clouds. I thought of you as the female me.”
“And is that why you’ve been following me around now?” she said.
“No. I have a serious girlfriend. I think I’m going to marry her. I’ve been following you around because I like to observe people. It’s my thing. You’re interesting, and you make me laugh. Also, I’m pretty intrigued by what you’re doing in the town. I’ve been looking for an investment opportunity, and I heard the hotel is for sale.”
“You want to buy the Heritage Inn?”
“Yes. I sneaked my property manager in, and he assured me it’s a good investment. I’ll have my people call your people. We’ll talk terms.”
“What do you do?” she asked.
“I write apps.”
“Like games?”
“Games, medical devices, maps. Five of the twelve top selling apps last year were mine.”
“Wow, my brain is on overload from all the surprising information. Summer really did something nice for you?”
“We used to work out together. She was a fitness freak. She hit on me once, if you can believe it.”
“No offense, but from what I hear she hit on everything with a Y chromosome.”
“I turned her down. Her hair was blond.” He glanced at Lacy’s hair with fond affection.
“I’m not going to wake up bald one morning to find you standing over me with a razor and a creepy grin, am I?”
“Everyone needs a hobby,” he said.
Lacy’s brain was on overload. She cast about for something to say. “Would you believe I never once made it below the bleachers in high school and this is my second trip today?”
“Yes, I would,” he said, and the smile he gave her let her know he had been watching the encounter with Jason. “You and Jason Cantor. Whoa. I guess it’s true what they say about the quiet ones; we’re the ones you have to look out for. By the way, we’re going to have to do something about
the supply closet at the Heritage. It’s barely big enough for three people.”
“You were not in there with us,” she said.
“Wasn’t I?” he asked. He wagged his eyebrows and Lacy found she could no longer maintain eye contact.
“Lacy?” Jody hovered at the edge of the bleachers, sounding uncertain. “It’s almost halftime and we’re lining up.”
“Coming,” Lacy called. She was delighted to have a reason to escape. “I’ll see you, Tony.”
“I’ll probably see you first,” he said. He sounded like he was joking, but who could tell?
“What was that about?” Jody asked.
“Jody, did you ever get the feeling that the people from our town aren’t quite normal?”
“Only every time I look in the mirror,” Jody said.
Lacy laughed so hard that Chester Campbell shushed her and threatened to make her sit out of the halftime show for her disruptive behavior.
Chapter 13
“Why are there cinnamon buns on your head?”
“They’re not cinnamon buns; they’re just buns,” Lacy said.
“The question ‘why’ remains,” Michael said. He had agreed to meet her at the hotel after the game. For his troubles, she had arranged for him to stay a couple of nights, free of charge, and to have whatever food he wanted delivered to his room.
“This is how she wore her hair.”
“Lizzie Borden?”
“Princess Leia.”
“Do I even want to know?” he asked.
“Probably not.”
“Tell me about my target.”
“Her name is Jody…”
“Not her—the ex. What’s he like? What’s he into?”
“He’s the one who arranged this,” she gestured to herself.
“So he has a sense of humor. That’s good. I can work with that.”
“No, he’s into it for real.”
“Oh, one of those,” Michael said. “Okay, I’m getting the picture. Keep talking.”
She told him about Carter, his hobbies, his interests, and his history with Jody.
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