“A shelf pin jig?”
“Sure. Call it what you want. I just want to know if you’re going to teach me how to use it?”
“I’m not calling it what I want. I’m calling it what it is.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe I ever agreed to teach you anything. I think you’re lying about that.”
“I’m not lying. And you’re going to let me use the jig thingy if I’m going to let you explore second base.”
Fisher eased his head to the side, that puppy dog head cock. Lips corkscrewed. Eyes narrowed. “Shelf pin jig it is. Six o’clock. Now we have to get back. Separately.”
I shrugged off his jacket. “Here. You need to return as you left.”
“You need to get back before you freeze to death. How am I supposed to do things to you later if you’re frozen to death?”
I laughed. “Your biggest concern about me dying is what that means for you getting to second base? Do you need me to grant you a special ten-second rule?”
“I’m listening.” He tipped his chin up while glancing down at me.
“I die. You get ten seconds to fondle me before it will be considered perverse.”
Fisher’s eyebrows crawled up his head. “You’re one sick chick.”
“Is that a yes or a no?”
“It’s a solid yes, but I just want it on record that it was your idea.”
“Noted.”
“Seriously, your lips are blue. Go. Run. I’ll wait a few minutes before heading that way, and I’ll go in through the lower door.”
“Six.” I grinned a second before turning and jogging toward the drive.
“Reese?”
I turned.
Fisher grinned before shaking his head and wiping his mouth to hide his grin. “Nothing. Just … go.”
I giggled all the way back to the driveway. My teeth hurt and my lips were frozen to my gums. A small group of people exited the house, and I used that opportunity to sneak back inside without drawing any attention to myself.
“Want to see Angie’s wedding dress?” Teena whispered in my ear as I snuck a handful of chips.
I turned, eyes wide, wondering if she meant to whisper that in my ear. Of course she did. I was Fisher’s best friend’s daughter. A family friend. Fisher’s ex-employee. Why wouldn’t I want to see his fiancée’s wedding gown?
“Um …” I shoved a few chips into my mouth to buy time and feed my anxiety.
“She’s in my parents’ bedroom. We’re not telling Fisher. It might freak him out. But it’s stunning. You have to see it.”
“Okay,” I mumbled, barely audible over the chips. I might have even spit a few pieces into the air on my reply. And I didn’t have that much of a choice anyway as Teena grabbed my arm and dragged me down the hallway and into the master bedroom filled with a handful of women, including Rory and Rose.
Angie stood in the corner, facing a full-length mirror, wearing a strapless white gown. Simple. Elegant. A perfect choice for her. She looked like a princess.
As she smiled, a tear trailed down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away. “Sorry.” She sniffled. “I just always imagined my mom being here to see me in my wedding dress.” Another sniffle. “And I imagined my dad walking me down the aisle.”
Well fuck … （necessary use of the F-word）
She made my eyes burn with emotion, along with everyone else in the room. I wasn’t a total monster. She fell in love with Fisher when they were six. Six!