Chapter 4 #2
"My form was—" He catches himself. "Are we really arguing about my base running from six years ago?"
"We're not arguing. We're... discussing."
"You're cute when you're discussing."
"You can't just say things like that!"
"Why not? It's true." He grins. "You're also cute when you're flustered."
"I'm not flustered. I'm... thermally elevated."
"That's not a thing."
"It's totally a thing."
"Tracy—"
"Ceremony time!" Megan's voice carries across the lawn. "Places, everyone! Tracy, stop flirting and get in line!"
"I wasn't flirting!" I protest.
"You were definitely flirting," Jay murmurs as we separate. "And I was definitely flirting back."
I take my place in the bridesmaid line, trying to calm my racing heart. This is Megan's day. I need to focus on being a wonderful sister, not on how Jay looks in that tux, or how he still smells like the same cologne mixed with baseball field, or how his hands felt when he caught mine, or?—
"Processional positions!" the wedding coordinator announces.
Jay's with the groomsmen, and as we line up for the walk down the aisle, he leans over.
"Hey Tracy?"
"Yeah?"
"After this, want to discuss my base running some more? Maybe over dinner? When I get back from the road trip?"
"Are you asking me on a date at my sister's wedding?"
"Is it working?"
I bite my lip to keep from smiling. "Maybe."
"I'll take that."
The music starts, and we begin the processional. As I walk down the aisle, trying to maintain appropriate bridesmaid posture and pace, I catch Jay watching me from where the groomsmen are already stationed.
He mouths something that looks suspiciously like "Beautiful."
I mouth back, "Watch the ceremony."
He grins and replies, "Make me."
"Stop flirting via lip reading!" Sarah hisses behind me.
Right. Wedding. Sister. Important life moment. Not the time to be having silent conversations with Jay Talley about our maybe-date.
I take my place at the altar, arranging my bouquet and trying to look serene and bridal-party-appropriate. The music changes, and everyone stands for Megan.
She's radiant, absolutely glowing as she walks down the aisle. I tear up immediately because she's my sister, and she's beautiful and she's marrying the love of her life.
I glance at the groomsmen and find Jay watching me, not Megan. When our eyes meet, he smiles softly and touches his chest, right over his heart.
The gesture is so familiar, so him, that I have to look away before I start crying for entirely different reasons.
As the ceremony begins and the officiant talks about love and commitment and building a life together, I try to focus on Megan and Greg. Really, I do. But my traitorous eyes keep drifting to Jay, who seems to be having the same problem.
When Greg talks about finding his teammate for life, Jay's lips quirk.
When Megan mentions that love means supporting each other's dreams, he looks directly at me.
When they exchange rings, his thumb rubs his own ring finger in that nervous gesture I remember.
And when the officiant says, "You may kiss the bride," and Greg dips Megan dramatically while everyone cheers, Jay catches my eye and winks.
We're in so much trouble.
The recessional is a blur of music and flower petals. Jay offers me his arm as we walk back down the aisle, and I take it, trying to ignore how right it feels.
"So, about that maybe," he murmurs as we walk.
"Still maybe," I whisper back.
"I can work with maybe."
"You have a road trip."
"Three games in Sacramento. Back Tuesday."
"That's a long time to wait for a maybe."
"Tracy, I waited five years. I can handle three days."
We reach the end of the aisle, and I have to let go of his arm as the wedding party disperses for cocktail hour photos.
"Go mingle," I tell him. "I have maid of honor duties."
"Yes, ma'am." He walks away, then turns back. "Hey Tracy? That maybe is looking more like a yes, right?"
I straighten his tie one more time, just because I can. "Ask me again on Tuesday."
His smile could power the entire reception. "Count on it."
As he joins the other groomsmen, Megan appears at my elbow.
"So," she says, beaming. "Still think you're being subtle?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Tracy, you fixed his tie three times."
"It was crooked!"
"You're humming 'Centerfield.'"
I stop humming. Again.
"This is the best wedding ever," she sighs happily. "My sister's in love, I'm married, and we're about to party. Could this day get any better?"
I think about Jay's promise to be back Tuesday, about maybe-dates and second chances and the way he still looks at me like I'm his lucky charm.
"Yeah," I say, squeezing her hand. "I think it could."
She hugs me tight. "Come on. Let's go celebrate. And maybe you can dance with a certain pitcher..."
"Megan—"
"To 'Centerfield'..."
"I'm going to need more champagne for this reception, aren't I?"
"So much champagne," she agrees cheerfully. "Now let's go. I have a garter to throw, and I'm aiming directly at Jay."
"Megan!"
Her laughter follows us toward the reception hall, where the best man is already making jokes about teammates and second chances in his speech prep, and where Jay is definitely waiting to ask me to dance.
Maybe is looking more and more like yes.