Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 135522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Cole kissing me was a ten.
Now, nothing can hope to compare.
“You alright there, son?” asks Dean from across the table.
My eyes flap open.
Dean is staring at me. Nadine is staring at me.
Cole is also staring at me.
I quickly push the bite of meat into my mouth like I meant to all along and chew with unnecessary vigor, then nod vaguely at everyone before staring down at my plate, my face flushing.
A minute later, the table becomes engrossed in a story Mindy shares about her twins, supplemented by pics from her phone, and I am no longer the center of anyone’s attention. I’m left to stare down at my plate and wonder why I was trying to make out with my food instead of eat it.
Is that how desperate I am for Cole to kiss me again?
There is another piece of information I seem to be pushing to the side like unwanted veggies on my plate. Perhaps the most vital fact I learned yesterday.
Cole telling me he likes me.
And has liked me since our high school days.
How could someone like Cole possibly have so much interest in someone like me? Cole, who is about to have the entire town throwing flowers, money, and unmarried sons and daughters at him?
“Cole, darlin’, I hope you’re really onboard with my zany ideas for this whole bachelor pageant thing,” says Nadine, catching his attention. “I mean, I’m talkin’ full-on beauty pageant. Formalwear. Talent show. The guys and gals will go wild.”
Cole gives her a playful grimace. “Talent show? Oh, I’m not so sure I’m talented enough to—”
“Hon, it doesn’t matter, you can tie your shoes and call it a talent. You’re so adorable, you’ll have them at your feet no matter. Besides, it’s the sexy underwear and swimsuit fashion show that’ll really bring in the big bucks. Y’know, male-body exploitation.”
Cole chokes on a sip of water he was going for.
Dean lets out a hearty laugh. “Oh, Nadine! Come on, now. I’m not strutting any catwalk in my drawers.”
“Oh, Dean, you know you’ve got the goods, don’t talk yourself down. Cole, what’s that face for? We already have a venue. Cissy’s been kind enough to offer her big backyard pavilion we use for the Spruce Ball every summer.”
Cole’s eyes grow. “The McPherson pavilion? TJ’s family?”
“Oh, yes, you know TJ, of course, he’s just a year behind you. Aren’t you two friends? He’s such a cutie! A total sweetheart. I’d have invited him on as a bachelor if I didn’t already know Cissy would’ve nipped that in the bud in half a heartbeat. She coddles the boy. You didn’t hear that from me. Also,” she adds after the fastest sip of wine known to man, “I’m not sure we’d have found the right gal for him anyway. Ain’t no lady in this whole state will live up to Cissy’s ridiculously high standards for her prized son.”
Mindy clears her throat from down the table. “Can you go back to talking about the swimsuits? You kinda got off track.”
“I’m actually still right on track,” Nadine happily sings, “as I was about to point out how that lovely pavilion of Cissy’s can fit the whole town and then some, it sure can. And all those people it’ll fit will want to be entertained for their buck.”
“Their buck?” chokes Cole.
“Yes, their buck! This’ll be a ticketed event, of course! They don’t call it fundraisin’ for no reason! So one of you better wear the hell outta that swimsuit.” She appears not to notice the look of frozen horror on Cole’s face. “And I’m not talkin’ no silly polka-dot swimsuits. I want one of you in nothin’ but a Speedo for the whole swimsuit portion. Full package, showin’ off what God gave you.”
Dean lets out another roar of laughter, unable to respond with words. Cole appears unable to blink or breathe.
I stare at Cole from my spot in the corner, watching all of the nightmares play across his face. I can’t help but think of that bad high school theatre audition my junior year that keeps haunting me, the one time I foolishly thought I could be brave.
“One of you will be a good sport, won’t you?” she asks blithely as she cuts a bite of baked potato.
When Dean recovers from his laughter, he gazes over at Cole, as if deferring to him. Cole notices, makes a quick adjustment of his facial expression, puts on a smile, and shrugs. “Speedo, it is!”
“That’s the spirit!” cheers Nadine, her mouth full.
Dean snorts and shakes his head, tears of laughter still in his eyes. “Way to take one for the team, Mr. Cole! I admire you!”
Cole chuckles with a note of anxiety. “Well, if … if you don’t go all out, what’s the point of going at all? Right?”
“Damn right!” agrees Dean, then reaches around to give Cole an encouraging pat on the back.