I laugh. I love how one minute she can be girly, taking forever to pick out her outfit, and the next she’s a total mess and shoving food in her mouth like it’s going to disappear from the plate.
Nova and Jace show up a few minutes later and pull over two chairs, making the space at the table tight enough that we all bump elbows. None of us complain, though.
“Is there beer here?” Jace asks. “I need a fucking drink. There are too many happy people and I can’t deal.”
I snort. “Over there.” I point over my shoulder to the coolers.
“You want anything?” he asks Nova.
“Sure, bring me whatever you’re having.”
“You got it.” He drums his hands against the top of the table and then he’s gone.
Nova props her head up on her hand. “Is it bad that I’d rather be at home sleeping than here?”
Rae laughs. “I’m with you, girl. Socialization is not my thing. I brought my camera. Did you bring yours?”
Nova nods. “I figured I could get some cool photos of the fireworks. Maybe one of Thea shoving that hotdog in her mouth with ketchup all over her face.”
“Huh?” Thea asks, her mouth full. Sure enough, there’s a smear of ketchup on her cheek. “Isderketchuponmaface?” she slurs together.
I laugh and nod. “Yeah, right there.”
She groans and swipes furiously at her face, only making it worse.
“Stop.” I grab her flailing arm. “Let me get it.” I grab a napkin off the table and wipe her face clean. “There, all better.”
She gulps down her food and pants, “Thanks.”
Jace returns to the table and drops down into the chair with a loud groan. He holds a beer bottle out to Nova and she takes it gladly. Jace tips his back and takes a long drink.
“Ah,” he breathes out, “that’s better.”
“If you get drunk, you’re sleeping in the yard. I’m not driving you home,” Cade warns.
Jace winks. “I don’t want you to take me home anyway, sweetheart.” He then makes kissing lips and leans across the table toward Cade.
Cade mutters, “What? No.” And leans back in his chair trying to get away from Jace. Apparently, he leans too far because the chair falls back and he goes with it, dropping onto the ground. I’m pretty sure one of the plastic legs snap, but I can’t be sure because it’s hard to hear anything over the sound of Jace laughing his ass off. Okay, I’m laughing too.
Cade hops up and looks around. “No one saw, right?” he asks. I clutch my stomach, doubled over with laughter. He glares at Jace and me. “Fuck you and fuck you.” He kicks his broken chair aside and grabs one from another table. Rae sits with her hand covering her mouth, trying to hide her laughter.
When Cade plops down in his seat, mumbling under his breath, she loses it and starts laughing like us, which leads Thea and Nova to join.
Cade’s lips thin in irritation. “Ha-ha,” he mocks. “I get it. It’s so hilarious.”
We manage to sober after another minute, but it takes some effort. I see Cade crack a grin that he quickly tries to hide.
My parents and brother arrive and make a beeline right for us.
My mom wraps Thea in a tight hug before moving to me. I reach out for her and she gasps, grabbing my forearm. “Mom?” I ask, wondering what she’s doing.
“Is that a wedding ring?” she practically shrieks, not in happiness but in pure disgust and irritation. Thea very slyly tries to move her left hand under the table, but my mom catches the movement and turns to look. “I think I’m going to pass out,” she mutters and her hand flutters to her chest.
She lets go of my arm and rocks back a few steps.
I stand. “Mom, I can explain—”
“Explain?” she spits the word like it’s a curse word. “You’re my son and you got married and didn’t tell me? I’m your mom, I deserve to know something like that, Xander. First you didn’t tell us about football, and now this? I could understand the football thing, but this?” She looks from me to Thea. “You’re like a daughter to me, Thea, but right now I feel very betrayed by both of you.” She begins to cry and I reach for her.