Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“I’m excited to see it, and to meet your wife,” I told him. “Although I still can’t wrap my brain around the fact that you’re married.”
Devlin chuckled. “I know. Speaking of my wife, there’s something we’d like to ask you.”
“Name it.”
“Since you’re the best man, would you mind giving a toast at dinner after the ceremony?”
“I’d be honored,” I said. “And I won’t even mention all the times you said you’d rather eat dog shit than get married.”
“Go ahead and mention it. Lexi loves that I was anti-marriage before her. She feels a huge sense of accomplishment.”
I laughed. “She should. I never thought I’d see the day. But I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, brother. I can’t wait to introduce you to her.” Devlin’s voice grew quiet and serious. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
After Devlin and I hung up, I took advantage of having the house all to myself and wandered around naked for a while. I thought maybe it would show the universe or God or whatever higher power Delphine had access to that I’d taken her advice to heart.
Strolling from room to room, I looked at old photographs, watching myself change from a tow-headed toddler into a sandy-haired kid into a teenager who finally grew into his ears. I saw the way my older brothers grew up to resemble our dad and the way Mabel and I took after our mom.
I looked at the corner where we’d always put the Christmas tree. The window I’d broken when I accidentally threw a baseball through it. The couches where we all sat during family game nights. I smiled when I thought about the way we all used to accuse Mabel and Ari of cheating at Pictionary because they seemed to communicate in some kind of silent language. One of them would start scribbling, and it would take the other one less than five seconds to guess the correct answer, even though what had been drawn looked nothing like a pirate or a platypus or whatever the thing was supposed to be.
At one end of the living room were some built-in bookcases, and I spied my senior year high school yearbook on one shelf. I pulled it down and opened it up, the spine cracking. On the front flyleaf, a bunch of my friends had signed their names, and some (mostly girls) included little messages like always stay sweet or have a great summer. I flipped to the back, and Ari’s name caught my eye.
Dash, thanks for always driving me and Mabel around and being like a big brother to me. Good luck in L.A. but don’t forget about everyone back home. There is more I want to say but I can’t. Maybe someday. Love, Ari DeLuca
She’d dotted the i in her name with a little heart.
I skimmed through the senior portraits in the front of the book—there I was in full color, wearing a suit and tie, hair freshly cut, grin confident. I’d been voted Most Talented, which was noted beneath my name. Then I skipped to the freshmen pictures, which were at the back and smaller, shown in black and white. Laughing a little at my sister with her crooked bangs and glasses, I scanned the next page and found Ariana DeLuca. Her curly hair was long, held off her face with a headband. Her eyes looked wide and her lashes were thick. She was smiling brightly, innocently, and I felt like the biggest pervert on the planet for—
“The fuck are you doing?”
I looked up to see my brother Xander standing in the doorway to the living room.
“Doesn’t anybody knock around here?” I shielded my crotch with the yearbook.
“I have a key. Why would I knock?” He stuck his hands on his hips. “A better question is, why are you naked in the living room?”
“I’m getting more comfortable with my vulnerability,” I said, like it was obvious.
“Well, I was coming by to see if you wanted to go get some lunch, but you’ll have to put your vulnerability away.”
“Why, is it making your vulnerability feel bad?”
Xander narrowed his eyes. “You wish.”
Xander wanted to go to Moe’s—he’d heard about the braised rib grilled cheese from our dad and hoped it would be on the specials menu—and I didn’t argue.
The diner was full when we got there. While Xander gave his name to the hostess and told her we’d wait outside, I searched for Ari but didn’t see her anywhere. Disappointed, I followed my brother out to the sidewalk.
While Xander checked his messages, I glanced at the poster taped inside Moe’s front window advertising a spring carnival nearby. A quick look at the dates told me it was happening this weekend. Recalling what Ari had told me about carnival food, I wondered if there was any way I could surprise her with a quick trip either today or tomorrow.