“Like at breakfast?” Bronny interjects, his own body scooting closer to the conversation.
“That’scroissant,” my girlfriend snickers off, “and no. A corsage is a small flower bouquet a person can wear on their wrist for special occasions like prom or certain weddings.”
“Like boutonnieres, bud,” I add.
“He thinks a corsage is a breakfast sandwich. There’s no way he knows what a boutonniere is.”
“That’s that thing you had on for Dubs’s weddin’, right?”
An arrogant hand is waved in his direction.
“Okay,” she begins again, head mirthfully shaking, “it’s sort of like that but much,muchbigger and filled with ribbons and glitter and trinkets and stickers and so on.”
“Sounds heavier than my goalie gear.”
“However,” Gillybean precedes as though I hadn’t interrupted, “you only need to make one if you’re going to homecoming with a date.”
“Right,” Bronny immediately agrees.
“Wait…” thrill bounces her in her place, “did you decide to go after all?!”
“After all?” I unhappily question. “Were you debatin’?” Curiosity cocks my head to the side. “Whenwere you debatin’?”New waves of bewilderment burst through me. “Whywere you debatin’? Why wouldn’t you go?”
“New school. New people. No allegiance yet,” the love I hate not waking up to every morning now that the season is in full sesh nonchalantly answers on his behalf before retraining focus on him. “So, you’re going?”
He nods.
“Andyou have a date?!” she struggles not to squeak.
This time when he nods it’s a bit more bashful.
Boyish.
The way I tend to get when I talk about my Slayer.
Awwhell.
We really are in trouble.
“When is it?” I cautiously ask not wanting him to hear judgment in my voice of any sort.
“This Friday,” they answer in tandem.
My retro, off white, Dolly Parton t-shirt covered shoulders sink to the floor. “I’ll be in Colorado.” Hiding the hurt in my expression is damn near impossible. “I’mma miss your first Texas HC.” More disappointment floods from me without my consent. “I thought for sure with you here I wouldn’t have to miss this kinda shit…”
“We’ll take lots of pics for youand Grams,” Gilly immediately promises at the same time she curls her arm around my waist. Her thumb encouragingly strokes my side as I look down at her in discontent. “Plus, we’ll video chat you, so you get the whole experience.”
“Yeah, jus’ like I used to back home,” Bronny adds, successfully receiving my stare along with a crooked grin. “Except Gilly can hold the phone instead of Grams.”
“I’d get her a selfie stick if I didn’t think she’d turn it into a weapon.” Chuckles from me spark a few from them eventually deflating the remaining anguish. “Alright, so youasked a girl?” Immediately, I amend, “Or boy? Person?” Proud nods are attached to me repeating, “Person is the right word choice. You’re welcomed to date whoever makes you happy in that aspect.”
“Execution? Lowkey?Cringe,” Bronny announces. “Message…passes the vibe check though.”
Cluelessness has me shrugging in confusion. “Thanks?”
“And uh…she,” a devilish grin grows in place, “askedme.” Smugness has him standing taller. “An older broadskie.”
“Runs in the Groff genes,” I haughtily chortle on an extended fist for him to bump.
