“Yep,” Cary said, “good stuff.”
They’d seen Mikey’s art. They’d seen it at the beginning, and they’d seen how it had evolved over the years. It was very abstract. Shiloh could never decide if she liked it—she could never decide if shegotit. She could honestly never decide whether there was something there to get. But sometimes Mikey’s art made her feel almost desperately sad. So it must be as good as the people in New York City and Tokyo and Phoenix, Arizona, said it was.
Mikey’s first wife had been someone from that world. The art world. But now he was marrying a North Omaha girl and celebrating at a youth wrestling banquet hall. Shiloh felt like this was another Mikey project she didn’t quite get.
“And how long have you two been married?” the aunt asked Cary.
“Oh,” he said. “We...”
“We’re not married,” Shiloh said. “Just old friends.”
“How long haveyoubeen married?” Cary asked politely.
“We’re not married!” The woman was aghast. “That’s my brother!”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Cary said. “I shouldn’t—”
“We’re not even wearing rings!” she protested. She was embarrassed. So was Cary.
“I mean, neither are we,” Shiloh said, knowing only Cary would hear her. She nudged him with her elbow. “You could still move to the head table. Everybody up there is drinking champagne.”
“I’ll go if you go with me. We’ll pull up a chair.”
She shook her head. “So when did you get into town?”
“Today, actually. I missed the rehearsal dinner last night.”
“How was the wedding ceremony?”
“Good,” Cary said. “Standard. Walk down the aisle, stand at attention. Don’t lock your knees.”
Shiloh grinned. “I meant—how was it, in general. Not for you personally.”
“Oh.” He smiled. “Still good. Standard. Catholic.”
“Was Mikey nervous?”
Cary looked thoughtful. “I don’t know that I’veeverseen Mikey nervous...”
“Me neither. Hey”—she leaned toward him—“doyouremember Janine from high school?”
“Yeah. Mikey dated her senior year.”
Shiloh smacked Cary’s arm. “I didn’t know Mikey dated someone senior year!”
He shrugged. “They were pretty quiet about it. Her parents were religious.”
Shiloh was still shocked. “I can’t believe he nevertoldme—we were best friends!”
“I thinkIwas his best friend...” Cary was being a shit.
“I meant the three of us.”
Cary chewed a bite of chicken. He shrugged, still teasing.
“You guys never talked to me about girl stuff,” Shiloh said, not managing to keep it light.
Cary’d had a secret girlfriend, too. Or at least a girlfriend that he never mentioned to Shiloh.
