Page 22 of Emerald Moon (Pitch Mountain Pack #2)

June laughed. “Same old Jo. I’m glad some things don’t change.

” She clapped her hands. “Okay, so, the wedding planner is back out in the hallway with the other bridesmaids. If you want to go out there and y’all can figure out your walking order and I’ll be out there soon to practice walking in.

And you —” She pointed at Cass. “Can make yourself comfy. There’s, like, only a million chairs set up. ”

“I’m sure I can find one,” Cass said.

June hugged Jo one last time before heading back up to the front.

Across the room, Jo locked eyes with their mother and waited for anxiety or anger to bubble up inside of them, but Cass threw an arm around their shoulders and gave them a side hug and there wasn’t room for either of those emotions.

“That your mom?” Cass asked under her breath.

“Yep.”

Cass waved, but she didn’t just wave politely. She waved like she was furiously waving at a cruise ship coming into port and desperately wanted to be noticed by the people on board.

Jo stifled a laugh. “What are you doing?”

“Making a good first impression.”

“You’re nailing it.”

Cass stopped waving and looked down. “Really?” She was like a puppy waiting for praise.

“Really,” Jo assured. “And you’re making it way more fun to be here.”

“‘Fun’ isn’t usually a word people use to describe me.”

“Well, get used to it, because I think you are. Now, I’ve got to go, but you find a seat and, whatever you do, dodge my mom at all costs. We’re going to minimize interacting with her this weekend and kick this wedding’s ass.”

“So you’ve said.”

“And you know what? I kind of actually mean it now.”

Jo made it through the rehearsal without their mother cornering them.

She was too concerned with everything June was doing.

Good luck had to run out at some point, though.

As they were sneaking out of the rehearsal, ready to go back to their rooms before the rehearsal dinner, she emerged from a group of aunts and uncles like a snake lunging out of tall grass.

“There you are!” She said, just as sweetly as she began some of their phone conversations. Jo was used to this. “I was hoping to see you sooner, but you got in so late.” They were used to that, too.

“We’ve been here a while. Had time to chill out in our rooms before the rehearsal.”

“Don’t you want to see your family?”

“I’ll see them lots tonight and tomorrow.”

“Sure, but you don’t just want to sit in your room. It’s your sister’s wedding!” She looked Jo up and down. “That’s not what you’re wearing to dinner, is it?”

Jo shrugged. Yeah, it was a t-shirt, but they’d even chosen a t-shirt without a band on it. That was pretty fancy. “Probably. I’ll throw on a hoodie if it gets cold inside. June said ‘casual’ for the rehearsal.”

“It’s still a wedding.”

Jo had the inclination to give in, change clothes, and not deal with this anymore, but they caught sight of Cass out of the corner of their eye and remembered what they were like when they weren’t here.

“Right, so I’ll do what the bride says and stick to casual.

The other bridesmaids were dressed like me, so —”

Their mom turned to Cass. “She’s a real handful, isn’t she? Thanks for coming. You’re Jolene’s friend, right?”

Cass glanced at Jo.

“Girlfriend,” Jo corrected, heart rate picking up.

They waited for the words to land, watched the subtle changes in their mother’s face as she took in the information.

They were in a room full of extended family, though, so Jo knew her need to keep everything looking perfectly fine on the surface would win.

She pulled her lips into a tight line. “How nice that you’re here to celebrate with us. And your name is?”

“Cass.”

“Lovely.” She turned her attention back to Jo. “A word, please?”

“No thanks.” Jo grinned, feeling better every moment.

“I’m going to go find June and chat. Or go back to my room.

Whatever. Good to see you, mom!” Jo walked past her, Cass right behind them, and had to fight the urge to run away.

They were full of adrenaline and needed to run, but also the further they got away from their mom right now, the better.

When they were out of earshot of the other guests, Jo stopped, grabbed a hold of Cass’ shirt and stared up at her with wide eyes.

“I can’t believe I did that! In person! Right in front of her!

Usually I’m so, so, so nothing in front of her.

I go all spineless. Like, sometimes on the phone I can hold my own, but in person?

Never. And I just did! Having you here is the best! ”

Cass grinned. “I’m sure you could have done that without me here.”

“No way. Never. You’re like a perfect reminder all the time to, like, care way less about what everyone else thinks and just be myself for once.”

“Am I like that?”

“Yeah! You just are you. All the time. And you say what you mean without a thousand layers in between what you mean and what you say. Oh my gosh, I could run a mile right now. My heart is beating so fast.”

“You want to go outside?”

“Absolutely.”

“And run as wolves?”

“Don’t tempt me. But a walk will do me some good.”