Page 25 of Emerald Moon (Pitch Mountain Pack #2)

eighteen

Jo had pushed too hard the day before. Their brain and body felt like it was full of bricks.

Getting out of bed had been almost impossible.

This was a terrible day to feel awful, and Jo didn’t have time for this nonsense.

It was unfortunate their meds weren’t magic.

They didn’t cure everything, but they did help.

Some of Jo’s personality was turned back on for June and her bridesmaids.

After all, the goofier they were, the less the others would notice or comment on how Jo wasn’t participating in every part of getting ready.

Jo hadn’t made a fuss about wearing a dress.

They would have felt more strange being in something else and sticking out like a sore thumb.

Being back here was about blending in with little bits of bringing in who Jo was now.

Blending in did not, however, include a full face of makeup and a fancy updo.

Jo was testing out boundaries with baby steps and they were glad June understood enough to not push them to do anything they didn’t want to do.

One by one the bridesmaids got their makeup done and went off to do other things like grab more coffee or take a phone call, until it was just Jo and June in the room with the makeup artist who was getting all of her supplies ready to prepare June for the big day.

“I still can’t believe this is the first time you’ve ever brought home a girlfriend. Our little Jo, all grown up,” June teased.

”I’m older than you,” Jo shot back.

“I’m taller than you.”

“Ouch. True, but you don’t need to rub it in.” Jo laughed, glad it felt like they didn’t have those few weird years of distance between them. It’d look a little different, but it could still have that same type of connection they used to.

“Speaking of, Cass is so tall. How do you even kiss her? Does she pick you up like a little goblin?”

“I thought you were going to say baby.”

“Goblin is a better description for you.” June snickered, but her expression quickly faded into something softer.

“I understand why you left, tiny goblin” June said, taking a breath and looking at Jo behind her in the mirror.

“It’s the same reason I spend all my time studying.

I need to study to do well, sure, but being too busy is my own way of getting out of here even though I stayed. ”

“Why did you stay? You could have gotten out, too.”

“I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. I think you’re just braver than me.”

Jo laughed. “Running away is hardly brave. You’re the one that stayed to deal with everything.”

“Yeah, but starting over takes a lot more bravery than staying put and putting up with mom’s bullshit.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you swear before,” Jo said with amazement.

June grinned. “Sure you have. I used to call you a ‘wench’ when you bothered me.”

“I’d forgotten about that. That’s not a swear, June.”

“Was to me. It was a step up from ‘buttface.’”

“So, you swear now. Cool.” Jo gave an appreciative nod.

“Had to have some release to get through med school and mom.”

“I’m sure having Dan around helps.”

“Oh my god, yes. I’d have lost my mind without him, honestly.

Do you know what it’s like to share all the crazy stuff mom does and have someone agree that, yes, that is totally insane?

It’s such a relief to know you’re not the crazy one.

” She caught Jo’s gaze in the mirror. “Though I’m sure Cass does the same for you. ”

“We haven’t talked about family much,” Jo said because it was the truth. “She knew about you, but —“

“You left out all the parts where I never called anymore? All the messy details about stuff with mom? I get it.”

“It’s not that. It’s just that we haven’t been dating that long yet and —“

“I promise it feels good once you let it all out. Just watching someone’s face contort in horror as you recount some of the conversations you’ve had with your mom is, like, so validating.

And then you get a hug. Don’t wait too long.

Cass seems like a good one. I’m sure she’ll take it all in stride. ”

“She’s a good listener. I just don’t — when I’m there, I don’t talk about here.”

“Why would you? You got out. Started your own thing. I’m telling you — you’re the brave one.”

Jo wanted to deflect, but they saw the look in June’s eyes. “Thanks, but so are you.”

“In our own ways.”

“We always did do things differently.”

June was silent for a moment, then turned in her chair to face Jo directly. “I never meant to leave you out of my life, too. When I buried myself in work and studying, I never meant to forget about you. I mean, I didn’t forget about you! Not really. But you know what I mean.”

“I know. I didn’t mean to do it either. I didn’t mean to leave you when I left, but I got wrapped up in my own life and months had passed between texts and it felt too weird to say anything because it meant admitting —“

“That we’d let so long pass by.”

Jo glanced at the makeup artist who kept sneaking looks at the two of them to see if they were done. They cleared their throat and smiled at the woman, letting her know it was okay to interrupt.

“Well, we’re good today. That’s what matters,” Jo said.

A knock at the door startled them both. “The hairdresser is here!” Their mother’s voice rang out from the other side a second before the door flung open.

The two of them shared a knowing look in the mirror as she approached.

Even the makeup artist grinned at the two of them.

Their mother smiled, a bit too wide to be natural, as she ran her fingers through June’s hair.

“Time to tame this tangly mess! Make it beautiful like the rest of your look for today. It’s too bad we can’t do much with your hair, Jolene.

It always was so hard to do anything with. ”

Jo opened their mouth, but it was June who spoke first. “I like Jo’s hair. It’s fun.”

“Yeah, and June’s isn’t a mess. She’d look great even if we left it just how it is.”

”Well, of course it looks fine! We just want everything to look perfect. Don’t we, sweetie?” Their mother asked, eyeing June. “Where are your bridesmaids? They’ll need to get started soon if we want to stay on schedule.”

“They’re out grabbing coffee,” June explained.

Their mother rolled her eyes. “Everyone is much too laid back for a day like this! Including you!”

As she huffed out of the room in search of everyone, the makeup artist eyed them both and smiled. “It’s good you two have each other.”

Jo couldn’t agree more. They flicked June on the shoulder before giving her room to get ready, grateful for the chance to sit and close their eyes for a second before everyone came back.

During the ceremony, Jo forgot about feeling weird in a dress and the passive remarks their mother had made all afternoon, and allowed themselves to experience the joy of June getting married.

She looked gorgeous, though June always looked like the sun was shining just for her when she was happiest, and they knew their sister had earned this happiness.

Jo scanned the seats looking for Cass and, when they found her, her eyes were already locked on Jo.

Cass was dressed in a well-fitted suit. She looked good, really good, like Jo had problems looking away type of good.

They managed a subtle wave and when Cass waved back, they felt their smile stretch wider.

Jo may have kept looking over at her. Whether it was for comfort or not, they couldn’t tell, but it was nice to see a reminder of their life in Hickorywood sitting out there.

The ceremony dragged on a little long, like most weddings tend to do, but Jo was glad June had been fine with them wearing sneakers that matched the color that everyone else was wearing.

Their mother had some comments to make, naturally, but June had defended Jo’s choice and said she couldn’t care less what her bridesmaids had on their feet as long as they were comfortable.

The moment the ceremony was over, though, Jo was ready to be out of the dress.

They had pants and a patterned blazer that was calling their name, but first they had to make it through pictures.

More standing, more smiling, but Jo found they didn’t have to force the smile.

June’s enthusiasm was contagious. She kept everyone laughing and made sure there were plenty of funny photos along with the more serious ones.

Jo already knew they’d want copies of a few to keep.

After photos, Jo speed walked to their hotel room, eager to change into something that felt more like them.

They sighed with relief once they’d changed and gotten a look in the mirror.

Jo’s blazer was loud in a way that oddly made them feel more comfortable.

It had a paisley pattern and Jo wouldn't have bought it in a million years, except Krista liked it, and the more Jo looked at it, the more the pattern grew on them. Wilma had called the outfit “dapper.” Jo had to agree, but it wasn’t anything like Cass in a suit.

Jo got their first eyeful of Cass up close when they walked into the reception. The effect was not diminished in any way by the fact that, yes, the bowtie did have tiny birds on it.

“Can I give you a hug?” Cass asked as she got closer.

“I guess, sure, why not?” Jo threw their arms wide. They were, after all, supposed to be dating. A hug was hardly the spiciest thing they could do in front of a crowd.

Cass closed the small space between them and wrapped her arms around Jo’s shoulders while Jo pulled back their head so it wouldn't rest on Cass’ chest.

“Not that I’m complaining, but what brought this on?” Jo asked when Cass didn’t immediately let go.

Cass swayed gently to the music playing. “During the ceremony, sometimes it looked like you needed one.”

Jo smiled and tilted their head so it’d rest on Cass’ arm. “You’re not wrong. Most of the time I was happy for June, but also I was deeply uncomfortable and I’m not talking about footwear.”

“I know.”

Her reply was simple, but they could feel that Cass understood as she held them close. Jo squeezed her tighter.

Cass did finally pull away and, when she did, Jo let her go but not without squishing the breath from her lungs first. They both laughed.

“Anyway, better now.” Jo patted the front of their pants and grinned at Cass. “I was meant to have fabric between my legs. Feels a lot better having something there.”

Cass stared back, lips quirking up in the corners, and Jo replayed what they had just said in their head.

While it was a true statement, they didn’t need to say it like that, but it was too late to glide past it.

The words hung in the air. Jo was just glad Cass wasn’t the kind of person to tease them about it.

Together they sat down at their assigned table and Jo liked the way their names were on the same card, side by side in a fancy font.

Dinner was a buffet and Cass and Jo ate like the wolves they were.

Without Cass there, Jo might have tried to keep their werewolf hunger at bay, but with Cass loading up her plate in front of them, Jo laughed and did the same.

If they earned a few stares from family members as they sat down with their towering plates, Jo found they didn’t mind in the slightest.

The longer dinner lasted, the more Jo felt like they were in their own little world with Cass, talking about nothing and stuffing their faces.

It was easy to forget that they were back in Jo’s hometown, surrounded by people who used to make them shove themselves into a tiny box that didn’t fit.

It was just the two of them, having a great time over chicken and green beans while the rest of the table pretended they didn’t exist.

“So I’m sneaking out of the vampire house, right, victory, quite literally, in hand — an end to the prank war between our houses.

I’ve got the wolf statue they stole and the weird, magic hat they said we’d never get, and I’m just about to cross the street when I’m ambushed by vampires.

I think I’m done for, that I’m definitely out of the prank war and have to leave it to the other weirdos in my pack when Wil comes out of nowhere, shrieking like some kind of witch, and she manages to startle them enough to grab the wolf statue and the hat and tear out of there like a bat out of hell. ”

Cass’ eyes lit up when she laughed. “The vampires didn’t catch you?”

“We had a rule — no superhuman powers for the prank war. And Wil is fast,” Jo replied, emphasizing the last word.

“I had no idea your Gamma got up to such shenanigans.”

“Apparently she didn’t before I got there. I’m a bad influence.”

“Or a fun influence.”

“I like that better.” Jo winked, feeling warm in their chest when Cass laughed again.

“We used to do wars of this type with your pack, too,” Cass said.

“No way. Who was the best in my pack?”

“That Beta of yours was pretty sneaky.”

“Beta Seraphine? She participated?”

“Oh, definitely. She and Emmaline were quite the pair.”

“Tell me everything.”

“I honestly don’t remember a lot. It was back when I first joined the Crooked Creek Pack.”

“Now I have something new to bother Beta Seraphine about.” Jo’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

Cass smiled and reached over to place her hand on top of Jo’s resting on their thigh.

Jo did a quick, panicked glance around the table before remembering they were supposed to be acting like they were dating.

Apparently, their conversation about a werewolf and vampire prank war had earned them a few looks around the table, so Jo flashed them a quick smile and tossed a little bland conversation their way.

Cass didn’t pull back her hand. Jo didn’t try to make her.

Having Cass there made every family interaction so much easier.

Jo even talked about werewolf life, which was a topic they never brought up around family, besides June.

They were talkative and laughed and, when the group didn’t get their jokes, but Cass did, Jo found they didn’t care that they’d silenced the rest of the table.

Eventually, Cass moved her hand and Jo could finally use theirs to finish eating, but they wouldn't have minded if she’d stayed a bit longer.