Page 88 of The Curveball
I snap a picture with my phone as Griffin shakes the mayor’s hand. I promised her I’d take a lot of pictures at the very least.
A few faces are familiar from TV or movies, but I promptly turn the other direction. It might be my boyfriend’s banquet, but it certainly doesn’t mean I’m any less introverted.
No sign of Pierson Co., but it’s early and guests are still rolling in.
Darren, Carter, and Emma cling to my side, and I hope they feel as out of place with all these big wigs as I do.
“Should we find our table?” Carter asks.
“We’re sitting with Griffin and the guys, and they’re not sitting yet, so I’m going to stand here and be awkward.”
The quartet is what I call Ryder, Dax, Griffin, and Parker. Ryder and Dax are still at the mini bar getting their dates drinks. Dax looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here, and Ryder’s date keeps taking selfies.
I don’t get the man. It’s like he intentionally picks women who don’t want to have a conversation with him.
“Wren.” Skye waves and crosses the hall to me. She went with the sapphire dress, and looks like a model with her height and styled hair.
I wave shyly. “You look amazing.”
“Look who’s talking. I’m at sixteen.”
“Sixteen what?”
“Griffin has looked over here sixteen times in the last ten minutes.” She laughs and squeezes my arm. “But I got tired of watching and I remembered you, Carter, are the future of stunts.”
Carter flushes. “That’s the goal, I guess.”
I blow out my lips. “Don’t get embarrassed by your obsession with height and jumps and broken bones.”
He pokes my ribs, then returns his attention to Skye. “Yes. I have been wanting to get into the stunt world.”
“Then come over here. I want you to meet someone.”
Where color filled my brother’s cheeks before, now he’s blanched and wide eyed. I chuckle and shove him forward as we follow Skye to one of the tables close to the front of the room. I recognize most everyone seated there.
“Oh, this is Perfectly Broken,” I whisper to my brothers. “Parker’s friends from childhood and his sister and brother-in-law.”
“The rock band?” Darren looks like he might cry. “They’re always blasting in the shop.”
“Well, now you get to see them in person.”
I laugh when my burly, grouchy brother rolls his shoulders back and grips Emma’s hand a little tighter.
Mason Walker is at the table teasing his younger sister. He looks like he fits in with some of the Kings the kid is so tall. But his boyish grin gives up his age when he sees us approaching and waves. “Oh hey, Skye. Hey, Wren.”
“Masey. Colorado.” Skye pouts her lips. “What are we going to do without you?”
“Don’t remind me.” Jazzy, his cousin-mom, waves her hands in front of her eyes. Her husband laughs and rubs her back.
“She’s b-b-been so weird about it,” Mason says, nudging Jazzy’s side. “They’ve expressed interest. That’s all. N-Not a guarantee.”
“It’s basically a guarantee,” Skye says, waving the thought away. “I wanted to introduce you guys to some friends. Most of you know Wren.”
“Next. Book.” The woman across the table with vibrant purple hair rubs her baby bump and gives me a pointed look. I chuckle. From what I know of Ellie Walker Hawkins, she’s loud, sweet, and a total rocker. “Seriously, I need the book. Tate does too.”
Her husband, the band’s drummer, smirks. “I’m not going to complain.”
He winks at Mason, causing the kid to groan.