Page 26 of Playing for Love
Jamal sat down to enthusiastic clapping from the guests. Taking a deep breath, Cassie stood.
“I guess that means it’s my turn at this,” she began. “Callie and I met as freshman at OU. Coming all the way from Alaska, I knew two things: no one and that I was horrible in science.”
Cassie paused for the laughter to cease. “I was lucky enough that Callie was in my Comp class and even luckier that she sat down next to me. We started talking and I admitted how much I hated science and was ridiculously scared of taking bio one. I’ll never forget it. Cal looked at me with a smile on her face and said, ‘I’m really good at science. How are you at foreign languages?’ I told her I wasn’t bad, so she told me she would help me dissect a frog if I helped her conjugate verbs in Spanish. The rest is history. Like Jamal, I’ve never had siblings. But I know God chose Callie to be my adopted sister because he knew how much I would need her. Need her dad. Need their love and guidance. Kyle, you might be married to her, but I will always be her sister. You mess with her, you mess with me.”
“And me!” Aria piped up beside her.
“And me!” Max called from the first table in the seating area.
“I promise to treat her good, Cass,” Kyle told her with a smile.
“I know, Kyle. That’s why I love you like a brother and am so happy for you guys to spend the rest of your lives together. Even if it means I have to let Aria move in with me so I can afford to pay rent.”
“Hey!” Aria said as the crowd laughed at the look on her face.
“To Kyle and Callie. You guys make me believe true love might actually exist.” With a cheers their way, Cassie lifted her glass and took a sip. Her friend had finally married the man of her dreams.
Untitled
CHAPTER TWELVE
“That was some toast, Bambi,” Jamal said, walking up behind where Cassie was standing. Callie and Kyle had cut the cake moments before. Callie and Max had danced the first dance of the night to “Daddy’s Little Girl.” Now the newly married couple were slow dancing to “Die a Happy Man,” by Thomas Rhett.
“I could say the same for you, hot shot. Who knew you were that good with words?”
“All my college professors,” Jamal replied, nudging her with his elbow. Callie looked at him quizzically.
“I was an English major,” he said with a shrug. “I wanted to be the next John Grisham.”
“Why basketball then?”
“Writing success was a toss-up. Basketball was a sure thing.”
“That makes sense. Maybe you could write a biography of yourself one day.”
“Not much to read.”
“I would read it.”
“Aw, Bambi. Does that mean you think I’m interesting?”
Cassie’s eyes widened. “I didn’t say that.”
“Hmmmm….let’s see. The only reading you ever do is reading to study, right?”
“Yes,” Cassie said hesitantly.
“Well, then. You said you would read my biography. That means you would take time out of all your hard-core studying to read something about me. Something I wrote. That means you must think I’m interesting.” Jamal held his hands up in a please-explain gesture.
Cassie stuck her tongue out at him.
“So mature, Bambi.”
“Why do you call me that?”
“What?”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “Bambi.”