Bunny was one clever little woman. She knew Pepper would stress about Bunny’s marriage and wedding and Bunny prevented that by throwing herself a surprise wedding party. The guests were the ones surprised.
The party was awesome. Everyone was home from school for winter break, so we had the whole Brockton crew out there on the dance floor. Wes and Zoe were all over each other; they hadn’t seen each other in months. It was awesome watching my brother let go with her. He’d always played it cool, but something had changed because he didn’t hide his fascination with Zoe by talking with everyone, being the life of the party he usually was. No, he openly watched her, sought her attention only, and gave his freely to her at the expense of others. Had I become like that, too? Or was I always that way?
The lovely Dottie and Marge were in attendance, and while they pointed out their dismay that I never called them, they noted how “smitten” I seemed with Bunny’s granddaughter. “That one’s a real catch, that Pepper,” Dottie told me with a single eyebrow raise. “Hope you can keep up with her,” Marge added. I was working on it, I told them.
Pepper had kicked off her shoes and was working the dance floor with Bunny, Lulu and Zoe. The band was playing an Ace of Base song that Pepper had requested, and the women were doing this coordinated dance that had everyone gathered around laughing and clapping. It brought me back to my senior year of high school, when I’d stopped by Pepper’s apartment, as I often did. This same song had been blaring, and Pepper, Zoe and Bunny had cleared out the living room area to dance. They hadn’t heard me come in, and I’d found the entire scene hilarious. As I’d watched Pepper roll her hips, wearing only a sports bra and running shorts, my amusement had shifted to something else, and my pulse had quickened. I’d wanted her for so long back then, and now, as the guests cheered and the music switched to Elvis, I finally had her. Forever.
As more people joined the dance floor, I moved through the dancing bodies, with one girl on my mind. When I got to her, I pulled her body to mine, filled with wonder and satisfaction at the feel of her softening in my arms. We’d grown up together, from kids to adults, from lost and confused to strong and determined. She was my redemption, and I’d spend my life being the Jace Wilder that deserved Pepper Jones. Because I knew now that I could be that guy, and that it was easier than I thought it would be, especially with her looking at me like she was, like I was all she’d ever wanted. Like maybe, I made her better, stronger, too.