Page 32 of Stick Around
“Nada, man. Laying here, hungover as fuck. You wanna come over and play NHL on the PlayStation?”
“Nah, busy today. Hey, I gotta question for you. Remember in grade twelve when I auditioned for drama club?”
Zalapski chuckled. “Oh man. That shit was hilarious.”
Billy rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Okay, but do you know why I auditioned?”
“You know I know. You swore me to secrecy, remember?”
“Yeah, but I need you to tell me.” Billy rolled his hand in a hurry-up motion. “Out loud. Right now.”
“You’re bein’ weird as fuck today, ya’ know that?”
“Oh my god, Zaps,” Billy muttered, rubbing his face. “Just say it, please.”
“Holy, bud—fine. You auditioned because of Grace Campbell.”
What?
“You thought if you could get to her without Noah around, you could turn the charm on and sweep her off her feet or some shit.”
Grace’s mouth dropped open as she tried to integrate this information into her brain.
“Okay. And why did I want to sweep her off her feet?”
“Yo, bro, are you stoned or some shit?”
“Zaps, I swear to fucking god, man.”
“Because you were obsessed with her. Obviously.”
WHAT?Grace’s mind raced, trying to make sense of what she was hearing.
Zalapski continued. “You were in love with her, but Noah made you promise not to ask her out. You were worried you’d piss off the team if you broke your promise, which—yeah, that’s pretty dumb now that I think about it—but you were probably right. So you thought maybe if she asked you out, it would be some kind of loophole or something.”
Billy smiled at her. “Thanks Zaps.”
“Yeah, no problem, ya’ fuckin’ weirdo.”
Billy hung up the call and tucked the phone back in his pocket.
This is impossible. There is no way Billy Miller has been in love with me all this time. How can that be true? All that time I was pining away for him and he loved me back? He still loves me back?
Billy took Grace’s hands and she tipped her eyes up to meet his. “I know you think I’m only asking you to marry me because you’re pregnant. But the thing is, I don’t know how in the world you can think that, because I feel like everyone in town has watched me following you around like a love sick puppy since I was a teenager. I loved you when you were holding up posters in the stands at our high school hockey games. I loved you when you were walking across the stage to accept your honor roll awards at the end of every school year. I love you so much I hung out with Noah for years, and he’s a fucking asshole.”
A laugh broke from Grace’s belly, and Billy grinned before continuing. “I couldn’t hide it if I tried, Grace. You’re it for me. And I know I blew your proposal. Twice. I hope the third time’s the charm, but if it isn’t, I’ll ask you again tomorrow. And the day after that. And I won’t stop asking you until I can get it through your beautiful head that we are meant for each other. We always were and we always will be. We’re ride or die, Gracie. I love you. Forever. I don’t know what else I can say, but I’ll beg you forever if I have to. Please be my wife.”
Tears flowed from Grace’s eyes, and an assortment of sobs and choked laughter bubbled from her throat. She held up her index finger to Billy and reached into her back pocket. She pulled out her phone, dialed a number, and held the phone out between them, as Billy had done with his. Billy scrunched his forehead.
“Hellooo,” a cheery female voice on the end of the line answered.
Grace locked her eyes on Billy’s. “Meg, I have a question for you.”
“Grace? Are you okay? Are you crying?”
“I’m fine. I’m great. I promise.” She beamed at Billy. “Meg, when we were kids, what did I practice signing all the time in my journal?”
There was silence on the line. Billy raised a curious eyebrow.
