"Do you think a girl can't toss a corncob into a bucket?" I said.
"Not with the kind of finesse it takes to hug the edge of it like that," Jared said.
"I got a lot more finesse than you, son," I said to Jared in the same way he would say it to someone else.
"Sherry Thompson sure did do it seven times out of ten," Carl said, handing us a sack full of corncobs. "I stood right here and watched her myself."
He pointed at the chalkboard that was leaning against a bale of hay nearby. Someone had written her name, Sherry Thompson, and under it was a huge number 7.
"You probably put some extra corncobs in her bag," Jared said.
"Nu-uh," Carl said. "I check every bag myself. Ten corncobs for each contestant—no more, no less."
"She probably stood up there where the kids stand," Jared said.
We all knew he was only kidding around, so we just smiled and rolled our eyes at him.
Gray got up to the line with his bag, which contained ten corncobs—no more, no less.
He missed the first two.
He was close, but he missed.
And then, as if by magic, he started to find his rhythm, and the next five found their home at the bottom of the bucket. I cheered triumphantly for each one, pointing at Jared and teasing him relentlessly as we watched Gray land shot after shot.
Gray miraculously roped a sixth shot—tying Jared.
He had made six in a row and still head two left in the bag. Sherry Thompson was going down, and we all knew it. Jared was dramatic and amazed each time as if he couldn't believe his eyes.
Number eight was a failure. It wasn't that it bounced in and out like numbers one and two had, it just straight up missed the bucket completely like Gray had thrown it with his eyes closed.
Gray shook his head, looking disappointed with himself, and then took a deep breath, aiming with all his might before letting the last one fly. It hit the rim of the bucket but landed on the ground nearby.
I threw my hands up, letting out a long, "Awwwww!" at how very close it was.
I took a turn, landing three out of ten, but still talking myself up, like I could've done better if I hadn't had a cold. I was actually proud of myself for getting that many because it was extremely difficult to make them stay in the bucket.
Jared and his friends took off to go get something to eat, and the first thing I said to Gray was, "You missed those on purpose."
He smiled. "Not the first two."
"But the last two," I said.
He smiled and bumped me with his shoulder in a way that let me know it was probably true. I didn't know if he did it for Jared's sake or for the sake of Sherry Thompson, but either way it made me proud of him.
"What'd they say?" I asked, still feeling so curious about his meeting with the producers. "Are they switching up the characters?"
We had begun walking towards the goldfish game where I knew I would find Shelby and my parents. Gray didn't answer me right away so I turned and glanced at him as we walked.
He shook his head. "No, they're not," he said.
He didn't seem disappointed at all when he said those words, so I stopped walking and stared at him, wondering if I could have possibly heard him correctly. After the way Bill was so friendly and focused on having me on the show, I was almost certain they were going to make it work.
"Did you say they're not?" I asked.
Gray nodded. "Bill was into it, and so was my brother really, but the network wasn't onboard with making changes like that at the last minute. It would set them back quite a bit, and they couldn't justify doing that when they had other people lined up to play the parts."
My heart dropped. I felt terrible, like I had ruined some kind of opportunity for Gray. It was embarrassing, honestly.
"Are you kidding me right now?" I asked, smiling.
He shook his head. "No. They would've had to make some major script changes to do the girlfriend swap, so they just chose to keep it like it is."
"I got one! Mama look, I got one!"
I felt like I was moving in slow motion as I turned and saw Shelby coming toward me. She was carrying a little plastic bag that was full of water. Inside was a little black goldfish, being tossed about as she jogged. I almost wished I could hop in that bag with him.
I glanced behind her and saw that Mom and Dad were talking to Max and Betty. Mom waved at me once she saw that I had charge of Shelby.
I focused again on my daughter who thrust the bag into the air proudly so I could inspect her winnings.
"Hold it careful," I said, stooping to look at her prize.
Gray stooped down next to me. "Rainbow Bright won a fish?" he asked. He glanced at me with a stunned expression like he doubted himself and wondered if he named the right character, but I smiled, letting him know he was correct, and he went back to grinning at Shelby.
"Hey mistew Gway, it's me, Shelby."
"Oh hey, Shelby!"
"I'm just dwessed up."
"I see that. I thought you were Rainbow Bright."
"And my mom's a cat."
"I know, I barely recognized either of you."
"When did you come ovew? I got a goldfish, see? We had to twy to make the ball in the cup like fifty-hundwed times befowe we won it. His name is Midnight. See his fins?"
Gray put his hand on the bag to steady it and inspected the goldfish. "This is a really nice fish," Gray said. "I think you got the best one. Do you have an aquarium for him?"
Shelby nodded. "Uncle Max and Aunt Betty have a bowl with wocks and even a castle fow him. They said they used to have a fish in it, but it died, so all they have is a bowl. Then Midnight can live in my woom once I get that bowl fow him." Shelby paused and blinked at me. "Wemembew that book, Fish Out of Watew, whewe a boy fed his fish to much, and it had to go live in a swimming pool?" she asked, looking a little reluctant.
I nodded since I had read her that book at least twenty times and clearly remembered it.
"I don't want to feed Midnight that much," Shelby said. "Whewe we have to call the fiweman."
"We won't," I assured her.
I was acting calm like everything was normal, but inside there was a storm raging with my emotions. I honestly thought that the directors would make the changes and I would be making plans to move to Chicago and be a big television star. I felt so thrown-off and rejected that that the changes weren't going to happen, and yet Gray was still standing there acting like everything was fine. I couldn't wait to finish our conversation, but I would have to because Mom and Dad had finished with Max and Betty and were now on their way to join us.
"She finally got a goldfish!" my dad announced as they walked up.
"Mr. and Mrs. Bishop," Gray said, shaking Dad's hand with a smile.
"Michael and Ivy," my mom said, skipping the handshake and coming straight in for the hug. "It's great to see you, Gray. I thought you weren't going to be able to make it tonight."
Mom knew how fond I was of Gray and how much we had been in touch, so it didn't surprise me that she grinned and greeted him as if he was an old friend.
"I didn't think I'd be a able to be here, but I made it," Gray said. He looked down at Shelby, who had been inspecting her goldfish. She glanced at him and he stretched out his hands, asking her if she wanted to be held. She smiled and raised her arms, and Gray reached down and picked her up, adjusting her on his side. I couldn't help but notice that my mom and dad watched this maneuver with great interest. I was preoccupied with my own thoughts, but I still noticed.
"Did you hear anything about the television show?" Mom asked.
"He hasn't even gotten to talk to me about it yet," I said, quickly. "Jared made him go over there and play the corncob toss. He said he would tell me about it later when there wasn't so much going on. Can you believe you finally got a new pet?" I added with a bright smile aimed at Shelby. "What'd you say his name was?"
"Midnight," she said confidently.
"Max and Betty are headed home no
w," Mom said. "They said you could stop by anytime and pick up that fishbowl. They'll be home."
"And it comes with wainbow wocks and a castle!"
"Rainbow rocks and a castle?" Gray said, sounding amazed. "Sounds like Midnight's gonna have a fishy mansion compared to this house he's in now."
Shelby giggled, staring at the fish who was just sitting motionless in the small plastic bag.
"I guess we'll go ahead and head out," I said. "Since Midnight needs to get his new house and everything."
"Aw, are you sure? Gray just got here. He might want to eat some chili or something."
I shook my head and hugged her goodbye. "Nah, we'll grab a bowl for the road if he's hungry, but I'm ready to head home—especially if we have to stop by Max and Betty's."
Mom looked at me as if trying to gauge something. "Are you feeling okay?" she asked.
I nodded and put on my best smile even though I was anxious to get home. "I was gonna head home soon, anyway."
"Yeah, we better get this little guy into his new house," Gray said, staring into the bag.
We spent the next ten minutes telling my parents goodbye and making our way to the car.
Gray followed us to Max & Betty's house to get the fishbowl. Sure enough, they had a small aquarium, complete with rainbow rocks and a castle. There was even a bottle of some sort of chemical that we were supposed to use treat the water.
Gray didn't even bother going to his apartment when we got home; he just came straight inside with Shelby and me, saying that he could help us get Midnight situated.
We had just put the goldfish in his new tank when I excused myself to go to the restroom. I had been so preoccupied with everything that was going on that I completely forgot I was dressed like a cat. Sure, it was just a headband with a painted-on nose and whiskers, but it was too playful for my mood. I took off my tail and ears before using a warm washcloth to wipe away the eyeliner that was on my nose and cheeks.
I stared at myself in the mirror feeling like I wanted to cry. I knew Gray and I would save the conversation about the show until after Shelby had gone to bed, but I was dreading it already. I took a deep breath, and tried on a smile before heading out there to join them again.
Chapter 18
Shelby was so excited about her new fish that she wanted to sleep in her own bedroom so that he wouldn't be lonesome. The newly acquired but already beloved goldfish wasn't swimming around a whole lot when I tucked Shelby in, so I included him in our prayers.
Gray was waiting for me when I returned to the living room, and I sighed and smiled at the sight of him. He was sitting on the floor with his legs stretched out in front of him and his back against my couch. He had taken off his jacket and was wearing a dark T-shirt, which revealed his muscled arms and the curves of his chest. I blinked, remembering our looming conversation and looking at him with a curious expression.
"Okay, so what happened?" I asked.
"You mean with the network?" he asked.
"Yes," I said as I walked toward him.
I had plans to sit beside him on the floor, but he lifted himself to sit on the couch, so I joined him there instead. Gray sat on one end of the couch, and I took the spot next to him. I was nervous, so I didn't sit close enough to touch him, and when he saw the distance between us he smiled at me and patted my knee.
"It's not that you didn't get the part," he said reassuringly. "They still want both of us to do the show. We're their first choices for the characters; they just can't make it happen with all the changes. It's too much." He shrugged. "Bill and Kevin really tried to work it out, but I understand. It's a lot—especially when they can hire other people to play the roles."
"So, you told them we're not gonna do it?" I asked, glancing at him.
A smile touched his lips. "No," he said. "I told them I'd talk to you about it. It's our choice, although I assumed we'd say 'no'. We can play the roles they've already planned, or we can just forget about it and let them hire someone else."
I stared into his gorgeous dark eyes for a few long seconds, trying to figure out how I felt.
"What are you gonna do?" I asked.
"I don't want to do it," he said.
My heart sank. I feared that I had ruined an opportunity or caused some type of rift between Gray and his brother. I knew how badly Kevin wanted to work with him. I felt oddly rejected even though I knew I had no reason to.
"You can," I said. "You should. I don't want you to back out of it because of me."
He breathed a little laugh. "Well, I guess I'm more selfish than you, because I certainly want you to back out because of me. I know you were excited about it, and you can still take the job if you want. I'm just not down with you kissing my brother, so we'd have to figure out something with using me as his stunt double or something."
I shook my head. "I really don't care about it. I just assumed I wasn't going to do it when you first told me the rewrites were off," I said. I sighed. "But I don't want to mess this up for you. I know your brother really wanted you to be on the show."
Gray shifted in his seat, kicking his leg onto the couch between us. He smiled at me before he pulled me into his arms "Oh, so you want me to play the roll as planned and go ahead and kiss that fitness instructor?" he asked, trying to get a rise out of me.
I climbed onto his lap, adjusting so that I was sitting comfortably on his legs. I curled up next to him, resting the side of my face in the crook of his neck and feeling the oddest mixture of the emotions. Part of me still felt disappointed by the news, but like magic, my new location in Gray's arms began to make those feelings melt away.
All my doubt and fear and embarrassment slowly shifted to feelings of love and relief and happiness. I don't know how explain it other than to say that as I sat there in Gray's arms, I literally felt supernatural, unconditional love emanating off of him. He somehow gave me impossibly tangible reassurance during that embrace, and that I was all he needed.
Gray rested his hand on the side of my face, gently rubbing my hairline with his thumb. I could feel his heart beating. I had never felt so safe and secure in my whole life.
"I knew you were excited about it," he said. "And I hated that they couldn't work it out, but honestly, the news was a bit of a relief to me. I was going to do it for Kevin, but I'm not an actor. I can think of about twenty other things I'd like to try for a job before acting."
I knew this statement was the truth. Gray had already shared with me some of his dreams, goals, and business ideas for the future, and none of them had to do with acting or show business.
"Are any of these other things in Memphis?" I asked, picking my head up so that I could look at him. He pulled back so that he could focus on me. He was wearing a stunning half grin.
"They're anywhere I want them to be," he said.
I reached up and touched his face because I just couldn't stop myself from doing it. I let my fingertips fall on his eyebrow and traced the edge of his lips with my thumb. Every part of me that touched a part of him felt alive with anticipation. "Your brother's smart," I said. "All of America would fall in love with you if you went on TV."
"I'm only trying to get one American to fall in love with me," Gray said.
I knew just what American he was talking about, and my heart wanted to leap out of my chest—it literally felt pulled toward him.
"Is she me?" I asked.
His smile broadened, causing his cheek to shift and move under my hand. I brought my other hand up to his face. I wanted to hold him right there and stay in this moment forever.
"Is it me?" I asked again.
"Yes, it's you, Jane," he said, still smiling.
"Are you saying you're trying to get me to fall in love with you?" I asked.
His smile faded. "Desperately," he said seriously.
I stared straight into the depths of his dark eyes. "Well, you can stop trying," I said breathlessly. I didn't mean for it to come out that way, but his words made me feel vulnerable.
&n
bsp; "Why, because you love me already?"
I continued to stare straight at him as I nodded.
"Say it then," he said.
"Say what? That I love you?"
He nodded and I put my face even closer to his. "I love you," I whispered slowly.
Gray closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again.
"One more time," he said.
I leaned in letting my cheek gently brush against his so that I could whisper next to his ear. "I love you, Gray Kennedy. I wanted you from the very first time I saw you."
He held me tightly by the waist as I spoke, and I could tell from the way his chest rose and fell that he wanted me to continue.
"I didn't fully understand what a love song was until I met you, and now when I sing one, I… now they're about you. Now they make sense. The way I feel about you, it makes me see why people write love songs."
"The way I feel about you, Jane, makes me see why people rent apartments in cities where they don't live, and leave meetings early to drive eight hours on the interstate."
I pulled back just far enough to look at him. We were still so close that our noses were almost touching.
"Is that code for you love me back?" I asked.
"No. I don't need to use code to say that. I can just say it. I love you, Jane. I love you. I love everything about you." He reached up and put his hand right on my chest. "I love your heart. I love your smile, and your eyes, and your voice, and your hair, and your smell. I love your house, and your family, and your town. And I love that precious little girl who's sleeping in there. I want to take care both of you, Jane, and it has nothing to do with feeling obligated. You'd be doing me a favor to let me take care of you and Shelby. That's what I want."
There was nothing I could do to prevent a tear rolling down my cheek. I was overwhelmed with love for him because I could truly tell he meant what he said. He loved me.
A tear trailed all the way to my jaw, and Gray leaned down so that he could place a kiss on my cheek, right where the tear had fallen.
"Why are you crying?" he whispered after he gently kissed my tear away.
"Happiness," I whispered.
Maybe Memphis (Bishop Family Book 3) Page 12
