Well Played

by Jen DeLuca

  “Yep.” He spread his arms in illustration as we headed up the lane together. “Welcome to my life.”

  I couldn’t help but smile as we parted at a fork in the lane: him toward the parking lot to find his musicians, and me back toward the chess field tavern to find Emily. The more I learned about his life, the more I liked it. And if I’d had a choice, I would have gladly followed him.

  * * *

  • • •

  I thought I’d miss my phone more than I did. Every summer, I got in the habit of locking my phone in my glove compartment when I got to Faire. Some people carried their phones with them, either in a belt pouch or in the bottom of a basket, always turned off. But I knew the temptation to pull it out would be too great for me, so I didn’t bring it inside at all. My hands usually felt empty those first couple days. I fully expected it to be worse this summer, since I’d grown more and more attached to my phone over the past year. How many times had my friends kidded me about it, or flat-out threatened to stage an intervention? But now that I was here, strolling the grounds in my new costume, trying to figure out who this new Beatrice character might be if she wasn’t a plain tavern wench, my need for my phone faded away quickly. It didn’t belong here.

  It helped, of course, that the main reason for my recent phone addiction was right there, all day, close enough to touch. If I missed him, I could just slip over to the Marlowe Stage and say hi. So I indulged myself a few times over the course of the day, and from the way his face lit up whenever he saw me, he was as glad to see me as I was to see him.

  Bringing our relationship out of cyberspace and into real space took a little getting used to, but I couldn’t deny the thrill that went up my spine now every time Daniel’s eyes caught mine. He wasn’t conventionally attractive, the way Dex was. Daniel wasn’t Hemsworth-esque in the least. But his glass-green eyes shone whenever he looked at me, and my skin heated up whenever his hand brushed mine. There was something so genuine in his smile that echoed the sincerity in the words we’d exchanged all this time. Last year he’d just been a casual friend, someone I’d looked forward to saying hi to every time he came through town. Now we were only two days into this year’s Faire, and he was already the best part of the season.

  I learned really, really fast that there was more to life than Hemsworthiness.

  I dropped by the Marlowe Stage at the end of the day once pub sing was over, but Daniel was talking to his cousins, and they all seemed very focused. I didn’t want to interrupt that, so I slipped out the way I’d come in. I knew how to get hold of him, after all. Sure enough, by the time I got to my car and retrieved my phone, it was lit up with texts. Based on the time stamps, Daniel had sent them throughout the day, the way he’d threatened to.

  I really love your new costume. You look so good in bright colors.

  Dex has called Frederick “Freddy” six times already this morning. I think he may be going for a record.

  Okay, this isn’t nearly as fun when you aren’t allowed to have your phone. I’m doing all the texting in the relationship these days.

  But I’ve gotten to see you twice already, so I suppose it’s a fair trade-off.

  Freddy tally: eleven. I predict a wrestling match in the parking lot after Faire.

  Twelve Freddys now (Freddies?), and he’s threatening to quit the band. Do you know how to play drums?

  I’m going to need to have a band meeting with these guys after Faire today. I really wanted to see you tonight, but it looks like that’s going to be delayed. Let me know what your schedule is like this week. Dinner sometime?

  Hurry up and get your phone, will you? I haven’t gotten a text from you all day.

  My giggle expanded into a full-on laugh as I read through all the messages, my car getting hotter and hotter as I realized I hadn’t turned it on yet and the air-conditioning wasn’t running. I was still laced into my costume, even. Texts from Daniel rated above oxygen, apparently. I remedied that, starting the engine and cranking the air as cold as it would go before loosening my bodice. I took a good, deep breath as my fingers flew over my phone’s keyboard.

  You KNOW I can’t have my phone during the day. I told you that.

  I do not know how to play drums. Don’t you? I bet you’d look great in that kilt. You’re taller than Freddy though, it’d be a miniskirt on you. Hmm. I could be into that.

  Sunday night after Faire is Jackson’s night! Come out and sing karaoke with us! I’ll be there for a bit, text me if you think you can make it.

  I have book club on Thursday night, but otherwise I’m free.

  You’re going to Simon and Emily’s wedding next weekend, right?

  Once I’d sufficiently blown up his phone in retaliation, I put my car in gear. Time to go home, shower off, feed the cat, and get a pizza at Jackson’s. I couldn’t keep the grin off my face. I loved this time of year: the camaraderie, the long days, the nights out where every Sunday night felt like a cast party. Having Daniel be part of it now made it that much better.

  * * *

  • • •

  Seven nights, six days, four workdays, three after-work evenings with Daniel, and one girls’ night out/half-assed bachelorette party with Emily and April later, it was Sunday of the second weekend of Faire. Simon and Emily’s wedding day. Or wedding evening, since there was still a day of Faire to get through first.

  I woke up early the day of the wedding, but I was still running late somehow, so when my landline rang, I groaned out loud. I was half-dressed for my morning at Faire and juggling all the stuff I’d need to turn into a bridesmaid later that day. I loved my mom more than just about anything, but I really didn’t have time to talk to her right now.

  But I was a good daughter, so I pushed all that annoyance down and picked up the phone. “Morning, Mom!”

  “Oh, good morning, honey.” Mom sounded pleasantly surprised that it was my voice on the other end of the line. How many people did she think lived up here? “I was just wondering if you needed any help getting ready.”

  I blinked. “For Faire?” I looked down at myself, clad in my bright orange underdress. I’d drive to Faire in that and put on the rest when I got there. What did Mom need to help me with? “No, I’m good. I’ve been doing this a while, you know.”

  “Not for Faire.” She tsked at me. “For the wedding. Time’s going to be tight today, isn’t it?”

  I let out a sigh. “Oh, you have no idea.” Simon’s head would have exploded if we’d skipped Faire that day, but we did manage to talk him into letting those of us in the wedding party, himself included, leave in the midafternoon to get changed and ready for the wedding. We all had two very different costumes in store for us over the course of the day, and it was a lot to get ready for. “But I think I have a handle on everything. We’re getting ready at April’s house, and the limo is picking us up from there to take us back to Faire for the wedding. But I’ll see you there, right?”

  “Of course you will. Your father and I wouldn’t miss it.” Mom had been so pleased to get Emily’s invitation. They’d become friendly ever since Mom had joined the book club at Read It & Weep. I had the feeling that Emily’s relationship with her own mother was a little on the frosty side, so she’d really connected with mine. I didn’t mind sharing Mom, especially with someone I loved as much as Emily. She would have been fun to have as a sister growing up.

  After hanging up, I finished throwing my makeup and hair stuff into an overnight bag—my hairdryer and curling iron took up a lot of room—and reached for the garment bag that contained my bridesmaid dress and shoes. It took two trips down the stairs to my car to get everything loaded in the back. Bridesmaid stuff first, then Faire stuff.

  That day at Faire was . . . well, it was weird. Mitch kicked Simon off the chess match, citing a ridiculous number of nerves on the part of the groom-to-be, so Simon roamed the grounds instead in character as the pirate captain, interacting with guests. Since it
was bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding, I had my work cut out for me. Emily and I usually split up to check on the taverns throughout the day, but today I stuck to Emily like a shadow, always looking out for a pirate in black leather and a big feathered hat. We took a lot of detours that day, checking out the shows we’d never seen before.

  “We hired these guys? On purpose? And Simon approved it?” Emily shook her head in wonder as we watched the mud show wrap up. A couple well-built guys doing some bizarre cross between a comedy routine and mud wrestling. We watched mostly in morbid fascination, but the act seemed to go over well with the crowd, even the ones who were getting spattered with mud.

  “I think Mitch was responsible for this one,” I said. “I don’t think I talked to them at all. He probably snuck it by Chris when Simon wasn’t paying attention.”

  “Yeah, but when is Simon not paying attention?” Emily’s giggle was high-pitched, nervous. Her mind was only half on our conversation. I looked over her shoulder and spotted the man himself, way down the lane facing the other direction. He was probably going toward the joust. Which meant we were going the other way.

  “Come on.” I steered her toward the main tavern, where Jamie flagged us down.

  “Yeah, so the caterers got here early.”

  Emily sucked in a breath. “What time is it?” She reached for Jamie’s wrist to look at his watch. “It’s only two forty-five! They’re not supposed to be here until four!”

  “Which is why I said they’re early.” Jamie was the most unflappable person I’d ever known. Emily looked like she was about to burst a blood vessel, and it didn’t bother him a bit. “Don’t worry about it. I talked to them and they’re coming back in a couple hours. Look at it this way—you’d rather they got here early than late, right?”

  “Or not at all.” I bumped Emily’s shoulder with mine. “More importantly, we have to get the hell outta here.” We were on a tight schedule. Faire ended at five, technically, though pub sing started up front about four thirty. Once the last human chess match of the day was over and people started filtering toward the front, we had a team coming in to set up chairs on the chess field and an archway at one end in time for the wedding at six thirty. Meanwhile, Em and I had to get going to transform into a bridesmaid and a bride. She didn’t need to be worrying about caterers and whether or not they’d set up in time. She had to worry about looking beautiful and marrying the man she loved.

  And it was my job to keep her on task. Emily was normally great at that, but she was operating with maybe half a brain today, and that was a generous estimate. “Time to go get pretty,” I said.

  She blinked at me, her eyes a little wild, and yeah, we were going to need to break into the champagne a little early. My girl here needed a drink. “Okay,” she said.

  “You okay to drive?” Jamie peered at her. “You look a little freaked out.”

  “I can drive you,” I said. “We can leave your Jeep here for now.”

  “No.” Emily shook her head. “I mean yes. No, I’m not freaked out, and yes, I’m okay to drive.”

  “Then let’s go. I’ll follow you over to April’s place.” I tugged on her arm. I was doing a lot of arm tugging and directing today, and this constant vigilance had me on edge too. I’d been so focused on keeping Emily away from Simon that I’d hardly been in character at all today. I loved being Beatrice, and I’d been cheated out of a day to be her. Oh, well. We still had two more weekends of Faire. It wasn’t over yet.

  Back at April’s house I was a little more in my comfort zone. Emily and I had practiced her wedding hairstyle a couple times already, and it was easy enough. A simple updo, with tendrils of her natural curls escaping around her temples, and a delicate crown of pale pink silk flowers on top of it all. I took my time until her hair was perfect, while April supervised.

  “Wow, that looks great. You need to do mine next.” She refilled Emily’s champagne flute.

  “No.” Emily tried to move it out of the way, but April steadied her hand and kept pouring.

  “Yes. Don’t worry, I’m not going to let you get hammered. You just need to relax a little.”

  “I’m plenty relaxed.”

  “Uh-huh. You’re about to snap that champagne flute in half.”

  “April’s right.” I waved her out of the chair she was in. “Go. Sit over there, drink your booze and chill for a minute while I do April’s hair.” I hadn’t realized that I would be doing April’s hair too, but her requesting it was an offer of friendship that I realized in that moment I’d been craving. So I settled her at the dressing table and our eyes met in the mirror. “Same updo?”

  “Same updo.” She nodded and looked up at me in the mirror, her eyes a little uncertain. “You have time, right? I probably should’ve asked instead of just assuming . . .”

  “Ah, hush up.” I gathered April’s hair in my hands. It was a little longer than Emily’s, but the curls were the same. “This won’t take any time at all.”

  Once April’s hair was done, I attacked my own. I had no natural curl to speak of, so I wielded my curling iron like a weapon until my hair had twice the body it normally did and cascaded in loose blonde curls down below my shoulders. Then I pinned it up and threaded a few pale pink flowers into it here and there. April had some loose flowers in her hair too—green to match her dress. Only the bride got a bona fide flower crown at this Faire wedding.

  There was something incongruous about arriving to Faire in a gray stretch limo as the last patrons were leaving for the day. The tires crunched over the gravel in the parking lot and several heads turned, trying to peer through the tinted windows.

  “You ready?” April leaned across the seat and laid a hand over her sister’s wrist. Emily had been looking out the window the whole ride over, not saying a word. She’d been a big ball of stress all day, but now she turned to us with sparkling eyes and an easy smile. Her nerves were gone. Yes. She was ready.

  She let out a deep breath as the limo driver opened the door. “Let’s do this.”

  Sixteen

  We’d had a wedding rehearsal, of course. One evening last week we’d met up at the Faire site to run through where everything was going to happen and where we’d need to stand. But going through the motions and marking our places didn’t give an accurate picture of what it was going to be like. How dream-like it was going to be, the three of us in our fluttery white and pastel dresses with flowers in our hair, heading down the main lane of Faire to marry Emily to Simon. Modern dresses with period details in this pastoral setting (yes, Mitch had been right about that word) made it hard to determine exactly what century we were in.

  A couple dozen yards away from the chess field, Emily’s father was waiting for us, standing in the middle of the lane in a dark gray suit with his hands folded in front of him. I’d met him earlier this week at the rehearsal dinner but hadn’t talked to him much. He seemed quiet, almost stern, but now his expression melted when he saw us.

  “Hey there, Sprite.” He stepped forward and bent to kiss Emily’s cheek. “You look beautiful.”

  She blinked back tears as she practically glowed up at him. “Thank you, Daddy.”

  April cleared her throat, and Mr. Parker looked shamefaced for a moment as he glanced over at April and me. “Of course, you girls look great too.”

  “Yes, we do,” April agreed cheerfully. “Now let’s get Emily married.”

  “Good idea.” He offered the bride his arm. “Are you ready for this? I like Simon fine, but you never know. Maybe he’s a jerk. You’re sure about this guy, right?”

  Emily’s eyes widened in horror. “Of course I’m sure, Dad! What the hell kind of question is that?”

  He smirked. “Just making sure.” He caught my eye and ushered me forward. “You first, I think.”

  “Yep. It’s all me.” From where we stood I could hear the music coming from t
he chess field, a string quartet made up of some of Willow Creek High’s music students. It was time.

  I set off down the lane by myself, and when the chess field was in sight I slowed to a languid stroll more suited for walking down a wedding aisle. It was easy to smile and look the part of a joyful bridesmaid, because that was exactly how I felt inside. The field that hosted our human combat chess match every weekend of Faire had been transformed. The giant chess board was still visible in its grass-and-white squares that covered the field. But those squares were covered with rows of wooden folding chairs with an aisle running down the middle. At one end of the field was a white wicker archway, and as I got closer I could see Simon and Mitch up there, waiting with the officiant.

  As my foot hit the white vinyl runner, people turned in their seats to watch me process down the aisle. My eyes immediately caught on a figure sitting on the groom’s side, smack-dab in the middle of a row. A figure whose vivid auburn hair was a direct contrast to the all-black outfit he was wearing. Daniel’s polite smile widened into something more genuine when he saw me, and I didn’t know what shone in my eyes to put that smile on his face, but I was glad it did. I’d forgotten how vivid his hair was when it wasn’t hidden under a baseball cap. Now it was combed back from his face, and a little damp from a late-afternoon post-Faire shower. He’d shaved before the wedding, too. I wanted to climb over the people sitting between him and me. I wanted to settle into his lap and run my hand down that smooth cheek. Instead, I shot him a playful wink, and he laughed without making a sound.