24. 24
24
LYLA
I text my hometown friends to let them know what happened with my mom and that I’m in town. Instead of sending condolences and good thoughts for my mom’s recovery, they asked me to go out with them tonight. Something about their dismissive nature bothered me more than it had before I left and I know it’s because I finally know real friendship, real love, real care. Cassie and Cara are always lending me an ear when I need it and I bonded with them more than I ever had with my friends in Edmonton.
But old habits die hard.
Which is why I’m currently sitting in an over the top and trendy restaurant downtown with Parker, waiting for them to grace me with their presence.
I wring my hands nervously in my lap and debate leaving, but once I hear the commotion at the front, I know it’s too late. My friends pile in and I groan when I realize they’ve already been drinking.
Great.
Stephanie is the first to spot me and she bee-lines for our table. Liz and Jenny rush after her and they all squeal when they see me. I slowly stand and run my hands down my perfectly coordinated and chic outfit. I’m sporting a long-sleeved black sweater dress with pantyhose and cute boots, hair in a high pony, and more make up than I usually care to wear. With these girls, you have to show up looking fine as hell, otherwise you’ll hear about your frumpy clothes all night long.
Parker places a hand on my lower back and that action alone is enough to calm me and give me a wave of confidence.
Sadly, it’s very short-lived.
“Lyla.” Stephanie looks me up and down. “You’re looking more curvy than you were in August.”
She kisses each side of my cheek and the girls take their turns matching the gesture. I cringe at the contact, a familiar discomfort rising in my chest.
“Um, yeah, I’ve been eating a bit more regularly than I was before. I guess I’ve gained a few.”
I look down at myself, embarrassed that I’ve gained weight, and that they could tell within five seconds of seeing me. When I look in the mirror in my apartment at home, I enjoy my new curves and think that I look healthier than I had in my life. But the moment I’m with this group, that confidence plummets, and I find myself slumping my shoulders under the weight of their stares. I want to say I’m surprised, but I realized in my time away that these girls truly brought out the worst in each other, and myself. I’m smaller with them; constantly scared to speak up and demand better treatment.
“Well, well.” Stephanie looks Parker up and down with the gaze of a predator. “Who do we have here? Lyla, you didn’t tell us you were bringing someone.”
I clear my throat. “Yeah, Cherry is in the shop so Parker offered to drive me. Parker, this is Stephanie, Liz, and Jenny. We’ve known each other since junior high.”
Parker has a murderous look on his face, but his manners win out. “Hi. Parker Hamilton. I’m Lyla’s boyfriend and co-worker. ”
He doesn’t hold out his hand and looks entirely displeased with this interaction.
“Oh!” Liz laughs, “How did you manage to pull in this catch Lyla? It must be new.”
I cringe again, a common thing when I’m in the presence of these women. They constantly undermine me, so of course they would act like it was a miracle I had landed such a hot guy. What they don’t know is that Parker’s looks are the least interesting thing about him. I mean, yes, the man is absolutely gorgeous. But he has so much more to offer than his appearance, and the fact that they immediately zero in on his looks and use that as an indicator of his value pisses me off.
Before I can respond, Parker speaks.
“It wasn’t that hard for her to ‘catch’ me.” He grinds his teeth. “And she could get any man she wanted. She just happened to choose me.”
He turns to face me and drops a kiss to my cheek, and it feels so different than when these girls had done it a moment ago.
“Alright.” Jenny awkwardly breaks the silence. “Let’s order some drinks.”
This night is a disaster.
My three ‘friends’ spend the entire evening telling Parker how different I am.
“Remember when she threw up at the mall? That was hilarious.”
“She’s always been so moody.”
“She’s such an art freak.”
“Remember when she was gone for months in high school and wouldn’t even tell us why?”
“She was always the chubby one of the group.”
I’m absolutely humiliated and I want nothing more than to leave. Parker looks like he’s about ready to explode. He’s been holding my hand a little tighter and his jaw is clenched, as if it’s a physical effort to keep his mouth shut. We spend the evening having drinks and I order a salad for dinner. I hate salad, always have. It feels like I’m being punished for something every time I eat one, but I don’t want to give these girls more ammo.
The evening wears on, slow as ever, and I find myself fidgeting in my seat, growing more and more uncomfortable. These were never my people, and I don’t know why I ever tried to make these friendships work. Cassie and Cara pop into my head for the hundredth time tonight and I yearn to be back in my apartment with them, drinking wine and watching chick flicks, piled on the sectional and probably laughing at something Cassie said. Those have been some of my favorite moments with them and I now know what a true friend is.
These are not my people. My tribe is in Emerald Falls.
I turn my attention back to the conversation, and Stephanie puts the last nail in her coffin.
“Lyla, why don’t you go grab us some more drinks?”
And that’s what it takes for Parker to finally snap.
His fist slams down on the table and the girls jump in their seats.
“What the fuck?” Jenny exclaims.
“Do we have a problem?” Stephanie asks.
“Yes, we do.” Parker all but growls. “You have spent this entire evening telling me all of the things you consider to be bad parts of Lyla. You have looked down on her solely to make your miserable selves feel more superior and frankly, I’ve had enough of it. This woman is better, smarter, more caring and more beautiful than the three of you combined. She has more kindness in her pinkie finger than any of you have in your entire body, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit here and let you make her feel like she’s not as good as you. Especially when the reality is that she’s so far above you.”
Parker rises from the table, pulling me up with him. He pulls out his wallet, throws cash in Stephanie’s face, and says with a coldness I had never heard from this man, “Dinner is on me ladies, now go get your own fucking drinks.”
The look on their faces is enough to make me bust out a laugh as we turn around and exit the restaurant.