32. Chapter 32
Chapter 32
“ I am so glad you’re here,” Jenn said, flinging open the door.
My eyebrows rose. “Is everything OK?” I asked as I stood on the porch, shivering.
“It is now! I was just, you know, going crazy with fear that you wouldn’t show, and I’d still be in the dark. I need to catch up on Viviana episodes,” Jenn said, her eyes twinkling. “You’re freezing, come in.”
I laughed nervously, and then I noticed the crutches as we headed to the living room. “Wait, what are you doing off the couch? I thought you were stuck with either crutches or the couch, and the couch was infinitely better.”
“Well, it is,” she said. “But Kieran’s out at the moment, buying party snacks. And probably more beer, considering our extra guests.”
“Ah, Choua is coming too then? I call dibs on being on his team.”
Jenn laughed. “Yeah, you may have to fight me on that one.” Once she sat down and arranged her crutches nearby, she gave me a pointed look and folded her arms. “I’m ready.”
“You’re ready?” I feigned ignorance. When Jenn narrowed her eyes, I groaned and settled against some cushions, moving a stray toy out of the way. “OK, OK. I’m afraid this story isn’t a great one, and it’s certainly not going to bring anyone joy in the hearing or telling of it.” I paused, my lower lip starting to tremble.
Jenn looped her arms around my shoulders and hugged me tightly, as much as her bulky cast would allow anyway. I thanked her as I tried not to tear up, took a deep breath, and began to recount what had happened with Gregory.
Jenn sat riveted as I told the mortifying story. When I finally fell silent and waited for my friend’s response, Jenn let out a string of expletives.
“How is it that you, a wife and mother, know more curse words than I do?” I asked, grinning despite myself.
She grinned. “Oh, it’s because I’m a mother that my language is so colorful. You have no idea.”
I smiled but then sobered. “You’re right though—I’m pretty sure he is all of those things, even the ones I haven’t heard before. The thing is … I guess I’ve had time to process it somewhat. I mean, I can’t believe I didn’t even break down while telling you all this. A couple weeks ago, I definitely would’ve been a crying mess. But I guess I’ve had time to accept what happened.”
Jenn stared at me. “I can understand the tears drying up. But I would’ve thought you’d still be angry or, I don’t know, at least a little heartbroken.”
I forced a smile. It was a fair question, which I’d tried not to think about. “Like I said, I’ve had time to grieve, I guess. And I can’t help but wonder …”
“Wonder what?”
“I wonder if … oh, Jenn, this is going to sound so stupid. I wonder if I was really in love with him in the first place or if it was just some silly infatuation illusion thing that my Austen-obsessed brain cooked up,” I said with a self-deprecating laugh. “Because you’re right. I should probably be taking this harder than I am.”
Jenn looked at me a long while before speaking again. “I’ve known you forever, and you’ve always been Austen obsessed and always heartbroken after dealing with jerks like Gregory. He’s not the first one, you know. Remember that stuffy guy, Antonio, and before him—”
“Anthony. He wasn’t stuffy.” I paused. “Or was he?”
“That’s one of the nicer words I’d use to describe him.”
“I … I suppose you’re right. I hadn’t really thought of myself as being one of those women who’s always attracted to the wrong kind of guy. But maybe I am.”
Jenn nodded, smiling slightly. “You didn’t know that about yourself?” When I frowned, she continued, “So what does Jack think of all this? I assume you talked to him at least, if not me.”
I looked at the floor, uncomfortable with the shift in conversation to a subject I definitely didn’t want to discuss. Wouldn’t discuss. Realizing I was expected to say something though, I took a steadying breath. “Yeah, well, he never really liked Gregory. To put it mildly.”
“He didn’t?” Jenn said in an exaggerated manner, and then she laughed. “Well, that was pretty obvious even to me, and I don’t even see you guys that often.”
“Yeah, so he wasn’t surprised that Gregory turned out to be a total jerk. But Jack was, he was … a good friend, as he always is. Always a good shoulder to cry on.” I shrugged the as nonchalantly as I could. Not for the first time, I wished I was a better actor.
Just as Jenn, with curious eyes, opened her mouth to reply, the doorbell rang. I rose quickly and smiled at my friend. “I’ll get it. Stay on the couch. Friend’s orders.”
Grateful for the distraction, I opened the door but felt my smile falter. Standing there was Jack himself, and behind him were Belinda and Choua. And Annie.
Belinda spoke first and lunged forward for a hug. “ Vivi! I’m so happy you’re here! We didn’t know you were coming.”
I laughed hoarsely. “Of course, why wouldn’t I?”
Jack took in my surprise and laid a gentle hand on my arm before he apparently thought better of it and let his arm drop back down. “Oh, Jenn said she hadn’t heard much from you lately, so we figured you might be too busy. Glad to see you though, Vivi.”
My eyes flickered from him to Annie, and I grasped for words. “Hi, everyone. It’s cold. I—um, come in.”
Jack stepped through the door as I quickly moved aside. “Jenn said to invite Annie, so—”
“So here I am!” Annie said, stepping forward with a friendly but tentative smile.
Too friendly. She’s still mad.
Unsure what to say, I pointed to the coat rack and motioned for them to hang their coats.
Annie’s smile wavered. “I hope it’s OK that I’m here.”
Feeling queasy, I forced myself to look at Annie nonetheless. “Sure, I mean, of course. I didn’t think board games were really your style though.” I couldn’t read the look that passed between Annie and Jack at that moment.
“This is our chance to show Annie what she’s been missing all this time,” he said lightly.
I laughed nervously and tried to think of a response. I turned to Belinda’s husband with a practiced smile. “Great to have you join us, Choua! I call dibs on your team.”
“You and everyone else. I think it’s time I picked my own team,” he said with a sideways glance, his eyes twinkling.
As we walked toward the living room, everyone laughed good-naturedly, everyone except Annie, that is. I hated the awkwardness already, and they’d only just arrived. If only I’d stayed home that night—even though I had nothing to do at home.
Kieran returned home then, and we all greeted him and offered condolences and suggestions about the job market. It soon became clear that work (or lack thereof) was the last thing he wanted to talk about though—I couldn’t blame him, being so recently exhausted by job searching myself—so Jenn stepped in to clumsily halt that conversation and announced the first game.
As the night progressed, the awkwardness didn’t fade, though it became slightly more tolerable after the first round of beers. Annie and I didn’t talk or sit near one another, but I exerted great effort to be civil. Things weren’t much better with Jack, with whom I still felt awkward too.
What took the tension to the next level was the third game we played, which required partners. Jenn and Kieran predictably paired up, as did Belinda and Choua. But that left Jack, Annie, and me. “Oh, I didn’t even think about the uneven numbers until now,” Jenn said with a grimace. “I’m usually so good at planning to avoid that.”
“No problem. I can sit this one out,” Jack said.
“No, I will sit out,” I said quickly. “I was the last-minute addition to this party anyway, I think.” I stole a brief glance at Annie, who frowned slightly but remained silent. It was probably obvious that I didn’t want to partner with Annie.
“Don’t be silly,” Kieran said, running his hands through his thick black hair. “We’ll just play something else. If you haven’t noticed, we have a number of other games to choose from. A ridiculous number, actually.”
Everyone chuckled, and the tense moment passed. Jenn was staring at me though, giving me a look that clearly said “you have more stuff to tell me, and I will get it out of you later.” I gave her a half-smile as I turned to open my next beer, only to find that Belinda was also giving me an odd look. Was I being that obvious? I thought, sighing. It was going to be a long night.
I took a long swig from my beer bottle as I snuck a glance at Jack and then Annie. The alcohol wouldn’t get rid of the tension, but with any luck, it would make me stop caring.