4 #3
My cheeks flush. I’ve never thought about it that way.
I love speech therapy and how it empowers people, but I never made the connection with my own singing.
Probably because I just don’t do it anymore.
It catches me off guard that Robbie is comfortably making insights about my life, like we haven’t been apart for eight years.
But I guess that’s what happens when someone grows up with you—some things just stick.
“So, what are you doing the rest of the time you’re home?” he asks.
But before I can respond, an enthusiastic Leo enters the chat.
“Great set,” Leo says, reaching out a hand to shake Robbie’s. “I’m Leo.”
“Robbie.” He shakes his hand.
“That harmony for your last song,” Leo gushes. “Well, you all were killer.”
“Do you mean we sleighed it?” Robbie jokes.
Leo throws his head back with laughter, the sound unmistakably similar to “ho ho ho.”
I deploy my polite laugh. “Robbie is a professional Broadway musician,” I tell Leo. “When he’s not making dad jokes.”
Robbie’s eyes crinkle with amusement. “Marygrace is an amazing musician herself.”
Leo blinks at me. “Is that true?”
It hasn’t been for a while. I clear my throat but can’t seem to form any words to say. Kind of like the last time I tried to sing.
“Well, she used to be, at least,” Robbie answers for me. “Back in high school, she would sing all the leads.”
“How cool!” Leo beams, totally not picking up on any of the weird energy between me and Robbie. He glances at the stage. “You should get up there and sing a song.”
“No,” I say, maybe a little too forcefully, as Robbie and Leo exchange glances. “I don’t sing in public anymore.” I giggle, trying to hide my discomfort. “Besides, the restaurant didn’t hire me.”
“Nope, they hired me,” a singsong voice chimes in. I turn to find Mrs. Claus, aka Audrey, beaming. “Marygrace Silva? Is that you?”
“Hi, Audrey,” I say, trying to recover from my awkward outburst. “You were amazing up there.”
She gasps. “Coming from you, that’s quite a compliment.” She grins as she looks from Robbie to me, then back to Robbie. “What a reunion, of all places.”
I agree. It’s like today has been one big, forced visit to my past. The only thing missing is all my exes. Now that would be terrible.
“Your sound is out of this world.” Leo beams at Audrey. “Like Kelly Clarkson meets Alanis Morissette.”
Audrey squints. “Oh, Alanis Morissette pre– or post–Dave Coulier?”
“Post.” He grins.
Audrey places a hand on her chest. “I like you.”
They chitchat, and I try not to stare as Audrey ducks her head near Leo.
An awkward silence descends between Robbie and me. I take a sip of my disgusting vodka soda to distract myself. Then we both do a double take when Audrey opens her mouth and Leo bends to examine her teeth.
“Your friend is… intense,” Robbie says.
I scrunch my nose. “He’s a dentist.”
Robbie chuckles. “That explains the vodka soda.”
I scoff. “What does that mean?”
“We both know you’d rather drink something sweeter, but you’re too worried about another person’s opinion.”
I frown, not sure I like what he’s implying—that I’m some kind of pushover. I huff. Just like when we were kids, Robbie is trying to tell me what I want. It’s the Battle of the Bands all over again.
“And what about your opinion of me?” I respond. “You still think you know what’s best for me?”
“That’s not what I meant…” His voice trails off as something catches his eye. I follow his gaze and see Brooke and Olivia laughing and staggering to the private room.
“Hey, Mary! Come back to the party,” Brooke calls, waving at me, her words slurred and her cheeks as pink as her drink.
“I see some things don’t change,” Robbie mutters.
A loud “whoop” near the front door makes everyone turn as a large group of guys enters. I recognize Jack, Olivia’s fiancé, leading what must be his bachelor party toward the private room. Looks like the party is going coed.
Jack motions for me to follow him. “Is that Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus with you?” he shouts as his entourage passes by. “Come on over. Bring your friends.”
Leo gives me a thumbs-up. “I’m in. Just going to take a little bio break.”
“Same,” Audrey agrees as she and Leo walk toward the restrooms together.
I turn anxiously to Robbie, whose eyes are flat and shoulders stiff.
“You coming?” I ask, voice cautious. “We’ve met twice today. Maybe the universe is saying something?” I give a small smile.
His laugh is humorless. “If it is, it’s a little too late.” I wince at his tone. He sighs. “You don’t need me to ruin your good time, Marygrace.” It’s so eerily like the time our friendship ended that my heart rate jumps from the memory.
As he turns away, I remember that whatever history Robbie and I had, it doesn’t excuse the fact that we’ve lost touch these past eight years.
Neither of us tried to reach out to the other—and maybe that’s how it should be.
Our friendship was just a thing of the past. I take one last swig of my vodka torture as Robbie once again walks out of my life.
Forget the past, Marygrace. Focus on the future.
My plan for tonight is still the same: Invite Leo to my family’s Noche Buena dinner tomorrow. And then as my plus-one for Olivia’s wedding.
It’s a good plan. What else can go wrong?
I just need to get through this holiday, then promptly leave Luke, Leo, and even Robbie in the past with the rest of my exes.