Chapter 19 #2
“I think you know,” Jay said, and Diana let out a sigh because she did know. She would take their junior and senior years of high school, and the sprinkling of all the other times, hot breaths and rushed movements in hotel rooms, over nothing at all.
“It’s just like, we did it, we went and lived phases of our life, and this next one, this next one I really want to just fucking try already,” Diana said, and she felt the hot tears form in her eyes.
“Have you both talked since you laid it all out for her?” Jay asked, draining her wine.
“Of course not, haven’t even so much as seen her around town, so I know she’s avoiding me.”
“Damn,” Michaela said, and Jay made a noise of agreement.
“Anyway, you two must be tired. I know you have so much to do tomorrow and we have to chat with Jules about the—”
“We need more wine!” Michaela declared.
“Yeah you aren’t getting away that easily,” Jay said, turning to look up at Diana.
“Aren’t you both tired?” Diana asked. Sure it was only nine, but for them it was the middle of the night.
“Honey, we have four kids and work full time, besides—-” Jay began rather sheepishly but Diana got it and cut her off.
“You all slowly adjusted your sleep cycles before coming here didn’t you?”
Michaela smiled. “Girl, we are in our forties, ok? Tell me where the wine is and I will get us more.”
Diana laughed. “No way, you both are my guests, I’ll be right back.” Diana stood to go grab more wine from the kitchen.
On the way, she heard her phone buzz, but decided she’d come back to it once she had wine. Diana had made it to the kitchen when she heard the doorbell.
“Got it!” she heard Jay call out, and went back to grabbing the wine. She hadn’t found the same wine they’d been drinking but when she’d located a similar stand in, she ventured back through the house towards the living room, going the long way so she would pass by the front door.
Jay was standing there in her tiny shorts that were barely visible under her t-shirt, talking with someone at the door. From the tone of her voice, it sounded like she was flustered. Finally reaching her friend and standing behind her, she peeked around her to see who was at the door.
Diana found a red-eyed Maggie standing on her doorstep and her breath caught.
She was surprised, mainly because Maggie almost never used the front door.
Given the time of night, she had expected it to be one of the staff members, who sometimes rang her doorbell when they’d misplaced keys or access cards.
That or a serial killer, but Jay always knew how to handle herself.
Besides, Michaela would never let anything happen to Jay, and she was just in the living room.
“Mags?” Diana said in surprise. Maggie tore her red eyes from Jay and looked at Maggie with a look that was meant to kill but was also smug.
Diana looked from Maggie to Jay, who was now hiding her shorts even more because she was pulling her sweatshirt down to cover more of her legs, and she inwardly swore.
“Mags—”
“Looks like I am interrupting you, didn’t know you had guests, I can come back another time,” Maggie cut her off, her voice wounded and cold.
“No, come in, we were just about to open another bottle of wine—me, Diana, and my wife, Michaela?” Jay said, ducking under Diana’s arm to put more distance between herself and the cold—also presumably to get away from a pissed off Maggie.
Anger flared inside Diana. Maggie didn’t get to be pissed off.
“Your wife that doesn’t care you’re pantless with Diana here? Yeah, I remember,” Maggie said.
A couple of tense beats rolled out between them before Jay said, “Yeah well, you’re welcome to join us, it would be good to catch up,” and then turned and left, likely to tell Michaela the drama that was unfolding.
“Mags, what are you doing here?” Diana said, dishing a little of Maggie’s energy back at her. “I haven’t so much as seen you in weeks.”
“Yeah, well moving, starting a whole life over again when you’re not a Blake is difficult,” Maggie spat out.
Diana nodded. “Low even for wherever the fuck your mind is right now.”
“Yeah well I came to talk, and well, you’re busy so another time.” Maggie began to walk away down the path that led to the driveway.
“Oh fuck no, you do not get to walk away,” Diana said, chasing after her, bottle of wine still in hand, wearing house slippers and sans jacket. “Say what you gotta say Margaret.”
The use of her full first name, the one Diana knew she hated, pulled her up short. Maggie turned around, breathing hard, face red.
“I’m trying, okay?” Maggie pleaded.
“Try harder,” Diana said icily.
“Why? You’re obviously still, you’re busy with J—”
“Oh no you don’t. You do not get to keep pointing to Jay like she is the reason for our shit. No you fucking do not get to put that on her,” Diana said heatedly.
“Of course, sorry, wouldn’t want to ever offend—”
“Maggie, I need you to be very careful right now. I need you to choose your words very fucking carefully. I laid it all out. I’m out here in fucking December with no coat on chasing you out here while Jay is inside. I’m begging you to tread lightly.” That last bit came out as a plea as well.
Maggie took a couple of breaths and then said, “I’m sorry, just, fuck, FUCK!” she yelled, and then she turned. “I know I need to get this right, Dee, I’m trying, I promise, I’m trying so fucking hard. I love you, okay? I’m trying so fucking hard.” And then she disappeared down the path.