9. Chapter 9
9
Sunday Linens
“Alissa, can you grab the orange juice out of the fridge for me?” I ask as I grab the plates. I place them around our table, along with the silverware and napkins I folded into bow ties this morning.
I swear, nothing makes me feel better than seeing my friends, hosting a party, and brunch.
That’s a recipe for a good time, and since I’ve been stuck in the pits of hell lately, I’ve needed a day to forget all my worries and spend time with the people I love.
“You got it, babe. I can turn the music on too,” Alissa says as she glides through the room.
“It’s the least you could do, considering you didn't warn me Leo was joining my firm.” I still haven't let it go. When I got home and found Alissa waiting for me with a bottle of wine, ice cream, and our favorite reality show queued up, I knew it was an apology.
“Ells, whatever arguing you do with my brother is between you two. I’ve never understood why you can’t just get along.”
Before I start a long-winded conversation about how much I hate her brother, someone knocks on my door. Based on what time it is, I know it’s Paige and Oliver. The girl is always early to everything. It’s probably for the best; I’d hate to ruin today by talking about him.
“Are you sure I can’t invite him?” Alissa asks me again. “He has no friends, Ella. He just moved back here, you know.”
“I’m sure whoever slept on his dick last night is keeping him company this morning!” I say as I finish setting the table. “It’s bad enough I have to see him at work every day. He’s not infecting my weekends too.”
“Fine.”
I head to my door, swing it open, and am immediately met with Paige’s smiling face.
She barrels into me with a hug, and I can almost feel the sunlight radiating off of her.
I’m not a sunny person like she is. I’m a bit rough around the edges, way too honest to the point that some people think I’m mean, and I’m often told I’m too much for people.
But with Paige, she doesn't give a shit. She balances me out in a way. The two of us understand one another, especially with our family situations. Her dad is a piece of shit, and my mom walked out on me and my family when I was younger.
We both know what it feels like to be a second choice to someone who’s supposed to love you unconditionally. But neither of us has let that stop us; we somehow found one another amidst all the people in the world. We love one another unconditionally to make up for all we missed out on, and I couldn't be more grateful for her presence.
I lock eyes with Oliver over Paige’s shoulder, a slight smile on his face. I don't know if I’ll ever get used to that, but I’m glad Paige has found someone who makes her happy.
And I’m glad Oliver is happy too, I guess. As long as he treats Paige right, that’s all that matters. If he doesn't, he knows Hads, Grant, and I will be first in line to kick his ass.
And Amelia, if she was here.
“Ella, I’ve missed you so much! God, it’s been way too long.”
“Babe, I saw you on Wednesday at book club.”
Oliver pushes past the two of us and comes inside. “She’s been dressed since six this morning.”
I tilt my head at Paige, confused but glad she’s so excited. I’ve missed hosting things at our apartment. Today’s theme was coastal, so Paige is on theme in her flowing white dress and large hat. Oliver is wearing color for once, so he’s on theme too. This outfit screams Paige. I bet she laid it out for him this morning. I made a bet with Grant he would be on theme, and it looks like I was right.
“Alissa! You look wonderful!” Paige says as she hugs her. Alissa’s big headpiece almost knocks her in the head, but she dodges it.
Those two continue talking as I look over at Oliver. “Why was she up so early this morning?”
“She hasn't been sleeping a lot lately,” he says, a somber expression on his face. Or, well, that’s just his face. “Amelia hasn't been calling her like she usually does.”
That’s not what I was expecting him to say, but it tracks. “She didn't join us Wednesday either. She told us she had a late meeting and wasn't able to get out of it, but she didn’t even let us know until days later.”
Oliver only rolls his eyes. “I bet.”
He’s only saying what I’m thinking. Ever since Amelia went back to England, she has been worse at answering our messages. I understand the time difference is a bitch and a half, but no matter what, we always promised that book club would still be the one night a week we made time for one another.
Amelia hasn't been very good at doing that lately, and I’m not impressed.
“Paige misses her. A lot.”
“We all do,” I tell him, lying to myself. I wasn't happy with Amelia and how she left. She’s still one of my best friends, but some of the decisions she made this past year have made me think differently of her. For one, she broke up with Henry at the airport right before she boarded her flight—literally ripped his heart out in front of all of us and then left.
How fucking cracked do you have to be to do that? I’ll never forget the look on his face when he turned around to face us after Ames walked away. If heartbroken had a picture in the dictionary, his face would be on the page.
She’s pulling away from us. It started slow. At first, she just stopped answering our messages. Now, she doesn't answer our calls and is missing book club.
And according to what Oliver said, she’s even cutting Paige off. Those two were as close as you could get in college. Amelia promised her before she left that they would still do morning debriefs like they did in their apartment, but now, she stopped doing those too.
I would text her and ask if she wants to talk, but I don’t bother. Why should I continue to reach out only to get nothing in return? Amelia tends to be like this, but she always comes back to us after a week or two.
It has been almost a month since she was here, and we haven't heard a thing from her.
Another few knocks at my door, and I hear Grant and Hads come in.
“We’re not late, are we?” Hads asks.
“No, you’re not,” I say as she comes into view. She smirks before I grab a dish from her hands.
“Banana bread, courtesy of Grant’s mom’s recipe.”
I wrap her in a hug, her long skirt flowing since Alissa and I opened the sliding doors to our balcony. It’s a really nice day out, and the warm Virginia air is setting the vibe perfectly.
“Where’s Grant?” Paige asks as she hugs Hads.
“Probably tip-toeing over here so as to not wrinkle his Sunday linens,” she jokes, but as Grant comes into view, that’s exactly what he’s doing.
In his fully white and linen outfit, he’s shuffling over to us. “Sorry, no hugs. I am not ruining this outfit if we’re taking pictures.”
“What the hell are you wearing?” Oliver asks him.
Grant looks Oliver up and down before meeting my eyes. “Dammit, Ells,” Grant says as he fishes twenty dollars out of his pocket and hands it to me. “You won, congrats.”
“Did you guys bet on something again?” Paige asks, probably already knowing we did.
“Yes, and I won fair and square.” I smirk as I head over to the counter, wanting a mimosa. “So, who wants a drink?”
As I look at my friends around the table, I soak up the moment. As laughs are traded and smiles are given, I hope this isn't as good as it will ever get. We’ve all come so far from that small classroom on campus, and I wish time would slow the fuck down for a second. I know we have more time, but as the oldest in the group—besides Alissa—I worry one day, I’m going to look back and wish we were back in college.
Everyone always talks about how college is the best time of your life, but I think life starts after you leave. Sure, college is great, and it brought me the friends I’ll have forever, but I’ve never been more excited to experience life with my family still around me.
“So wait, you’re telling me they want you to run some sort of hockey camp? You?” Alissa asks Grant, as confused as to how hockey works as I am.
“Yes! It’s a summer camp the school I work for is running. I’m excited. We’ve had a bunch of sign-ups so far, and I’m looking forward to teaching young kids to skate and play.”
“Good for you, Grant.” Paige smiles at him as they fist bump. “Alissa, you know he won a championship, don't you?”
“Oh, really?” Alissa says as she sips her mimosa.
“Paige, please, there’s no need to brag… Yeah, Jacks and I had a final assist for the winning goal. It’s no big deal, really,” Grant says, downplaying that championship game. All of us were there supporting him, and it was one of the most exhilarating games I’ve ever watched. That could be because I was buzzed, but let’s pretend it was because of the game.
“It was amazing, babe. Truly one of the best games you’ve played,” Hads says as she grabs his hand. It’s nice to see her all soft. Grant has truly weakened her defenses. I’m glad my girls are happy with their partners.
Most people would be uncomfortable being single and surrounded by all these couples, but I love being on the market. I’m having fun; well, I was before work and life got in the way.
I enjoy casual sex with people, but lately, I’ve been in a weird limbo. I can’t even remember the last time I fucked someone, and I’ve been all out of sorts since I found out Leo was going to be working with me. Yet another thing he ruined. Most nights, I come home way too tired to deal with anything but a hot shower and reality television.
It’s exhausting being around someone you despise with every molecule in your body all day.
“So, Ella, how has work been? Have you killed Leo yet?” Hads asks me before turning to Alissa. “Sorry, Liss.”
“Don’t be. I asked her the same thing when she came home on their first day working together.”
“I haven't killed him yet, but it’s only been a few days, so that could change.”
“Listen, if you need help burying his body, you know who to call,” Oliver says as he throws his napkin down.
The rest of us look at him like he’s crazy, considering what happened last year.
“Really, bro?” Hads says, a disinterested expression on her face.
“What? It was a joke!” he says, but nobody’s laughing. “How is it still too soon for those jokes? It’s been an entire year, for fuck’s sake.”
“I thought it was funny, babe,” Paige says as she rests her head on his shoulder.
“I’ll divert the subject,” Grant says. “So, does anyone else have any fun things happening lately?”
We all shake our heads, not being able to think of anything remotely fun that happened in the past few weeks.
“Nothing? God, are we officially boring adults?” Grant asks.
“Not yet,” I say as I collect some plates.
“Ella, let me help,” Paige says, and before I try to stop her, Hads starts to help too.
“Guys, go sit down and relax. I can do this,” I say as I place some stuff in the sink.
“Ells, you put this entire day together. The least you can let us do is help clean up,” Paige tells me as she starts to clean the plates I put in the sink.
Before I can grab the rag to start drying, Hads gets it first. “Too slow.”
“Guys, come on, I’m the host. I should be—”
“Relax, Ella. You’ve had a long week dealing with Leo. Let us do something for you for once. Okay?”
Hads always knows just what to say to get me to listen. “Fine.”
“So, has it been okay working with him? I know you were worried about it.”
I sigh heavily as I try to make my thoughts coherent. For some reason, when it comes to describing Leo Zimmerman and his presence, I have a hard time. I think it’s because he pisses me off so much that all my thoughts get jumbled.
“It’s been fine, I guess. He’s constantly in my bubble, and it gets annoying, but we have a truce, and he’s stuck to it.”
“Huh, that’s good,” Paige says, and I know she still thinks we’re going to get together, but she couldn't be farther from the truth. I would never date Leo fucking Zimmerman. If he was the last person on Earth, I’d lock myself in a room and figure out how to procreate with my dildo.
“Paige, don’t get any ideas, babe.”
“Oh, come on! We’re literally reading a workplace romance novel next month! How am I not supposed to draw connections between that and your situation?” She hands Hads a plate and she dries it, putting it into the rack Alissa and I keep on our counter.
“I told you guys I wanted to read another book! Workplace romance and I are not friends at the moment.” No matter how much I love that trope . I wish Amelia joined us Wednesday, because I know she would’ve picked the other book like I did. But Hads and Paige outnumbered me, and they chose our read for next month.
“Whoops!” Hads says, and I know she understands how I feel about Leo—it’s similar to how she felt about Grant at first—but I think her boyfriend is slowly turning her to their side. Paige and Grant are relationship cheerleaders. The two of them want all of us to be happy and in love like they are, but I’ve told them countless times I’m okay how I am.
I have too much going on to have a relationship anyway. My dad and sister still rely on me a lot, and work keeps me busy. I like my life, and I don't need anything else putting a hitch in my routine.
“Ella, look—” Paige says, but as she’s talking, the faucet slips and starts to spray her. “Ah! Oh my God!”
The three of us are yelling, trying to turn it off, but Paige only points it at me and Hads, spraying us too.
“Hey!”
“Paige! This is not the time for a water fight!”
She only continues to laugh as Grant comes in, and she points the detachable faucet at him.
“Not my linens, Paigey! What are you guys doing?” Grant says as he gets soaked. I cannot stop laughing, even though my kitchen is a mess.
Hads turns the faucet off as Oliver and Alissa join us, eyes wide as they see the water all over the place.
“Well, now we can’t say we’re boring adults.” Paige smiles, and after a few seconds of silence, we all start to laugh. “I’ll clean it up, don’t worry.”
“I’ll go grab some towels,” Alissa says, headed for our bathroom.
“Just so you all know, we’re not boring. We’re growing up,” Paige tells us. “Never use that word ever again when describing us, deal?”
“Deal.”
And for the rest of the afternoon, we clean the water out of my kitchen and laugh like idiots as we reminisce.
As far as I know, the good old days are whenever I'm with these people.