Chapter 13 #4
“And he hasn’t been hanging out with us as of late. The only time we see him is when we’re getting ready for games,” Silas points out.
“And there isn’t an ounce of interest in our personal lives when usually there is,” Eli continues.
OC leans in close and says, “And despite the write-up I did about Grace and me, I haven’t heard a response.”
That causes me to lift my head and pull away from my fascinating yet informative Washington book. “I didn’t get a fucking write-up.”
“Ha.” OC points at me. “That’s because I didn’t turn it in yet, but I got you to look up.”
I look him dead in the eyes and say, “That’s going to be a mark against your name, good luck erasing it.”
“Be serious for a second,” Pacey says. “Something’s going on and you’re not telling us about it. For fuck’s sake, you’re reading a book, and that’s very unlike you.”
From the back, I hear Wylie laugh again, and it nearly makes me crumple this delectable book in my palm.
“I can read books,” I defend. “Halsey does it all the time, and you don’t say shit to him.”
“Because he’s been doing it for a long time, and he reads fiction. You’re reading a book about Washington.”
“What’s wrong with that?” I ask. “What’s wrong with wanting to gain knowledge about our neighbors, or just knowledge in general?
Not everything is about living in a fantasy world like Halsey lives in.
Books can be for both pleasure and knowledge.
Don’t make me feel bad for wanting to better myself. ”
“By learning about Washington?” Silas asks.
“It’s a beautiful place,” I practically yell. “Now get off my case and let me get back to learning about these goddamn apples they grow.”
They all stare at me while I try to focus on the words in front of me, but they all jumble together.
“What if we don’t try to involve ourselves in your life even though there’s clearly something going on and instead, we just talk?” Pacey says. “Like we can talk about how Winnie wants to get married this Christmas Eve.”
I glance up at him. “She does?”
He nods. “Yeah, I’m not sure about it, but she’s dead set on the idea.”
“Or how about how Penny wants to get married next summer?” Eli says. “When Holden is a little older and can be the ring bearer.”
“Well . . . that’s fucking adorable,” I say.
“Or how about that I plan on proposing to Ollie soon?”
“Really?” I ask, feeling myself getting excited. Oh, the queens are making moves on their men, and I’m fucking here for it. “When do you plan on proposing?”
“Still trying to figure that out, but you would have been part of those discussions if you hadn’t been ditching us. You don’t even respond to group texts like you used to,” Silas bemoans.
“I know.” I drag my hand over my face. Guilt consumes me because unfortunately, they’re right.
I’ve been MIA when it comes to our friendships.
I should really be better, but I’ve only been able to process so much.
The queens take up a lot of my texting headspace, especially since they run rampant during some conversations, and it’s really hard to pull them back. “I’m sorry,” I say to the boys.
“We won’t ask you why,” Pacey says. “Because it seems like it’s something you’re not going to talk to us about, but we do want you to know that we miss you.
” Crap. Talk about guilt. But it’s not only that, it’s almost.
..sadness I feel. Understandably, there’s been a slow shift in the dynamic of our relationship as each of my friends have fallen for their women, but it has meant that we spend less time with each other.
It’s been strange. Lonely at times. Dare I say, life had been simpler before the girls came along. Yet I’m also happy for my friends.
“And we made you this,” Eli says, pulling a sandwich from behind him. “And when we say made, we mean we bought it for you.” He sets it in front of me, and I don’t even have to open it to know that it’s a bologna sandwich.
I glance up at my friends and press my hand to my heart. “You did this for me?”
“We did,” Pacey says. “Even Halsey, but he’s reading in the back and told us not to disturb him because he just came to a plot twist. But he sends his love.”
“Wow,” I say, glancing down at the sandwich. “This means a lot. Thank you.”
“Of course,” Eli says. “And you know, you can always talk to us if you’re going through something. You don’t have to hide it.”
“Dude, we said we wouldn’t pressure him,” Silas says.
“I know, but just reiterating that we’re here for him.”
I open the sandwich and take in the beautiful smell of bologna on white bread. God, they know me so well. The gesture almost, and I mean almost, makes me want to open up about what’s happening, but at the moment, it feels way too complicated to even explain.
I’m not sure I even know what’s going on, but what I do know is that it ends tomorrow.
This bullshit is over.
I lift the sandwich to my mouth and take a bite. I give it a few chews and look at Silas. “Tell me about the proposal. I want every detail because I know you’re going to fuck it up, and Daddy Posey is going to have to clean up your mess for you. So before that happens, let’s make a plan.”
“Don’t refer to yourself as Daddy Posey,” Silas deadpans.
“Don’t make me, then,” I say with a snarky bite of my sandwich, causing Pacey to laugh.
“And he’s back . . .”