13. Laur
Chapter thirteen
Laur
“ S UZ!” Bren’s buoyant shriek fills our entire house and echoes off the walls with Suz’s arrival for one last hurrah.
Jaylin, my hippie, weed-loving roommate, who happens to be Suz’s girlfriend, takes Suz’ bag up to her room as the rest of us head to the living room.
Plopping aimlessly down on the couch, my mind floats elsewhere.
The first-round interviews start tomorrow.
Thankfully they’re virtual, which will give me some practice before in-person rounds start.
A pillow soars through the air, softly hitting my shoulder, breaking me out of my stress-induced trance.
“Earth to Laur!” Bren snaps at me. “Did you order the pizza?”
“I’ve been craving Tailgate’s buttery crust since I left,” Suz comments, licking her lips.
Calling from the stairs, Jaylinn confirms she’s already ordered. “Libby graciously offered to pick it up on her way over too!”
“Speaking of Libby . . . are you ready for some new tea, Suz? It’s piping hot.” Bren beams with bubbly delight, practically bouncing on the couch, eager to share.
“Let me grab the wine first!” Suz exclaims, clapping her hands, “God forbid we share any gossip without a drink in hand!”
Ding-dong .
Thunderous steps rush down the stairs as Jaylin shouts, “I got it!” while answering the door. The delicious smell of pizza fills the living room as Libby enters the house .
“Oh marvelous, she can spill her own tea,” Bren mutters, her guilty eyes meeting mine. She knows I loathe being involved in gossip. Do I like to hear it? Absolutely, what female doesn’t? I try not to share what’s not mine to tell, but apparently I have a big mouth today.
Wine glasses clink in Suz’s hands as she carries in two bottles of cheap red wine and three glasses, Jaylin behind her with plates and the other two glasses, followed by Libby with our dinner.
“I’m starved,” Suz proclaims, setting down the wine on the coffee table and immediately opening the giant pizza box as soon as Libby puts it down next to the wine.
“And thirsty apparently,” Jaylin remarks, opening one of the screw top bottles of wine. “Are you expecting more people than just the five of us?”
“Well, I didn’t want to have to move and miss the scandalous scoop of what’s going on with Libby,” Suz declares, wincing as she takes a bite of the still steaming pizza.
Through pursed lips, Libby asks what in the hell Suz is talking about.
Silence fills the room, no one willingly brave enough to break it. Without thinking, I hold my breath automatically, waiting for the drama to ensue as soon as a word is uttered.
“I didn’t tell her anything!” Guilt laces Bren’s voice. To be honest, I’m not sure I’ve seen my cousin stay quiet this long my entire life.
Libby’s eyes narrow, harshly glaring at Bren as if trying to pull an admission out of her.
After guzzling her wine, Bren confesses, “I just told her there were some spicy rumors!”
With delight sparkling in her eye, Suz chimes in, “Spicy? You did not tell me anything about it being spicy. Now, I’m sure we need the third bottle of wine.”
Libby holds up her empty glass for Suz to fill, taking a big, sloppy sip and wiping the remnants of the shitty wine off her lips before letting out a big sigh and starting to explain. “I guess I kind of have a thing with Blaine Mitchell.”
A tiny gasp rises from Suz. “Well good thing I didn’t just take a sip of wine.” She nervously laughs. “I would have spit it all over the cream-colored carpet.”
Bren narrows her eyes at Libby, questioning her, “What do you mean kind of? It’s a definite thing. I’ve seen it. Laur has too!”
My voice sharp and defensive, I cut in, “Don’t bring me into this. I’m just here to eat pizza, and spend time with my favorite people before another one of them leaves me.”
Jaylin, usually just a bystander in the Suz and Bren Gossip Brigade, joins in on questioning Libby. “You know he’s an asshole, right? I mean you have to know you’ve been around him.”
Libby releases a big sigh, as if the question alone exhausts her to her very core. “He can be, but he isn’t always.”
Ever the gossip, Bren interjects, “Actually Tyler has been more of one lately.”
Suz dramatically puts a hand to her heart, as if the shock of this news has wounded her. “Wait what? I leave campus for a few months and everything changes.”
Not ready to start thinking about Tyler’s antics again, I blurt out, “Blaine is less of a douche, Tyler is more of a douche. Ryder King is a hot commodity. Not everything has changed.”
Suz claps her hands enthusiastically, practically jumping off the couch to hear more.
“Oh I was waiting for Ryder to come up! But now I’m more interested in hearing about Blaine.
” Suz cocks her head at Libby. “Not to be rude, but . . .” Her lashes lower, her eyes becoming mere slits, as if trying to understand Libby’s soul. “Why Blaine?”
Bren inserts herself. “He still has a bad reputation, even if he has been less, “she pauses searching for the right word. “ Blaine the last month or two.”
“I get it. You think I like chasing red flags,” Libby fiercely fires back, her face turning red with frustration .
My hands grow clammy from this conversation. I set my wine glass down, worried it will slip out of my grasp.
“You’re putting words in my mouth,” Bren retorts. “I just want you to be happy.”
Libby drains her wine glass in a few quick slurps, clearly ready to be done with this conversation.
“I’m happy with how things are right now.
” Without asking, she picks up my full glass and starts to drain that one too.
“Not everyone needs the perfect long-distance relationship like you and Liam have.”
Bren snorts. “Our relationship is far from perfect.”
Libby sets my finished wine glass down, and grabs another slice of pizza, taking a big bite. With her mouth full she practically spits out the words, “Oh please.”
Tears pull in the corner of Bren’s eyes as her face transforms, her lips quivering and her expression full of agony. “I haven’t talked to him in an entire week okay. Happy? It’s not perfect.” Bren’s voice is barely a whisper.
My heart sinks to my stomach at her confession. I had no idea Bren was struggling with Liam. I wish she told me. Softly I assure her, “Bren no one is happy that you’re upset, don’t be silly. We love you.”
Head nodding, Libby agrees adding, “We are always here for you, why didn’t you say anything?”
A few tears stream from Bren’s eyes, her voice quiet and quivering when she says, “What am I supposed to say?” She grabs a napkin, loudly blowing her knows.
“Suz already left me. I have to leave you guys, which breaks my heart, and my boyfriend is too busy living out his dream to talk to me, but I shouldn’t be sad.
I get to start my literal dream job next week. ”
The tears steadily flow down Bren’s round cheeks. She sniffles, grabbing another napkin to use as a tissue.
Moving to be closer to her on the couch, I pull my cousin into a side hug, wishing I could ease her pain. “Oh, Brennie Bean, I’m so sorry. It’s a lot of change, but you’ll get through it. We all will. ”
Suz moves to fill everyone’s empty wine glasses before adding, “I know I don’t share much about it but you know I’m a private person. I’m working on being okay with everything that’s changed after graduation too.”
Looking around the room at each of us, Bren’s gaze falls on me. “Please stop looking at me like I’m Bambi after the mom dies.”
Suz hands Bren a now full to the brim wine glass. “I'm always just a phone call away.”
“Do you want to go out tonight?” Libby asks. “Get your mind off things and let loose?”
Bren reluctantly shakes her head. “No, I don’t want to share my best friends with the rest of the world on my last night.” Her eyes meet mine as she sips her wine. “Is that okay?”
I squeeze her to my side again. “Whatever you need, Brennie Bean.”
A heavy sigh escapes Bren as she nuzzles into my side and rests her head on my shoulder, setting her full wine glass on the side table. “Better wine. The kind that comes with a real cork in it next time.”