6. Jess
“Dinner time, Henry!” I call to my goldfish. He happily starts devouring the fish flakes I sprinkled in his bowl while I throw my frozen meal in the microwave.
Chris:
Your brother said a dick thing to me earlier so you really need to be on your game tomorrow for Opening Ceremonies. He must pay.
Jess:
What did he say to you?
Chris:
A dick thing, weren’t you paying attention?
Jess:
Psh. I’m always on my game. Don’t forget that torturing Scott with our fake wedding plans was my idea.
Chris:
That’s why you’re the brains of this operation. Come up early and have drinks with us at The Draft tonight. MY brother’s even going to be here if you can believe that.
“Henry!” I gasp. “Connor’s coming to Thanksgiving!”
He stares at me, as per usual.
“I know, but he’s, like, over there early! Isn’t that nuts?”
Jess:
Shut your stupid face. Did he lose a bet or something?
Chris:
He says there’s no reason but that’s bullshit. I’m gonna get him liquored up and see if he spills.
Seriously, get your ass over here and hang out with us. $10 says we can convince him we’re getting married.
“Like Connor would care. Ha!”
The microwave beeps and I use the time uncovering, stirring, and re-covering, to reflect on what my therapist would call an unexpected emotion.
“Why does the thought of Connor not caring make me care? I don’t care.” Henry eyes me skeptically. “What? I don’t! I mean, yeah, it makes me sad to think about how close we were as kids. He was my partner in crime. And by crime, I just mean riding our bikes everywhere and playing baseball.”
Henry’s pretty sure there’s more to it than that.
“I mean…high school happened, and we were both so busy with different classes and activities, we just naturally drifted apart. And of course, he had Madeline Steinberg to pay attention to. Oh, don’t look at me like that, she was just…she was the wors—no, you’re right, she was a perfectly lovely person. Whatever, I had a couple of different boyfriends, too, so it’s fine. No, not at the same time, are you kidding?”
The microwave beeps again.
Plopping down at the small table in my kitchen, I shove a forkful of reheated ravioli in my mouth and think some more. “I mean…it was a little better in college during breaks, I guess. But then he got a demanding job, I got married…and divorced. Well, you know the rest. Now I’d be surprised if he could pick me out of a lineup, honestly.”
Jess:
Save it for tomorrow, Romeo. I’ve got to finish up my Photoshop project tonight but I’ll let you know when I’m on my way up!
Chris:
Fine, fine. But I’m still gonna spit in his beer when he’s not looking. Drive safe.
Chris remains a teenager at age 37, but he’s one of my best friends. He’s the big brother I never had. I snicker at my dig on Scott, even though he’s not around to hear it.Truthfully, I don’t know how I could have gotten through my divorce without either of them.
But the thing is, Scott and Lyss have been together forever. They supported me but they didn’t get it…Chris got his heart put through a meat grinder just like I did. There’s something about sharing that particular nightmare that can bring two people together.
Not together, together…neither of us ever considered going down that road (although no one believes us. It probably doesn’t help that we pretend to be engaged all the time).
After eating my subpar pasta, I stuff a few days’ worth of clothes and a toothbrush into a duffel for my trip. It’s not like my parents live very far, but I enjoy staying for the long weekend and getting to spend some extra time with them. Chris has been doing the same thing with Joe since Nina passed away. He claims he just wants to sneak the expensive whiskey, but I know it’s really because he doesn’t want his dad to be alone in that big house with just memories of her.
“I’ll be home in a couple of days, little buddy. Miss Sammie is gonna come feed you til I get back. I’d take you with me,” I continue as I shove my trash down farther in the trash can to make room. “But we both know how you hate the car.” I chuckle again at my own joke and head upstairs to get some sleep. Seems tomorrow’s going to be a bigger day than I initially thought.