Erin
Most days it still feels like summer, the sun hot, the air like a wet blanket slapping you in the face when you step out of the blessed air conditioning and onto the sidewalk to walk to class.
Coffee shops are selling pumpkin-flavored lattes and football season is in full swing, yet it’s still impossible for it to feel like fall in Florida because the weather hasn’t changed.
But some days, some years, a miracle happens, and a “cool front” blows in after an afternoon shower, giving Florida residents a few days of weather just cool enough to wear jeans and a light scarf or sleeves past the elbow.
Today is one of those days, and Jess and I are taking full advantage, sitting outside at one of our favorite brunch restaurants just off campus, both of us wearing designer boots that hit our knees and drinking warm coffee — without sweating.
“I wish this weather would last,” Jess says with a sigh, crossing one leg over the other as our waitress tops off our coffee. “It finally feels a little like fall.”
I chuckle. “We don’t get a fall. We get two to three months between summers where it’s slightly less miserable. And usually that’s January into March.”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong,” Jess clarifies, dumping two spoonfuls of sugar into her fresh coffee. “I love Florida weather, especially in the spring, but it’s nice to break out the cute winter clothes from time to time.”
“Well, you get a whole fourteen days combined of that in a year, I’d say. So enjoy.”
“At least we don’t have to worry about it not being warm enough for the Alpha Sigma Halloween party,” Jess says. “I can’t believe they stepped up. I guess when Omega Chi is suspended, someone has to.”
I nod. “Yeah, and Adam has had something to prove since he rushed as a freshman. Between the concert that’s now one of the biggest fall events and all the parties he’s been throwing to supplement the O Chi’s being out of commission? He’s definitely making a name for the fraternity.”
“What are we dressing up as? We need to get creative, since it’s a boat party.”
“Mermaids?” I suggest, taking a sip of my black coffee.
“Nah, everyone will do that. Too obvious.”
“Skyler and Bear are doing Baywatch.”
Jess rolls her eyes. “Of course they are. And those hot fuckers will actually be able to pull it off, too.”
“We could do beach Barbies.”
She scrunches her nose, holding her cup of coffee to her lips again. I watch the steam rise while she contemplates.
“Oh!” She snaps. “What if we did like the Chiquita banana girl? You know, we could all wear different color swim suits, like I wear orange, you yellow, Ashlei pink, Cassie green, and then we make cute head wraps with fake fruit the same color. We could pick all that up at the craft store.”
“I’m pretty sure Cassie is doing a couples’ costume with Grayson, but I’m in! And I’m sure Lei would be, too.”
“Ugh,” Jess groans. “Cassie and Grayson are disgustingly cute.”
“Don’t you hate them?”
“So much.”
I laugh. “But you and Jarrett are pretty gross, too.”
At that she smiles, stirring her coffee with her eyes on the spoon. “Yeah, I just wish we could be gross more often.”
“How’s that going? The long distance?”
Jess sighs. “It’s fine. We had a rough patch after he left.
He got caught up in a work project and it was like pulling teeth to get him to text back or call me for a couple of weeks.
But we talked it out and he promised to be better at communicating, which he has been.
And he’s flying me up to see him for Thanksgiving. ”
“Oh, my God! Thanksgiving in the city!”
“I know!” Jess squeals. “I’m so excited. And he’s going to introduce me to his whole team, too. I can’t wait.”
“It’ll be here before you know it,” I say, my stomach twisting with a strange but familiar longing.
It never fails to surprise me when Kip Jackson pops into my head, especially because it’s usually at the most peculiar of times.
Like now, hearing about Jess and Jarrett, wondering if Kip and I could have made it long distance if I wouldn’t have gone completely batshit crazy.
I loved him. I know that now, and I think I knew it then, but it was my first time being in love.
I was fresh out of high school, on my way to college, and I was so insecure that thoughts of him cheating on me or leaving me overtook every other rational thought I had.
I would go through his phone, scream at him when he didn’t come over when he said he would…
We were just kids, and the first two months of our summer affair had been absolute bliss. He was working for my grandparents on harvest in Kansas and I was there visiting. It was almost too perfect, right out of a country song or a rom-com movie.
But then I’d ruined it.
And now, I’ll never know if what we had was real, if it could have survived had I nurtured it instead of torched it with a flame thrower.
The loud purr of an engine shakes me from my thoughts and Jess and I both turn in the direction of it, our smiles falling when we see who’s responsible for the noise.
Landon pulls into a parking spot at the pizza place next door in a brand new Corvette Stingray, his brothers crowding him with whistles and cheers. I swallow, eyes narrowing as Jess scoffs.
“Looks like someone’s overcompensating.”
“Clearly.”
Jess stirs her coffee again, taking a sip before settling her eyes on me. “What ever happened between you two, anyway?”
My stomach lurches again, this time for a completely different reason, but I don’t miss a beat. “Meh, he was fun for formal, but I’ve got too much to focus on this semester. Elections are coming up soon.”
“Mmm,” Jess says with a nod. “You ready to take your Big’s place as president? Continue the family tradition?”
I wink. “Born ready.”
“I figured. I swear it’s actually in your blood. If you do half of what you did as recruitment chair as president, our sorority is going to be unstoppable.”
“That’s the plan.”
Jess watches me for a minute, smiling. “I’m really proud of you, Ex. Seriously.”
My heart warms, and I reach for her hand, squeezing it gently in response.
For a while we just sit and drink our coffee, but my eyes keep wandering to Landon and his brothers, all still crowded around the new car.
But I’m not glaring or huffing — no, I’m smiling.
Because where I was stumped on how to exact my revenge before, the answer now is crystal clear, thanks to what I would bet money on is a gift from Mommy and Daddy.
Suddenly, I have a plan, one I know will hit him where it hurts.
Now, the only question is — when?