Chapter 13
thirteen
i’ll get the rum
E lissa kicked at Jules’s door at half past five the next night bearing grinders, ranch fries, and two pina colada Eegee’s, big enough for two drinks each.
The door opened and Jules snatched the slushies out of her hand. “I’ll get the rum.”
Thank God. After last night, she needed nothing more than to get drunk off her butt with her best friend.
Elissa deposited the bag of food on the coffee table as Jules pulled out two stemless wineglasses and a bottle of dark rum. She poured an unhealthy shot into each glass and spooned the frozen pineapple-coconut mixture over it.
Boxes were pushed against the wall next to the door, and there was no sign of Jules’s roommate. Elissa sat on the couch and pulled out the sandwiches and the box of fries, snagging a couple as Jules stirred.
A moment later, Jules handed over an icy glass of alcoholic goodness before plopping next to Elissa.
“So, how was the date? Did you at least meet the right person?”
“I’m never going to live that down, am I?” Elissa said in mock despair as she kicked off her shoes.
“Nope, not if I have anything to say about it. And I do, cuz I’m your BFF! Cheers, lady.”
They clinked glasses and sipped. Only way to enjoy Eegee’s once she passed the legal drinking age.
“Ugh, don’t remind me. Why are you my BFF again?”
“Because…you need someone to reach the stuff from the top shelf for you, and since you don’t have a man in your life right now, that’s me!”
Elissa nudged Jules’s shoulder with her own and giggled.
“So…?” Jules wagged a ranch-drenched fry at her as she settled into the comfortably worn couch.
“You first. What’s going on with the boxes?”
“That’s why I told you to come over. Ashley got offered a fellowship in Australia. I’m gonna need a new roomie, and with your mom doing better, you might be ready to move out.”
Elissa opened and closed her mouth a few times. She’d been resigned to waiting until April or May before seriously considering a move, but now this opportunity dropped in her lap to have her BFF be her roomie, too. The stars had aligned and fate had finally broken her way.
“When?” she finally managed.
“Ash is packing the U-Haul on Friday, taking the stuff she wants to keep to her dad in Albuquerque. Told her she could leave her bed and furniture here if she doesn’t want to lug and store that shit. Bet you can get it for a steal. But only if you tell me what happened last night!”
“Why mention it now? Why didn’t you offer as soon as you found out?” She did not wish to be a pity roomie.
“I knew you wouldn’t even think about it until your mom got the all-clear. I can swing the rent by myself for a bit, so I was gonna give it a month or two. But your mom’s gonna be fine, and you can move before tax season swings into full gear. Whaddya say? Roomies?”
“I’m in!”
“Excellent.” Jules held out her glass again, and they clinked them together even more enthusiastically, if that was possible. “Now, spill. And if you ever hold out on me as a roomie, you’ll have to worry about waking up with a handlebar mustache drawn in Sharpie.”
“I don’t know…I might have the jawline to pull it off.”
“Didn’t say it was going on your face.”
They fell into giggling while they sipped their drinks and ate their dinner.
“So, seriously, how was the date?” Jules rose to refresh their drinks.
“Oh, it was interesting.”
“Interesting good, or interesting bad?”
“Both.” Elissa took a large bite of her grinder to give herself a moment to think.
“Don’t think I didn’t see what you did there.” Jules returned with two more pina coladas. “I can wait, you know. I’m amazeballs at waiting.”
“No you’re not,” she said around a mouthful of sandwich.
“No, I’m not, so you better spill before I force it out of you. It couldn’t have been that bad.”
Elissa held up a finger as she swallowed the food and washed it down with pina colada.
“Worse.”
“What? Was he some sort of perv?”
“No, but the guy from the other night worked there.”
Jules’s mouth dropped open. Elissa put her finger under her jaw and pushed it closed.
“You’re shittin’ me!”
“Nope. He’s a bartender.” Elissa pulled the blanket from the back of the couch over her lap. The cold drink was giving her the shivers. Or maybe it was her brush with the handsome man from her dreams last night.
“Fuck. What happened?”
“Nothing. He was perfectly polite, pretended he didn’t know me.”
“Bastard.”
“What else was he supposed to do? Explain to my new date that he impersonated him and made an indecent proposal?”
“Fine, he gets a pass. That would be beyond awkward.” Jules sipped her drink. “But I gotta know, is his name actually Ryan?”
“Yep.”
“What are the fucking odds?”
“We must’ve known at least five Ryans at school, Jules. It’s not an uncommon name.”
She waved away Elissa’s rational explanation. “What about Nice-Ryan? How was he?”
Elissa didn’t know how to answer. She’d been so distracted by the other Ryan, she hadn’t paid much attention to the Ryan she was supposed to be on a date with. Guilt ate her up inside.
“He was nice, I guess. I don’t know. I didn’t expect to go on a date and run into someone else I’d dated.”
Her friend cracked a smile. “Well, now you can join the club. What did you tell him at the end?”
“I told him thanks for a lovely evening and left it at that. Decided in the car Mr. Beige Flag would be a better name for him. You have to help me come up with something to tell him so he knows I’m not interested.
In fact, if I have to have another conversation with him, I might pull out my hair.
The dude went on for fifteen minutes about his gym. ”
“So no sparks?”
“Not with Beige-Flag- Ryan.” Elissa grinned wickedly—she’d never had two men interested in her at once. She kinda liked it.
“No, don’t tell me?—”
“Bertha did as Bertha does, and Jerk-Ryan came to my rescue. He even apologized.”
Jules widened her eyes. “And what did you say?”
“I said it was nice to finally meet the real him.”
“Oh, please tell me you got his number.” Her friend folded her hands in prayer. “Please, please, please. My love life is a tragedy and I need to live vicariously through someone right now.”
Her face fell as the blood drained away. She hadn’t asked for his number. What was wrong with her?
“By the look on your face, the answer is no.” Jules sighed melodramatically. “I guess we’re both doomed.”
“To being doomed with your BFF.” Elissa raised her drink.
“Fuckin’ A.”