Jaz lifted her shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. “Yeah, well I’m getting married next year and we’re planning to move to the city. No more waitressing for this gal.”
Jaz held out her hand for Maysie and I to inspect her diamond-clad finger.
“Wow, impressive,” I told her.
Jaz beamed.
“I didn’t know you were dating anyone,” Maysie said.
Jaz blushed. “I’m marrying Eli.”
Maysie’s eyes widened and I frowned. Eli? How did I know that name?
Then it hit me.
“Eli Bray?” I asked. Jaz nodded, biting on her lower lip. She glanced at Maysie nervously.
“Isn’t that the guy—” I began to say but Maysie cut me off.
“That I dated before Jordan. Yeah.”
“We’ve only been together for a few months but when you know, you know, right?” Jaz gave Maysie a worried look. “Should I have asked you first? I mean, I know you guys were together and I don’t want it to be weird.”
I remember Eli being pretty hot in that whole slacker, pothead townie kind of way. He and Maysie had never made much sense so it wasn’t surprising when it didn’t really go anywhere.
Maysie put her hand on Jaz’s arm. “Jaz, don’t be ridiculous. That was years ago and we were never serious. Eli’s a great guy. I’m happy for you. Congratulations,” she said sincerely.
Jaz beamed and you could tell she was happy.
“Yeah, congrats,” I added.
“Thanks!” Jaz tucked her pen and pad into her apron. “I’ll send you an invitation. It’s just going to be a small ceremony but we’d love you to be there. And Jordan too of course,” she went on.
“Absolutely. I’d love to come,” Maysie told her.
“Awesome. Okay, well, I guess I should take your orders, huh? The usual? Tequila Chicken?”
“How did you guess?” Maysie chuckled.
Jaz and I both rolled our eyes. “Only because it’s the only thing you ever eat here,” I piped up.
“What about you, Gracie?” Jaz asked.
I didn’t bother looking at the menu. I knew it like the back of my hand. “Uh, how about a Cobb Salad.”
“Okay, sounds good. I’ll refill your drinks and get you some more breadsticks.” Jaz took our glasses.
Once she had left I turned wide eyes to my friend. “Jaz Digby is marrying your ex-boyfriend? What crazy sort of Twilight Zone did we just wander into?”
Maysie leaned in. “Oh my god, I know! I was not expecting that one. I hope Jordan doesn’t pop a blood vessel when I tell him we’re going to the wedding.”
I giggled. “Didn’t Jordan knock him out or something? I seem to remember you telling me about an altercation between the two.”
Maysie waved her hand in dismissal. “That was back when Jordan thought peeing a circle around me was a good way to keep guys away. Eli was never a threat. Jordan figured that out pretty quickly.”
“God, it’s hard to believe all of that was almost four years ago. Four years since you went toe to toe with Olivia and Milla over your fiancé.”
Maysie grimaced. “Milla Wood. Yuck. I had tried really hard to forget about her.”
“I heard she got married to some guy from her hometown in Maryland, and has popped out two kids already. I also heard she’s gotten pretty fat too,” I said, grinning.
Milla Wood was our former sorority sister and all around assface. She had gotten Maysie black balled from our sorority over Jordan and had gone around spreading some vicious rumors about her as well. In the end, it turned out Milla was just pissed because Jordan had turned her down. She ended up transferring out of Rinard College, never to be seen again.
“Where did you hear all this?” Maysie asked, looking pretty pleased with the juicy gossip.
I smiled coyly. “I have my sources. I like to keep tabs and make sure karma does its job.”
“I shouldn’t care one way or another about the bitch but damn, that’s good to hear,” Maysie chuckled.
I inclined my head in Jaz’s direction. “But seriously, it doesn’t bother you to hear your ex is marrying someone else? Not in the slightest? I mean, I would be a little weirded out to hear a guy I used to bang was getting hitched.” I said, waggling my eyebrows.
Maysie snorted. “More power to ’em. I’m glad to hear they’re together. Eli’s a good guy. And Jaz…well she’s…”
“Enthusiastic?” I chirped.
We both started laughing again.
“I swear, I feel like I’m the last singleton from our graduating class,” I complained, thanking Jaz when she brought back our drinks.
“Oh no you’re not, Gracie. I know for a fact that Jasper Evans is still single,” Jaz chimed in.
“Who the hell is Jasper Evans?” I asked, trying to place the name with a face.
“The guy that used to sunbathe on the quad in his speedo?” Maysie asked, her lips twitching in amusement.
“Yeah, that’s him,” Jaz exclaimed.
I covered my face with my hands and groaned. “Great, so me and Speedo Guy are both single. Maybe I should give him a call,” I remarked sarcastically.
Jaz looked thoughtful. “I’m pretty sure he’s gay,” she pointed out.
I lifted my hands into the air. “Well there you go, I couldn’t even get Speedo Guy.”
Jaz patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, Gracie. You’re a total hottie. You’ll get snatched up in no time. You’re pretty enough that not everyone will care about the fact that you used to be a total train wreck.”
Maysie and I looked at each other and I could tell my dear friend was trying not to laugh.
“Thanks, Jaz. You really made me feel better,” I deadpanned.
She continued patting my shoulder. “I’m glad. Because I mean it. Crazy is easily overlooked when you have a nice face.”
“Yeah, G, she’s right,” Maysie mused, biting her bottom lip.
“Okay ladies, I’ve got to get back to it. Your food should be out soon,” Jaz said with a final condescending shoulder pat.
“Wow. Do you think she hears herself when she speaks?” I asked after Jaz left.
“I doubt it. Let’s hope Eli has a good pair of earplugs. Maybe that could be my wedding gift to him,” Maysie snickered.
I shook my head. “It’s sad when Jaz-Motormouth-Digby can land someone and I’ve been sans a date in over six months.”
Maysie sobered instantly. “I didn’t think you were really looking for anything.”
I shrugged. “I’m not. But an option would be nice to have.”
Maysie raised her eyebrows questioningly. “Where is all this coming from? Does this have to do with you coming with us next weekend to the Rejects show? Because if it’s strange with all of us being with someone—”
I held up my hand, silencing her. “It’s not about anything, Mays. I’m just having a moment of feelsorryformyselfitis. It’ll pass. Listening to Vivian’s masturbatory moaning earlier has given me a case of the grumps is all.”
“There’s someone out there for you, G. Someone perfect,” Maysie said softly.
I laughed. I made myself. It was either that or cry.
Because I was pretty sure I had already found him.
Enough!
I had to stop thinking like that.
“I don’t need a man, Mays. I’m content with my own company. Plus I have you, Viv, and Riley to stop me from turning into a crazy cat lady.”
“I promise that if I see you adopting any cats, I’ll stage an intervention,” Maysie swore.
We ate our meal.
We laughed.
We talked.
It felt really, really good.
I had friends. I had a decent job.
I had a life.
I was sober. I was getting better.
That’s all that mattered.
Just as we were paying the bill, my phone dinged and I pulled it out, forgetting by that point, about my momentary weakness only a few hours before.
When I saw his name, I almost dropped my phone.
“Who is it?” Maysie asked, seeing my face.
I schooled my features into total neutrality. I didn’t care. I didn’t care.
“Just my mom. She’s being her normal, suffocating self,” I lied.