I suddenly was not happy. This was supposed to be our special moment, and she’d already talked to Jeff about it. Why had I bothered? I guess it was so she could me tell her news.
“I also wanted to let you know that I met someone,” she told me.
When did this become all about her? I’d just won the State Championship, and we’re talking about her boyfriend. I didn’t respond.
“Did I lose you?” she finally asked.
“Are you coming home for Christmas?” I asked, to change the subject.
“Ahhh ... probably not. I don’t have the money to fly back.”
“If I sent you a ticket, would you want to come home?” I asked.
“Round trip?” she teased.
“Yes, a round trip,” I said.
“I’d love to.”
“I think a lot of people miss you. I know your mom does because she and I talked Thanksgiving Day. She’ll be happy to see you.”
“I miss her too,” she said, and then pushed on with what she wanted to talk about. “I met a nice guy. I think you’ll like him. His name is Simon, and he’s in a lot of my classes.”
“That’s great.”
Apparently, I didn’t sound happy enough.
“Why do you have to be a jerk about this? I ...”
“Stop! I called you to talk about me winning State, something that’s a big deal to me. We agreed I could call and tell you about it if I won. Otherwise, I wasn’t allowed to talk to you at all. So, when I finally work hard enough to do something that rises to the level of me being able to pick up the phone and actually talk to you, I don’t even get a chance to share the news with you, Jeff does. Then you want to berate me because I don’t sound happy to hear you’ve moved on. I have no idea why I’m talking to you. I have to go. I have friends who care about me to go hang out with,” I said.
“Don’t you hang up on me ...” she started, as I did just that.
I came out of the den, and the phone began to ring.
“If that’s Tami, let it ring,” I called out.
Mom came to me to get details. I knew if I avoided her, it would only ruin my whole evening. So, I told her what happened. She said she’d get the ticket sorted out. I was surprised when she didn’t take Tami’s side, for a change.
I went up to my apartment to be alone. Mom found me thirty minutes later, crying like a little kid. It felt like Tami was dead to me. I didn’t even know her anymore and didn’t want to have Simon shoved in my face.
“I talked to Tami, and she feels awful. Give her a call.”
“No, I’m done. She takes what’s probably the biggest day of my life and makes me feel like shit. A friend doesn’t do that. I can’t have that in my life right now, or ever, for that matter. She’s no longer the puppet master making me jump to her every desire. If nothing else, the last three months have taught me that I can stand on my own without Tami trying to run my life. I never realized how self-centered she was until just now.”
Mom really was trying. She was acting as a peacemaker and trying to save an almost lifelong friendship. She also knew it wasn’t a good idea to push me while I was mad. I guess she thought there was too much on the line to wait for me to calm down.
“Why are you paying for her to come home?” Mom asked.
I just gave her a look. I would do that for almost any of my friends, even if I was mad at them. Mom chuckled and messed up my hair.
“I know you two aren’t happy with each other right now. I’ll only say this once. Simon is being a friend to her. She’s lonely and doesn’t have you to help her make friends like she did when she went to Wesleyan. Dating this guy is not going to lead to anything serious. Do me a favor and call her back, please.”
She gave me Tami’s number, and I just shrugged. Why not get it over with?
“David!”
“I see it didn’t take you long to use your network to force me to do what you wanted,” I said.
“I didn’t call to fight old battles.”
“Then what did you want to fight about? You certainly were winding up to tell me what I jerk I am. You sure know how to ruin a guy’s big day.”
I had forgotten Mom was there until she smacked me on the back of the head. I just glared at her.
“I’m sorry about that. This whole Simon thing has me messed up and I needed to talk to someone.”
“So, out of your hundreds of friends you chose me. I’m sure Jeff has already spread the good news to anyone who’ll listen. You couldn’t have talked to Missy or Harper about your love life?” I asked.
“I need my best friend,” she confessed.
“No, you needed to throw it in my face. You needed to let me know you can do whatever you want, regardless of how it makes anyone else feel. Better yet, you needed me to knuckle under and tell you I support you replacing me. Just so you know, I know what a jerk that makes me, and I hate you for making me like that.”
“What do you mean, you hate me?”
“Love ... Hate ... You should be flattered. You’re the only person who could ruin my day. Mission accomplished.”
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Bullshit! Both your mom and mine had to have told you I wasn’t happy with your ‘news.’ You had to tell me today. When are you going to stop just thinking about yourself?” I asked.
“I don’t know what to say,” she confessed.
That made me chuckle.
“What?” she asked.
“I’ve never known you to be speechless,” I said, and then decided to try and not throw our friendship away. “Look, I’m the wrong guy to tell about your love life right now. That’s something guaranteed to cause us problems. If you don’t understand that about me, then you don’t really know me. The other thing that’ll drive me nuts is if you keep sending others to do your dirty work. It’s not as if my phone number has changed. If you can’t tell me yourself, then don’t bother.
“If you decide to be my friend, then let’s act like friends. If not, then leave me alone. The ball’s in your court,” I finished.
“I want to be friends.”
“Then can we stop this stupid contact blackout?” I asked.
“Yes. I think it was a mistake.”
“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings,” I said.
“No, I was being selfish. I really am happy about you winning today. I know how much it means to you. I should have waited for your call instead of calling Jeff.”
I really wanted to get mad again when I heard she’d called Jeff and not me. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to be her friend now, but my mom was giving me a look that said I’d better play nice. Now that woman could make the rest of my life miserable, so I played along.
“What’s done is done,” I said, and then looked at the clock. “I have to go.”
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“Tami, don’t play dumb. I know Jeff already told you.”
“Sorry. I just miss talking to you,” she said, sounding choked up.
I bit my tongue to keep from saying anything about Simon. I said goodbye and hung up.
Mom had weird look on her face. Then she gave me a half-smile.
“I never thought I’d see what just happened. You actually stood up for yourself with her,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m sorry I got in the middle of it.”
I went and took a shower. I was suddenly tired and didn’t really feel like going out. I was a little worried I’d want to get drunk tonight and didn’t feel like being responsible.
AS MUCH AS TAMI HAD saddened me, the thought of going out with Pam made me happy. On the drive over, I thought about why Pam having dated her ex didn’t upset me, but Tami dating Simon did. I think it was because it was in the past. If Tami ever broke up with Simon, I might be okay. But that was if, and it was in the future. This was too much hard thinking for tonight. Tonight, was about celebrating.
I rang the doorbell to find Cal and Lacy walking out.
“The girls are in Cora’s room talking. Go on up, first door on the right,” Lacy said.
Cal started to say something, but changed his mind and let Lacy lead him out of the house. I went upstairs and found the door was open. I stuck my head in and saw Cora sitting in a chair in front of an old Victorian-looking full-length pedestal mirror. I looked around and decided it was every teen girl’s dream room. It was huge, with an antique-looking four-poster bed, dressing area and seating area. Pam was lounging on a couch, watching her sister. They were both in their bikini tops and jean shorts. I guess you couldn’t take the California out of them, even though it was freezing outside. Pam patted the couch for me to sit down. From there I could see Cora’s reflection in the mirror. Pam reclined back on the couch and put her feet in my lap.