Wes jumped in. “Jade! Holy hell. I forgot about her. How has she been?”
“Don’t change the subject, Wes. That’s not an answer. Elaborate.” Liam narrowed his eyes.
“Jade has followed the band for a while and took me to a show with her. Since then, going to shows together has become our thing.”
“That’s pretty cool. I love live music.” Erik plucked a menu from the middle of the table and opened it.
“Uh-huh. And how did you get to be so close with them? Particularly the lead singer.”
“Liam. What the hell is this?” Jamie asked.
“I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on.”
“Are you mad at me?” I asked, unsure what I’d done since I’d seen him two nights ago at the fashion show. Everything had been fine as far as I knew.
He shook his head, his face showing mock indifference. “Not at all. I’m just a little confused. Last I knew, your boyfriend’s mom ordered a bunch of dresses from me for a gala. Then you can’t come home for Noah’s funeral. And when I called you to see about you coming here for the fashion show, you suddenly come. Oh, but wait, you also get to see this band? Hmm. So why are you really here? Was it for him? What about Elijah?”
Liam’s questions stunned me as bile rose in my throat.He was right. That’s exactly how it looked.I didn’t even think about it.
Even though it was a coincidence, it didn’t look good for me. And I didn’t want my friends to think of me like that.
I sighed. “How about I give you the rundown after we order, okay?”
Liam nodded and pulled his menu up so I couldn’t see his face anymore. I hadn’t noticed he was upset last night, but then again, I’d been too focused on a certain someone.
The idea that my friends were hurt or disappointed in me turned my stomach. Nothing on the menu sounded good. So, I ordered a side salad and some French fries.
An awkward silence hung over the table as we waited for the waitress to take our orders and leave. No one wanted to be the one to cut the tension as they waited for my explanation.
I sighed again.Time to rip the band aid off, I guess.
For the second time today, I spilled my guts. I did what I could to fight the embarrassment I felt as I laid everything out there. At some point, while airing out my dirty laundry, Blake had laid her hand on my forearm, and I appreciated her unyielding support.
“So that’s it,” I said as everyone sat around me, silently.
“Wow. Guys are assholes.” Jamie gave me a sympathetic look.
“You shouldn’t treat your woman like a prisoner. Besides…” Wes said as he directed his gaze at both Blake and me. “I’m not trying to be a creep, but I’m pretty sure we were friends with the hottest girls in our class. These guys better learn what a true dime piece looks like.”
“Did you just refer to Cadence and me as… dimes?”
“Means you’re a ten.”
“I know what it means, Wes. It’s just a bit dated if you ask me. Who even talks like that now? You’re not a rapper from the 2000s.”
“It sounds to me like he’s trying to compliment us,” I said, leaning into Blake.
“I am! If someone wants to mess with you two, they have to go through all of us!”
“So what now, Cay? You gonna move home?” Erik asked, completely ignoring Wes.
I pulled my shoulders and hands up in the classic, ‘I don’t have a frickin’ clue gesture’. “I don’t know how I could. Just uproot my life? I can’t do that. Plus, I keep hoping Elijah will become the man I loved in college again. He’s in there, I just can’t see him anymore.”
“You won’t find him.” Once again, Liam was hitting me below the belt. “It’s obvious that guy was either a lie or not being who he truly was. When was the last time you’ve done anything for yourself that didn’t involve him? When was the last time yousang? You used to sing all the time.”
I opened my mouth, but closed it before I could answer. Liam knew what he was asking. He already had the answers, too.My cheeks warmed with shame. He was calling me out and even though we were with friends, his words still cut deep.
“You’re being a little harsh, Liam. Why don’t you chill?” Jamie came to my rescue once again, and I gave him a weak smile in thanks.
