“You can’t be serious? This guy? He’s the worst.”
“No, Josh, you’re the worst. You gave up the right to have an opinion on what I do and who I do it with when you told me we were nothing. At least Guy is honest. I know what I’m getting with him. Straight up.”
Josh lurches backwards like I’ve given him a roundhouse to the chest.
I don’t realise how loud I’ve become until I feel Jessie’s hand on my arm. I look around at the sea of faces—which include my three brothers and my parents—and I wish I could say I regret the words I’ve hurled at Josh. But I don’t. Because it’s how I feel. And if I’ve outed us in the process, I can’t bring myself to care.
I don’t even realise Guy is still standing there until he speaks up again.
“You need to take a good long look at yourself, mate,” he spits at Josh. “Sorry for the scene, people. Thanks for having me, Mr and Mrs Carter. I think I’d best be on my way.” Guy turns and disappears through the stunned-into-silence crowd.
I’m aware of all this in my peripheral vision because Josh and I haven’t taken our eyes off one another. I’m watching his face morph from fury to embarrassment to regret.
“Greer …” he starts. But I’m not interested in anything he has to say. I throw my hand up in a stop motion.
“Save it for someone who cares. Because I no longer do.” And I leave them all standing there. Except for Jessie, who follows me inside and up to my childhood bedroom.
We sit silently, side by side, on my bed for long minutes. I want to cry. I want to rant. I’m scared if I move or make a noise I won’t be able to control myself. Ever again.
“Wow,” Jessie eventually lets out, almost as a sigh.
And I can’t hold it in. I start to laugh. I was right. I can’t stop. I knew something was coming, but I wasn’t expecting laughter. Jessie joins in, and in no time, there are tears streaming down our cheeks.
It might seem weird that my first reaction is to laugh, but honestly, the whole situation is so ridiculous I can’t do anything else.
Once I’ve calmed down, I insist Jessie goes back to the party. I feel terrible that I ruined the engagement party she’s waited so long to have. Or rather, Josh ruined it.
I watch out the window as Jess appears in the backyard and goes into a huddle with my mother. Who immediately disappears. Three, two, one …
“Greer? Can I come in?”
I nearly laugh again. As if I could stop her. “Sure.” I prop myself up on the bed, ready for one of Mum’s patented talks. Dad might be the one who wrangles the boys, and God knows they gave him a full-time job of it, but Mum has always been the one to wrangle me. A much easier job. Until tonight, maybe.
“Well, that was a bit of excitement,” she says. Understatement.
“I’m sorry, Mum. For ruining the party.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. A few more bottles of champagne and it will all be forgotten. Your father’s down there now making sure everyone gets topped up.” Mum chuckles and gets up to look out the window as if making sure everyone has a full glass.
“Darling. I wanted to check you’re okay.” The compassion in her voice is almost my undoing, but I manage to keep it together.
“I’m fine, Mum. At least, I will be. Once I calm down.”
“I take it you and Josh have been, um …?”
I don’t know whether she can’t bring herself to say what she thinks we’ve been doing or whether she’s fishing for me to tell her exactly what’s going on. But it’s a moot point since whatever the hell it was is no longer happening. Not ever again.
“Yes. And now we’re not.”
“I see. It seems like perhaps there are some unresolved … feelings?”
“No. No feelings left, Mum. It’s over and done. And the stunt he pulled tonight proved it.”
“Oh, I rather think the stunt he pulled proved how strong his feelings are, don’t you?”
“Mum,” I warn.
“Alright. I won’t interfere. But don’t let anger guide your decisions, sweetheart. And always remember, some people take longer to work out their feelings than others. Josh hasn’t had good role models for that in his life, so bear that in mind. And perhaps he felt like he had much more to lose if it all went wrong than you did. Anyway, if you’re okay, I’d better get back to our guests.” And with a quick kiss to my forehead, she leaves, closing the door behind her.
