“So, Jett, the news says you may come back for the playoffs. I play in a fantasy league and it might be good to get some insider info.”
Seriously?
“I’m still on the injured reserve list, but I’ll be ready if anything happens to Rivera.”
“That’s good to hear. You were a phenom in college, by the way. I followed you big time when you were at Penn State.”
“Thanks, man.”
Dinner continues to be awkwardly polite but relatively manageable until Jason looks at my hand. I still have on my ring, but the band is turned around so that the diamond is facing the inside of my hand.
“We’ll have to get this resized.”
He grabs my finger and turns it around so that the diamond shows. It sits high and bright and reflects the light of the chandelier into what looks like a million little sunbeams.
“Whoa, Adrienne!” my Aunt Lorraine exclaims. “Are you trying to blind us with that ring?”
“Ring?” Half the table says in unison.
My entire family whips their heads over to focus their attention on my finger.
“Are you engaged?” Cecily asks incredulously.
My mother’s face turns a shade of gray. She hates being the last to know anything, and I realize I must have disappointed her. I knew I should have prepped her better than this.
“It just happened,” I try explaining myself.
“It must havejusthappened,” she says. “You haven’t been dating that long, have you?”
“I’m the luckiest guy, aren’t I?” Jason says to break the tension. “I asked her last night, and she thankfully said yes.”
“I’d say that Adrienne is the lucky one,” Cecily interjects with a bitter intonation. “Two engagements in one year? You must have a snapper between those legs.”
I stand straight up from the table and my chair falls back on the floor with a loud crash.
That’s it.
I’m sick of her shit.
I slam my fist on the tabletop and stare her down fiercely.
“What the hell did you just say?”
“I’m just saying what everyone is thinking.”
“You no class bitch!”
My entire family stands up and tries calming us down, especially our mothers. Jason is visibly angry, but I can tell he’s holding back for my sake. The last thing I need for him to do is to overreact in defense of me. I need to fight my own battle this time.
I touch his hand as a signal to stand down.
“Maybe this one won’t dump you,” Cecily spits.
“Cecily, that’s enough of that.” My Uncle Bobby, Cecily’s dad, finally speaks up, albeit ineffectively.
“I should have let you drown,” I tell her.
“Adrienne!” My mother reprimands.
