The house is loud when we step inside, and I suddenly become very nervous even though there’s no reason I should be. I’ve already met everyone before, I just never cared to get to know them. I have no idea why it feels important that I make a good impression tonight.
“Duuuuude! You almost killed Kyle!”
I look to the side and notice Cal. He and Alex go way back, I do know that. And if I am not mistaken, he is engaged to his stepsister. It’s a bit of an unusual situation, but from what I remember, they did not grow up together, so that would make it a little less… creepy.
“Mona!” He walks toward me and opens his arms for a hug. I didn’t expect it, so it feels awkward when I attempt to return it.
“Cal, good to see you.”
My smile feels constipated, and I wonder if this is how it’ll go for the rest of the night.
“Come on in, guys,” someone calls from what I presume is the dining room. “We can all get re-acquainted while we eat.”
“Yes, please,” Kyle yells over everybody. “For the love of God, let’s eat already!”
I follow Alex’s lead, and when he pulls me into the room and toward one side of the table, I don’t fight it. I drop into the chair he pulls out for me and look around at the faces staring back at me.
“Ray.” I nod at Alex’s friend, then look at his wife. “Hayden, I apologize for holding dinner back. Alex said he didn’t care whether you get to eat or not.”
“I swear I hate you,” Kyle mutters toward the man at my side.
Hayden claps her hands together to get his attention. “It’s all good!” She turns back to face me. “We are so happy to have you.”
The smile she gives me is weird, like she’s overly excited about something, and I don’t see how that something could be my presence.
“I appreciate the invite.”
Under the table, I feel Alex’s hand squeezing my leg lightly. When I look at him, he smiles, and that throws me off as well. He was never affectionate toward me in the presence of his friends.
“Let’s all dig in!”
The relief on Kyle’s face is obvious. He is the first to load his plate, adding a little bit of everything and making us all laugh.
“So, Mona…” He is the sloppiest eater when he speaks. “What are your intentions toward my buddy over there?”
The question is so out of nowhere, I freeze with the fork at level with my lips. But I manage to recover in an instant, and decide to play his games.
“I have no intentions.” I shrug and stick the food in my mouth. “We used to date, and now we’re…”
Okay, this part throws me off. What are we now? I can’t say friends with benefits, because I have no idea if we’re even friends.
“People who know each other,” I finish.
I expect everyone to laugh, but instead, the table is quiet, almost awkwardly so. All you hear are forks hitting the plates as they scrape the food off.
“So we were late eating by almost two hours, and he’s nothing to you?”
My eyes widen in surprise.
“Kyle!” His girlfriend slaps him on the shoulder, looking mortified.
I clear my throat, then take another bite out of the food on the plate, as I try to look as unaffected as possible.
I give Alex a side eye. “You didn’t say that there were rules for attending this dinner. It’s not the fun you promised.”
He grabs a roll that he proceeds to throw at Kyle’s head. “It will be fun once Kyle shuts his damn mouth.”
Kyle, with the charm and humor he is known for, picks up the roll and takes a big bite out of it.
