He shook his head. “The seniors of that year always throw the Halloween party. Either on Saturday after the game if we’re at home, or Sunday night if we’re away. I’ll get the address to Megan for you.”
Chloe was satisfied with that, then added, “But costumes, right?”
“Yeah, they do it up big. Prizes, even.” He turned to Paige and Connor. “You’re invited if you want to come. Everybody’s welcome. I’ll get you the address too. Are you all on iPhones? Good, hold them here and we’ll NameDrop our info.” We did, and both Paige’s and Connor’s info went into my contacts. Obviously Chloe and Logan were already there.
“Thanks, but I doubt I’ll make it. The idea of thinking about a costume, let alone putting one together seems…” Paige said.
“Daunting,” I said, knowing the feeling.
“Right?” Connor said. “I mean, I know it’s good to get out and all, but God, a house full of sexy nurses and rubber masks of politicians? No thanks. Okay, maybe the sexy nurses part isn’t so bad, but…”
We all laughed.
“Really, though, I just don’t have it in me this year to think of a costume,” Connor added. All of us, except Chloe, nodded our agreement.
“You know what, why don’t we have an anti-costume party at my house? It’ll probably be empty with the boys all going to the other party. It can just be a quiet one with us and our friends that don’t want to dress up,” Logan said.
“I’d be down for that,” Connor said.
Paige nodded. “Me too, even though I’d only know you three.”
“Should we invite Dustin and Bailey too?” I asked.
“I don’t have their numbers, and we won’t see them again until next Wednesday,” Logan said.
Paige’s finger was gliding over her phone. “I have both of their numbers. Bailey and I exchanged them after the first session, and Dustin and I were in a study group together a year ago and I’m sure I got— Yeah, there he is. Mind if I set us up a group text? Sorry, Chloe, not to exclude you, but…”
“Yeah, no. I totally get that. Go ahead,” Chloe said. She scrolled through her phone while Paige created a group text and sent its inaugural message to the six of us.
Hey, everyone! Logan’s having an anti-costume party at his house Saturday night after the hockey game. Megan, Connor, and I are all going. Come if you can. Logan will send address.
“What should I name the group?” she asked once she’d hit send.
Logan looked at me and smiled. “Grief Inc,” we both said. She looked between us, smiled, and renamed our group.
“Grief Inc. convenes Saturday night at Logan’s,” Connor said.
It was going to be fascinating to see the six of us outside of the armchair room in the Union. I couldn’t wait.
* * *
I couldn’t go.
“I know, I’m really disappointed. Maybe I can make it later. Like, a lot later. Or you could come over here?” I said to Logan on the phone after his game on Saturday. He was calling from the rink after having seen that the seats he’d left me tickets for were empty. I’d texted him that I couldn’t make it, but he’d already been in the locker room getting in uniform.
“Tell me again what’s going on. Maybe I can help,” he said. I loved him for that. For wanting to take things off my plate.
Or maybe he just wanted me in his bed tonight, after we’d spent last night apart.
I loved him for that, too.
“That’s just it—it’s not one thing. It’s, like, three. I’m texting with my sister, Mallory, who is at a high school dance and is on the verge of maybe having a meltdown. And also with my dad, who wants to go pick her up, but I’m telling him to maybe wait it out. Not sure if that’s even the right call. And also, Emily is fighting with Caleb on the phone in our room right now, and I’m not expecting that to end well, and I’d kind of like to be here for her once that finishes. It’s just easier to be someplace quiet where I’m available to talk to any of them if need be.”
“Okay. I get it. And if I wasn’t the one who had invited everyone to their house, I’d blow it off and come to the dorm and hang with you.”
“Thanks for that. But it’s fine. I’ll just miss being there.”
“Maybe. Or it might just be a bunch of Grief Group sad sacks sitting around.”
