She goes back to cooking and I go back to waiting for Addie to text me.
There’s a softpingwhen Griffin’s name appears on the screen, and my belly does a flip. I haven’t heard from him at all since Christmas Eve.
I swipe open his message.
GRIFFIN:Did you get the gift I left for you?
I started a thank-you text to him a dozen times but never pressedSEND. Mainly because I’m not sure what to think about the gift.
ME:I did. Thank you. When did you drop it off?
GRIFFIN:Drove back over Christmas Eve but no one could find you so I left it with your grandmother
We had probably already left to go see Margot and Anna. That must be why Nonna knew we were gone.
GRIFFIN:Just want to tell you again I’m ok with you trying to figure out how you feel but I’m also glad I haven’t seen any more pics of you with other guys
I don’t have a response for this. And then I can’t help but laugh when I think about what a pic from my date last night with Nathan would have looked like. Maybe one of us in his truck with the fast food spread out across our laps and scenes from the X-rated movie playing in front of us? Or maybe I should have posted one of me and Alma with the array of adult toys behind us?
But what’s really killing me about Griffin’s text is the fact he’sokaywith me going on these dates. Part of me doesn’t care if he’s okay with it or not—this is about me, not him. And the other part of me wonders, if I were really in love with someone, would I be okay seeing them go on dates with someone else?
Thankfully, I’m saved from responding when Nonna asks me to take the garlic bread out of the oven.
Within minutes, people start streaming through the back door, and the noise level increases by 1,000 percent. I’ve given some thought as to how I’m going to act when I see the Evil Joes, but I’m not prepared when Aunt Maggie Mae and Uncle Marcus come in the door with only Jo Lynn. I keep staring at the door, waiting for Mary Jo, but she never shows.
“Okay, something is weird,” Olivia says behind me. “They are always together. Like, always.”
“I know,” I say.
“And I had this speech all worked out! I was going to really give it to them for what they did to you last night.”
Before I can tell her not to worry, Charlie skids into the room and stops right in front of us.
“Wondering why Mary Jo isn’t here?” he asks.
Olivia punches him in the shoulder. “Of course, spill it.”
He leans in close. “Aiden broke up with her last night.”
“Why?” Olivia asks in a shocked voice.
“From what I heard, she accused him of flirting with Soph. Lost it on him. It sounds like she does this all the time and he’s over it.”
“He was not flirting with me!” I say. “He was showing me pictures of his nephew.” Oh God. I shouldn’t feel bad for her, but a tiny part of me does. I know how awful a breakup feels.
“Stop it right now, Soph,” Charlie says. “I see that look on your face and we’re not feeling sorry for her!”
Nonna passes by and shoos us off, telling us to set the table.
“So do you think Nonna’s gonna set up a date board for her?” Olivia asks a few minutes later as she sets down the plates. I follow behind her with the silverware.
“I have no idea!” I say. We move on to the extra table Nonna pulled out last week, which Olivia, Charlie, Sara, Graham, Jake, and I have claimed as our own. Jake calls it the OSFTBT (One Step From The Big Table) as opposed to the KT (Kiddie Table) and HCR (High Chair Row).
At last, Aunt Patrice notices the empty bar stool at the kitchen counter.
“Where’s Mary Jo?” she asks.
Everyone at the OSFTBT stops what they’re doing and looks up.
