CHAPTER 17
SAWYER
I watchBrie tow Tess to the bathroom as people around us thump their fists on the table in sync to their chants of “TACO TURSDAY” like a bad SNL skit.
There was something clearly off about Tess, like she was giving off uncanny valley vibes. Her demeanor wasalmostperfectly put together. Her eyes werealmostperfectly bright. Her lips pulled up inalmosta perfect smile. But none of it was quite right.
For half a second I consider following them, seeing if I can help somehow, but I don’t want to get in the way, make Tess uncomfortable.
I look past Rich to Ethan. “What do you think was going on?” I ask, tipping my head toward the hallway Brie disappeared into with Tess.
“No idea,” he says. “Maybe family trouble?” Ethan just met Tess tonight, so he wouldn’t know her only real family is Nash.
I shake my head. “Doubtful.”
“Alright alright alright,” the emcee’s voice blares as he shuffles papers in his hand and the restaurantquiets. “Let’s make sure everyone’s here. When I call your team’s name, give me a little shout.” He calls out names likeTrivia Newton John,Pen-Fifteen, andInsufferable Pedantsto responding cheers from the corresponding team.
Rich pops forward and says, “She’s probably just on her period.”
“You’re disgusting,” I sneer.
He gives me a smug better-than-thou look. “Tell that to a woman. It’s completely natural. Apparently.”
“Periods aren’t disgusting,” I say. “Youare. Tess didn’t come in here like that because she’s on her period.”
The emcee calls, “And finally,Anyone Up For A Game of Naked Twister After This?”
Rich stands up and shouts, “Offer’s open, ladies!” over a chorus of boos from the other teams.
Ethan has a look of mild disgust on his face as he forces Rich into his seat by the shoulder. “I told you to stop naming the team without us.”
“You guys weren’t paying attention,” Rich shrugs.
Frustration boils over in my chest. Everything was going fine with Brie before Rich sat down. I could see it in her eyes when Ethan greeted her. She was relaxing. Things are never going to be how I really want them, I know I don’t deserve the forgiveness I dream of or the desire I fantasize about, but Brie and I were at the same table and she wasn’t looking for the fastest escape route.
For a brief moment, she was even smiling.
Then Rich showed up.
Next to me, Rich whisper-yells, “Sawyer! How many brains does an octopus have? One, right? It’s a trick question?”
“Nine.” I reply automatically.
“Nine?!”
In one swift move, I take Tess’s abandoned seat next to him and yank the pencil out of his hand as he writes in the answer. He looks up, and his eyes widen.
“Richard,” I say, keeping my tone even and clear so he doesn’t miss a word. “If you ever treat anyone like that again in my presence, our friendship is over. If you so much as breathe in a way that makes Brie uncomfortable, our friendship is over. That means insulting Dev, too.”
Rich guffaws. “Dev?”
“Yeah.Dev. That goes along with treatinganyonelike shit.”
“Dude, I woulda thought getting in Brie’s pants would loosen you u?—”
I’m on my feet, knuckles white as I fist Rich’s collar. Vaguely, I’m aware of how eerily quiet it is around us, how Ethan scrubs his face with both his hands and looks up at the ceiling, but my focus is on Rich, the person I’ve called a friend my entire life. Was I ever as bad as him? Did he get worse? How did I ever tolerate him or myself, or any of it?
“One. More. Word,” I dare. “Try it out. One more word.”
