Nick
“Hey, cuz, what’s up?”
“Hey, Ava, Mom wanted to know if you were bringing a date with you to the banquet next month.If not, she has someone she would like to introduce you to.”
“Why didn’t Aunty Allison call me herself?”
“She did.She said she’s been calling you for days.”
“That can’t be right.She called me last week and we talked for like an hour.Hold on, let me check my phone.”
I shuffle through the papers on my desk till she’s finished.
“Whoops.I know what the problem is.I mistakenly blocked her number while trying to block this guy I went out with; their numbers are similar.I’ll unblock it and give her a call later.”
“Great.I’ll let her know.Later.”
“Wait!Do you know who this guy is?”
“No idea.”
“I’ll go out with him if she wants.I trust Aunt Allison’s judgment when it comes to men, but I’m not bringing a date with me to the charity banquet.”
“Okay.Is there something else?You know I don’t care who you bring or don’t bring.”
“Is Chris going to be at the banquet?”
I sit back in my chair and smile.I see what this is about.
“Well, is he going to be there?”
“I think so.”I’m messing with her; I know he’s going to be there.
In a no-nonsense twang she says, “Don’t play with me, Nick.You know.”
“He’ll be there.”
“Do you know if he’s bringing a date with him?”
“How am I supposed to know?”
“You’re his best friend.”
“Ava, you know we haven’t talked as much since he found out Cat and I were together the first time.”
“Cat said he was over at your house yesterday, how bad could things be?”
“She didn’t tell you?”
“Know what?Did you guys get into a fight?”
“Not us.The rest of his family, yes.”
“What happened?Cat didn’t mention anything to me…she didn’t exactly sound like herself though.”
“What do you mean?”
“She sounded tired and distracted.I thought it was her being pregnant.I asked her about Chris and she said he came over last night and she was up late.”
