Jade closed off again, and I regretted opening my mouth even before she stood up, sliding out from the booth and stretching her arms out over her head. “Well, maybe I’ll send her a candle then,” she said, her voice cool and measured. “One of the ones she likes, now that I know what it is.”
“Oh, um… I mean, I bet she’d love that.”
Cat raised her eyebrows at her. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’ve got to get home,” Jade said. The icy tone in her voice was, I could only imagine, lost on Cat. “I was meaning to do some cleaning tonight.”
Cat frowned. “You’re making things up to get out of talking to people.”
“I have a life, Cat.”
I laughed nervously. “It was nice seeing you again, Jade. Thanks again for your help yesterday. And for putting me and Cat in touch!”
She gave me a loaded look, and she held it just a split second too long before she said, “See you. Try not to hit any trees.”
“Ah, jeez. It was one time! Let me live it down!”
Once Jade left, Cat gave me an apologetic smile, and she cut right to the chase. “Jade still has a complicated relationship with Daniela.”
“I know. I know that, and even so, I keep making bad choices.” I signedI knowandbadas I spoke, ones I’d seen Cat doing, slowly picking it up from her. She shrugged.
“She has to face it at some point or another. She’s still moody about the big fights and everything right now, which, you know, I get that. But everyone will move on eventually. She’s got to figure out how to coexist with everyone again eventually. That was why I bullied her into going to your party at the Birdhouse yesterday, actually.”
I raised my eyebrows high. “You told Jade to go, and she went and… gave me your number?”
“I know, right?” She laughed, and it trickled off, an uncertain look on her face. “So… don’t tell anyone I said this. But I’m pretty sure it was doubly loaded for her with Daniela because Jade had feelings for her.”
Something fluttered in my chest. “Oh yeah?” I said. I don’t think I said anything she could read, but I think my expression said it all, and she nodded.
“It’s true! They were being really cute for a while. Jade even got a little jealous over me visiting Daniela’s place one time,” she laughed, but her face fell after that. “And then I happened. So it kinda went sideways.”
I frowned. “It’s not your fault, Cat.”
“It kind of is.”
“You were being harassed, from the sounds of things. You’re right to call it out.”
She scrunched up her face. “Ugh, I guess she told you everything?”
“Jade… gave me the short version.” I mimeda little, but she picked up what I’d said.
She nodded. “Well, I guess the short version probably left out that this has happened a bunch before.”
“Wait, seriously? With…” I spelled outDrew, and she put on a smile, showing me his name sign, the letter D crossing the body like a hug.
“He’s really sweet most of the time, but he loses his temper when he doesn’t get his way. And I feel like he’s kind of… low-key misogynistic too. You know, the kind of gay guy who decides that since he doesn’t want to sleep with a woman, he doesn’t have any reason to respect them. But he puts on a nice face publicly.” She sighed. “Look at me, I’m doing it again, shit-talking him behind his back. You can form your own judgments on him. But yeah, it’s not the first time. It’s just the first time I lost my temper and told people about it. If I’d realized it would also get Jade ostracized from everything, I would have kept it to myself.”
“Cat… that’s so sad, though,” I said. “You shouldn’t have to suffer it silently just to maintain the peace. It’s not your fault.”
She slumped. “Thanks, but I’m really okay. Honestly, I’m not too bothered. I’m just happy I said my piece, got it all off my chest, and I’ll let people do what they will with it. I feel lighter for having done it. I’m just worried about Jade.”
“Mm… well, I am, too,” I said, doing the sign forsamethat I’d picked up she used as a general sign of agreement. “I kind of wish… I want to help. Daniela isn’t mad at Jade, she just thinks Jade doesn’t want to talk to her.” I tried signing through it—I fumbled without the sign formadand tried to charades it, and Cat stifled a laugh before showing me the sign.
“So,” she said, eyes sparkling, “an alliance?”
“Alliance?” I repeated the sign she did as she said it, and she nodded.
“We work together and try to help smooth things over. And maybe then Jade can shoot her shot with Daniela!”
