When the girls return, Joss has pasted on her fake smile. She waves off Geoff’s apology like it’s no big deal and keeps an ample amount of space between us in the booth. The rest of the dinner is blissfully uneventful. Jocelyn, however, remains more subdued than normal, despite many attempts to draw her out.
“So, when are you guys leaving for the wedding?” Yayoi asks once the plates are cleared away.
I peek a glance at Joss. “Couple weeks. It’s Labor Day weekend, so we’ll get there the Friday before.”
Yayoi smiles. “That’ll be fun. It’s on the beach, right?”
“Yeah. In Naples. A Ritz-Carlton.”
Geoff whistles.
Joss leans into me and finally offers her full grin. “We can be fancy rich folks for the weekend. I’ll get Rent the Runway and tell everyone they simplymustcome to the country house this spring.”
“I’m sure it will be beautiful,” says Yayoi. “Romantic spot for a wedding.”
Joss raises a pert eyebrow. “I wouldn’t call the beach romantic.”
“Yeah, but you’re the only one,” Geoff says.
She toasts him, a silenttouché. After a moment, she turns to me. “I’m tired. You mind if we go?”
Oh. Right. We rode together. “Sure.”
As agreed, she pays, and we do the typical goodbyes.Happy birthday. Congrats. Have a good night.
Darkness has crept over the city by the time we make it to the main roads. The cab is silent, Jocelyn settling deep into her contemplative mood. It’s only a matter of time before she sees those photos. What will she think of them? A hundred bucks says she outright panics.
I tap on my thigh. Radio might help this interminable quiet. I’m about to switch it on when she breaks the silence.
Her voice is dreamy, quiet. “Why do you think he said that?”
My hand flexes on the steering wheel. “I don’t know, Jocelyn. He was drunk. Wasn’t thinking.”
Head resting on the seat back, she stares out the passenger window. “He made it seem like I’m stringing you along.”
“That isn’t what he meant.”
“What other way could he have possibly meant?”
The blue glow in the truck cab casts her beauty in a sad light. She looks small again. Lost.
Fragile.
I’ve never really thought of her as fragile before, but I see it now. Could probably delineate all the delicate glass pieces that hold her together. Wish she’d let me closer. I could hold her together on those days she thinks she’s coming apart.
Really shouldn’t think things like that. Quite disastrous for my psyche.
Deep inhale. Slow exhale.
Disobedient organ in my chest doesn’t care about the oxygen, though. Riotous heart-pounding refuses to calm.
I pull my truck to the side of the road and shift to Park. We’re on a neighborhood street, so I turn off the headlights. A few houses have glowing front porch lights, but mostly the road is shrouded in darkness. Joss looks around, brow creased.
I grip both hands tight on the steering wheel. “He was being stupid, okay? Just forget about it.”
She cocks her head. Blond curls frame her pretty face. “Does he think I eventually sleep with everyone, then? Or does he think I just hold out on you for fun?”
“That isn’t—”
