Jane’s face is like a thundercloud as her head swivels toward Kevin. Maybe my dad isn’t going to be the first one to die here? I suck in a deep breath as I study the menu. It’s like being in a movie full of weird-ass characters. What happened to the good-natured girl I came to New York with? Jane and I were both so excited when we arrived here together. We explored the city and ate amazing food from countries we’d barely heard of. It seems like forever ago.
“I’m going to have lasagna,” my dad says, snapping his menu shut.
“Me, too,” I say. I haven’t absorbed anything written on here, and lasagna works for me.
“Me three,” my mom adds.
“You’re all having the same thing?” Jane says, momentarily distracted from the Sadie conversation by our unexpected agreement. Her eyes are on me, so I smile at my dad, hoping he might answer.
“Families have to stick together,” he says bullishly, and Jesus Christ, I do not want this to descend into some showdown with Jane.
“What do you think I should have?” Kevin says, turning to Jane.
“Pizza,” she snaps, mouth flattening into a thin, straight line.
Nice save, Kevin. Oh God, now I’m siding with Kevinandusing soccer terminology?
“Yes, but what kind, poodle?”
Poodle?
“He’s going to have a margherita,” Jane says, glancing up at the server. “And I’ll have that, too.”
“Two margheritas, three lasagnas,” the server says. “Any drinks? Garlic bread?”
“Three garlic bread,” my dad says in the type of voice that implies it’s all for us and we’re not sharing.
“Make that another one for me,” Jane says.
“And me,” Kevin says.
Jane shakes her head and leans over to pat his stomach. “Not until you can spend more time in the gym.”
What?
“No garlic bread for him, and a bottle of the chardonnay,” she says.
I glance at my mom, and I think she’s mouthing the words “bossy cow” as she closes her menu. Laughter bubbles at the back of my throat.
After the server disappears with our order, Kevin excuses himself and heads to the bathroom.
“Now tell me why you’ve left my son.” My mom launches straight into it as soon as Kevin is out of earshot.
“Mom!” I say as something inside me curls up and dies.
Jane’s cheeks start to go red, and her eyes dart to mine. “Did you set them up to this?”
“What? No!” I say, at the same time as my mom says:
“Of course he didn’t!”
“Anyway,” Jane huffs. “I didn’tleaveJames. If anything, he left me! James and I are best friends, and we’ll always be best friends.” She glances across the restaurant, scowling. “I don’t know why he’s moved out of the apartment, but it’s causing me no end of trouble. I can’t find anyone to take over the lease and …”
My dad coughs as he turns his bread knife over on his plate. “Perhaps he didn’t want to keep hanging out with you and your new boyfriend since you and James WERE GOING TO GET MARRIED!” His voice rises, and my mom puts her hand on his arm.
A flush climbs up Jane’s neck. “We’ve been nothing but friends for a long time. He knew that.”
I did? My mom and dad’s eyes dart to me.
