I was supposed to show up today with a ring on my finger from David. All of them avoid the topic to save me from elaborating on my last contribution to the group chat. I almost slipped on
Liem’s ring this morning to see how it felt, but wearing someone else’s engagement ring has to be bad luck, whether their relationship was cursed or not.
Keisha hugs me to her side, anxiously awaiting the perfect time to drop in with her baby announcement. No one seems to notice her unfinished mimosa when she would usually be three rounds deep by now.
When the opportunity presents itself, Keisha’s hand tightens on my leg. “I have big news,” she says.
“Me too!” Junie agrees. My mouth hangs open when I realize what her news will be. More than that, I can’t believe they still haven’t told each other.
Keisha and I exchange a glance. She needs help. “You should definitely go first, Junie,” I say.
“Okay, okay.” Junie waves her hands with a calming breath. “I got the promotion.”
“Oh my god!” everyone squeals except Keisha. She must be pissed.
“Congrats, Junie,” I say. “I knew you’d get it.”
“It’s about damn time, if you ask me,” Lupe adds.
“What did I tell you about manifestation, girl? That shit’s real,” Whitney says.
For someone with as technical a job as finance, she is crunchy as hell. Sneeze the wrong way and she will send you home with a crystal, herbal tea, and a journaling exercise to try. She slipped me apinkish stone the moment we sat down, saying only, “For your heart chakra,” before slinking off to the other end of the table. She might as well have handed me a slice of toast and said, “For the stars.”
“Okay, Keisha. Your turn.” Junie turns the spotlight.
Keisha looks to me for help, the smile splitting her face. I squeeze her hand. She turns to them and says, “I’m pregnant.”
And then everyone screams.
We get looks from the tables around us, but who cares? This is a huge year for our group. A wedding and new house, two promotions, ababy. And then there’s me. Flat broke, reluctantly single, no job prospects. I’m living the same life I had at twenty while pushing thirty. At least my friends’ lives give me all the excitement I need.
Harlow, the most sentimental of the group, is in tears. “Look at us,” she remarks. “Starting our nest,” she says to her love, “Whitney earning her worth, Junie with her promotion, Keisha becoming a mommy, and . . .” She stops when she realizes I’m left. “And Bri, who . . . who . . .”You’re thinking real hard about that one, huh?
“Who is starting her next chapter,” Whitney finishes for her, as if that’s a compliment.
We clink our glasses, and I can’t look any of them in the eye.
~
Brunch wiped me out. After having my ego sapped, I went to my bedroom and curled up under a blanket. I would have slept all afternoon into the night, but the sounds of flirtatious laughter coming from Keisha and her traitorous husband in the next room made me get up and go for a walk. Now that I’m back, I want to look for jobs and apartments, give myself a reason to get out of this damned house as soon as possible, but I don’t want any of that as much as I want to talk to Liem.
Me: Sorry for not calling. I’m getting pulled in a million directions.
My phone doesn’t make it to the mattress before it pings with his message.
Liem: Me too
Liem: How are you?
Not great.After a long day of introspection, I don’t want to talk about myself anymore.
Me: Can I call you?
Liem: Of course
The video does half a ring before his face appears.Fuck. That smile, those cheekbones, his day-three curls, soft and perfect, begging to be touched. It has only been two days, but going from seeing him hours a day to nothing at all . . . it’s easy to forget how outrageously beautiful he is.
“Hey, Hoodie,” I greet him.
