Page 12 of One Drink
“Just needed to unwind after a shitty start to the week.” Robbie said. He was a handsome man—tall, sandy brown hair, close-cut beard, and dreamy eyes that could make any available and willing woman want to get lost in them. Why was he still single? Maybe he’d be a good match for Kate or Zoe. That’d be a great way to change the conversation, so they wouldn’t focus on me. He slapped Jake on the shoulder and smiled. “Plus, my friend needed me.”
A sigh escaped my lips at his last comment. Oh, God. I dropped my head into my hands because everyone heard that.
“Come on, Robbie.” Jake’s gentle voice cut in. “Let’s leave these ladies to their evening.”
I dared to look at him out of the corner of my eye and his eyes had softened into an apologetic understanding. I heard the faint sounds of goodbyes as they walked across the bar and sat in a booth on the other side. He sat facing us, and I felt his eyes on me.
“Spill.” Zoe demanded.
“Ugh.” I tossed my head back against the booth. “There’s nothing to share.”
“Bullshit.” Zoe frowned. “You and Jake acted like you were at war with each other. Wait, correction. You acted like you were at war with him, and he looked like a sad little puppy dog.”
“Zoe.” Kate glared at her and I dropped my head onto the table. “That’s not helpful.”
“What?” Zoe shrugged her shoulders. “It’s true.”
Kate rolled her eyes, reached over, and took my hand. “Steph, whatever happened, we’re here for you.”
“I know.” There were no two better friends in all the world. Kate and Zoe would stand by me no matter what. Always had and always would. “Listen. This isn’t easy for me, and I don’t know how to say it.”
“Just say it fast, like ripping off a Band-Aid.” Zoe grinned and moved her hand in the air like she was ripping off an imaginary Band-Aid herself. “All at once, don’t hold back. That only makes it worse.”
I shifted my eyes between them. With eager, wide eyes, they waited for me to speak. My mouth went dry, and I downed the fresh drink our waiter delivered in one gulp. Then I grabbed Kate’s drink and swallowed half of it, too. Before I could change my mind, I blurted it out. “I slept with Jake.”
“Thank God, it’s about time.” Kate sighed
“Fuck yeah, it’s about time.” Zoe smiled.
They spoke at the same time, and I stared at them trying to process their reaction. Did they just say what I thought they said? Shit. Why didn’t this surprise me? “What do you mean, it’s about time?”
“Oh, come on, Stephanie.” I snapped my eyes at Kate. She never used my full name. “You and Jake have been flirting with each other since the day you met in college. I can’t believe it took you two this long to get together.”
“Sometimes the cuteness between you two makes me gag.” Zoe faked a gagging sound and laughed. “But seriously, why are you so upset about it? It’s a good thing, right?”
“No, it’s horrible.” The words came out in a high pitch squeal, and tears stung my eyes.
Zoe reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “Was the sex terrible?”
“No. I mean ... I’m not going to talk about that.” I blinked several times to stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks. I refused to cry over this. “We’re not together. We can never be together.”
Kate and Zoe shared a glance and then looked at me with narrowed eyes. They’re judging me? I couldn’t handle this. The last thing I needed was for my best friends to judge me. “Maybe I should go.” I grabbed my purse and started to stand.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Kate’s hand grasped hold of my arm and held me in place. “Whether you like it or not, we’re talking about this. This affects all of us.”
“I can’t talk to you if you’re going to judge me. This is hard enough as it is. The last thing I need is for you two to tear me down, too.”
“Who’s tearing you down?” Zoe looked confused. “Jake? If he’s being a jackass about this, I’ll go kick his ass.”
“Yeah, I’d like to see that.” Kate laughed. “All five foot three inches of you.” She turned her gaze towards me and calmed her expression. “We’re not judging you, and we will not tear you down. Talk to us.”
I told them everything. Every single detail. From the moment we arrived at my apartment to waking up together the next morning to our awkward interaction Monday morning. I left nothing out. By the time I was done rehashing the most embarrassing moments of my life, they both stared at me with grins on their face.
“Why are you smiling at me?”
“Because we’re happy for you,” Kate said. “Jake is a great guy. One of the best out there. If you let him, he will treat you like his queen. I suggest you let him.”
“I don’t think I can do that. I’ve been on my own for so long, and I don’t know how to be with someone and maintain my independence. And then there’s this stupid charity event I got roped into. It’s just too much too fast. I can’t process it all.”