A Life More Complete(89)
Me: Meeting Bob for dinner. You’re off the hook. Stay as late as you want.
Slightly passive aggressive on my part, I know, but still.
Tyler: K
I roll my eyes at his response and shout out loud, almost too loud. “Really?” That’s the reply I get after my father dies and another man is consoling me.
---Chapter 27---
Bob and I settle into our seats in the back of the bar in a half booth half table spot. It’s packed so I order immediately joking with Bob that right now I’m so hungry I could eat him.
The conversation switches over to his new job because just recently there’s been some serious drama. He’s filling me in the totally animated way that only Bob can, arms flying, crazy faces to go along, all the while making me laugh like no other. It turns out that one of the girls who works with Bob got a new set of boobs, but kept denying it until one of the other girls in the office called her out on it. Chaos ensued.
“Krissy you should’ve seen them! It took everything in me not to yell, “Cat fight!” So Abby Fake Boobs, was all like, ‘Mind your own business,’ to Office Hag Laura, who was like, ‘You’re such a slut! You only got fake boobs so you can steal other people’s husbands.’ It was ghetto nasty. Girls, you’re such jealous bitches.”
Bob stops suddenly and the enthused look on his face vanishes. He begins to say something as I look over my shoulder where his eyes are focused. If words came from his mouth I don’t recall them at all. I stare for what feels like an eternity and Bob’s hand on my cheek pulls me back into the now.
“Are you f*cking kidding me?” I can’t help but lace my words with utter distain. “Did you know about this?” I hiss at Bob, right now hating him without ever hearing his answer.
“No,” he responds instantly like the good friend that he is. “I swear on everything that is holy I had no idea.” Shaking his head his eyes are wide as he takes in Melinda walking with her arm linked with Ben’s to a table on the opposite side of the overcrowded bar.
“Well, this explains everything,” I whisper shout. I begin to tap my fingers and Bob covers my hand with his. “How dare she!” This time it comes out as a shout and even with the ever-growing noise level the people nearby turn and look at me.
“Okay, okay. Settle down, killer,” Bob says infuriating me even more. “I’m gonna play devil’s advocate here, so don’t hate me, but you guys broke up. And sweetheart, take a look at yourself? You’re married and pregnant. I know baby daddy sucks right now, but you picked him.”
“You suck right now! You’re supposed to be supporting me. Come on, I know all of that, but it still doesn’t make it any less of a blow. Plus, I’m even angrier that she hid it from me. Acting all sheepish and uncomfortable when I walked in on her phone call today.”
“Sorry. I thought I’d give it a shot.” Shrugging his shoulders, he gives me the answer I’m looking for. “Hands down, she’s a bitch. Have at her,” he says with a self-satisfied grin on his face.
I take few deep breaths before I haul my still starving ass across the bar to confront the two-faced bitch that was once my best friend. I should’ve known she had it in her. When I think back to all those times she ditched me at the bar to run off and sleep with some random guy she just met. Leaving me alone knowing full well I hated taxis and would eventually have to put myself in one to get home. I could count on one hand the number of times she seemed genuinely concerned about me. It really doesn’t matter now because we are done. She crossed that line, broke that unspoken rule among friends and even worse pissed off the starving pregnant girl.
I’m pretty sure that there is smoke coming out of my ears, like a bad cartoon and if it’s not it should be. I slam my hand down on their table as soon as I stroll up on them. It takes both of them by surprise and I wish I had a witty remark, but all I can come up with is, “What a surprise!”
The look on their faces is exactly what I’d hoped for, yet Ben seems slightly less shocked to see me than Melinda. She just looks completely horrified.
“Fancy seeing the two of you here...together.” I blink waiting for a response. When neither replies within the two second window I leave open I continue. “I can’t believe my best friend would think so highly of me to shack up with my ex-boyfriend.”
Ben looks at me quickly but turns away with a small look of hurt in his eyes. He places his elbows on the table and glares slightly at Melinda, “You said you told her?” he questions. “I wouldn’t have done this if I had known she didn’t know.” Ben looks my way apologetically, but it doesn’t clear him the way he thinks it will.