Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(50)

“Listen you—“ Flem and Jane said together with a fist out in front of them like they were John Wayne in an old western.

Flem continued while Jane laughed, “I’ve had about’a enough of your flapping gums. Give me your shirt or else.”

“Or maybe she thought she was John Wayne,” Jane reflected.

“Yeah—“ Lump wheezed, trying to catch her breath.

“No, don’t go on. I don’t want to know.” I pushed Lump.

“No, go on,” Moose said, eating it up. Taking mental notes.

Lump couldn’t stop laughing, so Jane went on. “She, our little flower there, was shaking her fist at Celeste when she said ‘or else.’ Celeste of course said, ‘Or else what?’ Jess responded with, ‘Or else you’ll get a punch in the nose, that’s what.’”

“I mean,” Flem commented through manic giggling, “she was talking like she was in an old nickelodeon! She sounded like an old man. Then with the fist shaking—oh my God it was funny!”

“Dare I want to know what happened next?” William asked.

I risked a peek at him. He had that haphazard smile he got when something I did really shouldn’t be funny, but I was so dense that he couldn’t help laughing at me. I saw that smile often.

“Well, Celeste refused, of course,” Lump went on, wiping tears from her eyes. “Then Jess shook her head, like the world was on her shoulders, and said, ‘Now, don’t say I didn’t warn you.’ With that she punched Celeste right in the face!”

“Celeste was a slow cow and didn’t even flinch!” Flem said. “She watched it coming with an ‘Oh shit!’ expression until it landed. She fell flat on her back—“ Flem squeaked out more laughter, then continued again through her maniacal giggles, “and kinda flopped around like a freaking seal!”

“Jessica, not caring in least about punching someone in the face,” Jane continued, all business at this point, “unceremoniously went about stripping Celeste of her shirt.”

“You punched a girl, then stripped her, Jessica?” Moose asked incredulously, his smile taking up his whole, stupid face.

“Moose, you better not tell anyone about this!” I raised a finger of death. “Or I swear I’ll do that same thing to you!”

“Will you talk like John Wayne when you do?” Lump asked with a grin.

“Jessica,” Adam said, disapproval plain in his voice, “I knew you was crazy, but this is a bit overboard.”

“Don’t make me start telling your stories, Adam,” Moose warned ominously.

“Ah now, everyone knows I’m ass backwards. But Jess there has a reputation of angel to uphold. Ain’t that right, Willie?”

Apparently that was a grand joke because everyone laughed. But me. Jerks.

We all wandered away from the bar and mingled. I hung out with Moose, who didn’t know if his girlfriend would show because she was having dinner with her parents. Adam was getting chatted up by Claire, Jane was after Brad, and Flem was nowhere to be seen. It was here, wondering where William got to, that I realized he’d stayed behind at the bar. With Lump.

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach.

I tried not to notice and talked with Flem, who joined us with two guys in toe. The conversation was lively and pleasant, but I didn’t hear much of it. More women and men joined us in our area, some even joining our group, but none of them I knew, or listened to. More drinks were served, and yet still Lump and William talked. I was getting increasingly sick to my stomach.

I knew I could trust William. I knew I could. And I knew I could trust Lump. She had never gone home, or even on a date, with a guy that tried to get her by going through me.

But still.

What if William realized that his soul mate was really Lump? What if he didn’t share Adam’s view of appearance? Worse... what if he cheated on me?

I realized Flem was looking closely at my face, saying my name. I tried to concentrate on her. She looked behind me at Lump and William, then back to me. I saw that Adam was looking at me closely, too. I hadn’t realized he’d joined the group. Jane and Claire, who also snuck back, were purposely looking elsewhere.

Was I that transparent?

“I need to pee,” Flem announced.

Adam started and looked at her with obvious embarrassment.

She looked back. “What? I do! C’mon Jess.”

She dragged me away from everyone toward the VIP bathrooms.

“She wouldn’t, Jess,” was the first thing she said.

“What?”

“She would never. And not only that, he wouldn’t. I know southern boys. That guy was brought up right, and he loves you, Jessica. He obviously doesn’t know you that well based on the fact that he thinks the sun shines out of your ass, but he does love you. You are a gross couple. At best.”

“Can’t help but being worried, though, you know? She’s taken so many by not even trying. And then they were talking all close...”

“I know. She knows. But she would never do it. She is loyal like a man. I know you. I know you are hung up on that. But let it go. Let the trust reign for your friend and for Little Willie.”

We didn’t talk for the rest of the bathroom trip. I was thinking on my worries and wondering if William had ever cheated on a girl. We got back and I saw William look at me anxiously. I could tell he wanted to come over, but didn’t.