Page 61 of Just Joshing
I patted his arm, trying unsuccessfully to stifle a grin. "You got this." I turned back to the couple now making out against the kitchen island. "Bess?"
They broke apart, heads turning towards us. "Hey, can we talk?" I gestured at the room behind me. "Alone?"
"Oh!" She pushed Pete away, springing towards me. "Yes! Girl talk. Let's do it." She bounced across, linking arms with me and pulling me out the door. Josh shot me an encouraging grin before we rounded the corner, losing sight of him.
Bess dragged me to the sitting room, completely ignorant to the flour trail she left in her wake. "Tell me everything." She pushed me down, taking the seat beside me on the oversized couch. "When, where, how big, how long, and how many times?" She propped her chin in her hand, anticipation and excitement lighting her features.
I blew out a breath, running a hand through my hair. "Look, I'm more than happy to discuss this but there's something I need you to clear up for me first." I grimaced, knowing there was no easy way to broach this subject. "Why did you go out with Pete?"
She blinked. "What?"
"Back when we were young. You knew I liked him. I literally told you, then you started going out with him." I shrugged. "I never understood. I want to know now, cause Bess, it was a super shitty thing to do."
Her mouth opened and closed like a gasping fish. For a long moment nothing came out.
"And then in college? Cancun? You knew he'd made a play for me. Even admitted it was why you hooked up with him again. Now I find out you spread a rumor about me becoming a nun? I mean, who does that?" The words poured out. Years of pain and resentment I'd suppressed all for the sake of loyalty and friendship burst free.
"Are we even friends? Do you even like me? Cause you knew the winery was my venue. It's always been my venue and yet-"
"It's not like that!" Bess interrupted, tears filling her eyes.
"Then explain it to me." I sighed, feeling the anger, confusion and betrayal knot into a lump that sat heavy in my chest.
She brushed at her eyes, her face pale. "Do you remember your brother's birthday party? Archer's twenty-first? When we snuck the bottle of vodka with Pete, Sam and Josh and we all got drunk?"
I frowned, "we were fifteen."
She nodded vehemently. "You passed out."
I remembered that. Well, not the passing out but definitely the hangover the next day.
"What about it?"
"Josh got super drunk and declared his love for you while we were trying to sneak you upstairs."
I blinked. He'd have been sixteen, maybe seventeen.
"The next day you admitted you liked Pete and well, I…" She trailed off, biting her lip.
"What did you do, Bess?"
"I'm sorry!" She burst out, tears falling as words tumbled out of her. "But I knew Josh wouldn't ask you out if you'd dated his brother. So, I dropped a hint to Pete that I liked him and the next thing I knew we were dating and then nothing happened between you and Josh but I knew he really liked you because he watched you all the damn time so I told a little fib about you and hoped like hell he would ask you but he just never did!" She pushed off the couch pacing the length of the room. "And I could see it, even Peter commented on it. Josh really liked you. But he never did anything and then you got together with- er… that other guy. And then Josh helped you after when you needed support and I thought, yep. This is it. He's going to make his move. But he backed off and I thought it was just him giving you space but then nothing happened. But now you're together and I'm so sorry but I'm also so happy and I'm sorry!" She stopped, having run out of breath, tears streaming down her face.
I tried to process this information. "So, you and Peter are… Are you in love with him?"
"God, yes," she nodded frantically. "The man is my soul mate."
"But it started off as you just… protecting me?"
She shrugged blushing, "I didn't know what else to do."
"And Cancun? You guys were broken up."
"I'd been flirting with guys' all week trying to make him jealous. When I heard him ask you out, I knew I had to make a move – declare myself." She had the decency to look ashamed. "I know it hurt you but you never said anything afterwards and I just didn't want to bring it up." More tears spilled down her cheeks. "But, Molly. He's it for me. When we broke up it was because I was too immature. But when I look at him, I see my future. I want him. Only him. He's such a good guy. He's loyal and hilarious and doesn't mind my over-the-top-ness. He puts up with drama and loves me how I want to be loved. He makes me feel like Cinderella." She sniffled, brushing at the tears. "And I wanted that for you. When I look at Josh, I see him and you together and you both look so happy. So, so happy."
She flopped to the floor in front of me, placing a hand on my knee. "I'm the worst friend ever."
"I mean, it's not looking good." I admitted, offering her a small smile. "But I can see that you meant well."
