Page 66 of Mr. Swoony

“Sure, you are. Be prepared, I’m pretty sure she saw us.”

“Because you came in late and wearing that ridiculous hat.”

We walk toward the door.

“Have a great evening,” the hostess says, waving.

We both mumble a thank you and goodbye.

“You’re not even in disguise. You and the rest of your little gang think sunglasses and a baseball hat disguise you. That’s ridiculous.”

I push open the door for Jade, and she steps out.

“Should I have worn a Gumby costume?” I ask.

“Well, you could have left the jacket at home. Chicago’s in the middle of a heatwave.”

We fall in line on the sidewalk, but Jade stops, and I bump into her shoulder. I look up to see what’s made her stop and see Eloise leaning against a light pole, waiting for us.

“Hello, Jade. Hello, Conor. Enjoy your meal?” Her eyebrows are raised.

I strip off my sunglasses.

“You know I can handle myself.” Eloise pushes off the light pole and heads down the street.

Jade quickens her footsteps to catch up, and I follow, of course.

“I’m sorry, Eloise, I just wanted to make sure he didn’t do something…” She shakes her head, tearing off her hat. “I wanted to be here for you in case he said some really shitty things.”

Did he? If so, I might just turn around and break his fucking nose. Finish what we started at the church.

Eloise has to stop at a corner and wait to cross, so she studies both of us. “Look at you two. You looking like you came from the Kentucky Derby, and you”—she points at me—“are you trying to be James Dean with a baseball hat?”

I strip off the leather jacket I borrowed from Tweetie from when he dressed up as Danny from Grease at Halloween last year. My white T-shirt is close to being see-through from sweat.

“I can handle myself.” The pedestrian sign blinks, and Eloise crosses the street.

Jade and I look at one another.

“We know that.” Jade rushes and touches Eloise’s arm to stop her once we’re on the other side of the street. “But you don’t need to do this alone.”

Eloise moves out of the way of pedestrian traffic. “I’m sick of people thinking I can’t survive without their help.”

Jade sighs. “That’s not why I went to the restaurant. I went because I’m your best friend. You were having a final conversation with the man you were supposed to marry. I didn’t think you’d be skipping out of there, and I wanted to offer you a shoulder to cry on if you needed it.” She thumbs in my direction. “I didn’t realize I was going to have competition.”

I point at my chest. “Are you blaming me for something?”

Jade scoffs. “If it was only me, she would’ve understood. She’s only reacting this way because of you being all overprotective.”

“Overprotective? I’m here for the same reason you are.” I scowl at her.

“Let’s remember you started a fist fight in the foyer of a church.” Jade crosses her arms and raises her eyebrows.

“That guy is a douche. Don’t tell me you didn’t want to hit him too.”

Jade struggles to fight the smile playing at her lips. “That’s not the point.”

“No, the point is…” Eloise sticks her head into our little huddle. “I’m a grown woman. I chose to end that relationship. I appreciate you both coming. I do. But I really want to be alone right now and reflect. So why don’t you two go have dinner together or something?” She waves her hand between us, turns around, and walks down the street.

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