Page 37 of Friend Zoned

“She helped me plan your wedding shower, remember?” I wince at the reminder. “I haven’t talked to her in years, but she said she’s tried to reach you.”

“I blocked that bitch.” I peek through the blinds and spot her. She’s standing at the bottom of the front steps holding a large gift bag. I look around the house and spot my mother in the kitchen stirring something in a large pot. She’s holding court, talking, and laughing with her three sisters. “I’ll handle it,” I tell Erica.

“I got your back.” She goes to the closet and returns with our coats. While no one is paying attention, we walk out the front door.

Leah visibly swallows when she sees us, but she offers me a tentative smile. I don’t smile back. When I get to the last step, she holds out the gift bag to me.

“Since you didn’t come to our Christmas party. This is from my mom,” she says. Leah’s mother has never been anything but kind to me. She called me when she found out about Quintin and Camille and told me she would never allow Camille back into her house.

“You need to leave now, Leah. I don’t want any gifts, and I don’t want your brand of friendship. I already told you this.”

“Get the fuck out of here, bitch,” Erica, who has never been tactful a day in her life, says. She tries to get in Leah’s face, but I stand between them.

“Classy as always, Erica,” Leah says with an eye roll. “Anyway.” She tosses her braids and looks into my eyes. Her eyes soften. “I wanted to stop by and wish you a Merry Christmas, and to tell you that I miss you.” She reaches for my hand, but I shake my head no at her. “Look, Jeannie, I’m sorry.” She blows a breath upward. “But you’re acting like I’m the one who fucked Quintin. Why am I being treated like Camille? And by the way, he’s a pig, so maybe you’re better off. Did you ever think about it that way?”

Yes, I have. Once I got over the initial hurt by both my husband and friend, I realized I was better off being without these two people in my life. The plan was always for me and Quintin to start a family, but a few days after my marriage and friendship imploded, the only thing left for me to feel was relief.

“This fucking bitch,” Erica begins. I put a hand to her chest to stop her advance. I have no doubt that if I were to step away, she would get into a fistfight with Leah right here. I’m also certain that Leah would be limping out of here, and that would be the best-case scenario. I’ve never met a girl scrappier than my cousin. “Say one more word,” she threatens, and Leah is smart enough to take a step back.

“Yes, I’ve thought of that, and you’re right. I’m better off without Camille and Quintin. But you know what? I’m better off without you too. My issue with you is not about Quintin being a pig. It’s not about Quintin or Camille at all. My issue is that you were not a friend tome. You say you never approved of what Camille did, yet you said nothing. You chose to protect her over telling me the truth. I don’t want anything to do with you anymore.” I don’t raise my voice like I want to. I don’t get in her face and scream and curse like I did when I first found out. I’m over that. I’m beyond it, and I’m not going to be dragged back.

Her tears return just like when I confronted her that first day, but my heart has turned to stone. At least where she’s concerned.

“Well then,” she says. She looks around while she bites her upper lip. I can tell she’s doing her best not to let the tears fall. “You and your family have a great holiday.” She walks away, but not before she drops the gift bag in front of me. I stand there until she walks across the street and gets into her car.

“The fucking audacity,” Erica says. She takes the gift bag and looks inside it. She pulls out something, but it’s wrapped. “You want me to throw it in the dumpster?” She tosses the package back in the bag, but I take it from her.

“I’ll get rid of it. Come on.” I wrap my arm through hers and we go back inside. My mother is still in the kitchen, but she eyes me when I come in. From the look on her face, I’m sure she knows something’s up.

I’m her only child, and she’s always been attuned to my moods. She shakes her head, but someone calls her name, and she starts talking to them. I’m relieved. I handled it, and I don’t want to hear a rant about Leah today, which will inevitably lead to a rant about Quintin and Camille. I’m past that.

Aiden’s face flashes through my mind while I take off my coat and shove the gift bag in the back of my parents’ coat closet, and I wonder what he’s doing right now. I look around the crazy, disorganized house and try to imagine him here, and I can. For the first time in a long time, I’m lonely in a room full of people. Even when I was married, I was lonely a lot, especially during the last year before we separated.

Now, I’m ready for something and someone else. I’ve always imagined a tall man, taller than Quintin with broad shoulders and smooth brown skin, but I don’t see that anymore. He’s still tall and incredibly broad, but I see a Viking type who almost looks as if he belongs in another time.

“Stop thinking about that bitch.” Erica elbows me hard in the ribs. “Let’s go get some drinks.” She takes my hand and pulls me into the kitchen, but for the rest of the night, I picture Aiden here with my family, laughing and eating.

Chapter 18

Aiden

Shannon, my seven-year-old niece, comes running back into the living room. My sister giggles because she knows what’s about to happen. She hands me a glass of whiskey and I mouth thank you. A frilly drink just won’t do today, especially since we lost our Christmas game and lost badly. Shannon grabs onto one of my legs and tries to climb me. My sister picks her up and puts her on my back and she puts the pink sparkly crown on my head. Katherine snaps several pictures on her phone giggling like a ten-year-old girl.

Shannon pulls out a brush next and starts to brush my hair so hard, I’m afraid I’ll go bald.

“You might have to cut that when you come on board,” she says. I give her a blank stare. “Oops. Sorry. No work talk today.” If my niece wasn’t on my back, I’d tell her to fuck off. She smirks at me as if she knows what I’m thinking and gazes up at her daughter before smirking at me again, then winks.

“Uncle Aid, you want to see my new princess dress?” I bend down so she can get off my back and she runs out of the room without waiting for my answer, her two pigtails trailing behind her.

“I’m not cutting my hair.” I point a finger at my sister’s face. She swats it away. “And I’m not discussing work today, but let me say, I’m leaning more toward the no category.”

“Fine. Keep that thing.” She runs a hand through my hair and gives it a good yank. “Just pull it back. And it’s happening. You and me, kid.”

There’s laughter coming from the other room, followed by a loud shriek. Katherine and I both groan at once.

“I can’t believe she showed up with a guy twenty-five years younger than she is. What happened to the guy she was living with in Vermont?” she whispers. Just as the words are out of her mouth, our mother and Eduardo come running into the kitchen with him chasing her. Katherine makes a gagging sound, and I look away from them.

It would be bad enough if only our mother and Eduardo were here, but our dad showed up too. He was supposed to be in Barbuda, but he arrived a couple of hours ago with a truck full of presents for his only grandchild.

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