Page 77 of Unexpectedly In Love

“His phone rings, he gets up, answers it and then he comes back to the table. He is a different man.”

I can feel that this story is about to make me laugh.

“I continue eating, then I see him tense up. Two guys in bubble coats enter Russel’s, my date opens the menu and ducks behind it.” Rosemary begins to shake her head like she was in church.

“Oh no.” Sage sits up slowly.

“Girl, yes. One of the guys walks up to the table, drags a chair, sits next to us, and says at least you’re a pretty bitch.”

I clutch my imaginary pearls. “I would have thrown some hands, who is he calling bitch?”

“Right!” Cassia slaps at the side of the tub.

“Okay!” Sage agrees.

Rosemary puts up her hand and we all stop talking. “Wait, there is more. He proceeds to say to the guy, you left me alone at home to come on a date. Why are you cheating on me again, Jermaine?”

Cassia, Sage, and I all pause with our mouths open.

“What did you do?” I ask.

“Well, the boyfriend threw my drink and everything on the table at my now ex-date. I got up calmly, paid the cashier for my drink and food. And I left. He was screaming my name, but I acted like it wasn’t me.” Rosemary chuckles. “I parked near the restaurant so I could see the fight escalating. I jumped in the car and drove away. I will not be dating for a while.”

“Snap, Rosie. I’m sorry this happened.” I reach across and rub Rosemary’s knee. “I will take you for sushi next week.”

“Oh! Speaking of sushi, you wouldn’t believe who I ran into. And they asked for you Rosie!” Cassia is so excited she begins to rock in the tub.

“Who?”

“Beetle! He is back.” Cassia claps her hand against the tub in excitement.

Beetle was Rosie’s nerdy best friend from pre-k to high school.

“Oh, he is. Really?” Rosemary’s face shows signs of surprise with a hint of sadness. “I would love to see him. He stopped contacting me after high school.” Rosemary gazes down at her feet seeming lost in her old memories.

“Yeah, because Marcus was a jealous asshole,” Sage comments, and she rocks from side to side on the couch.

“Yes, he was. How is Beetle doing?” Rosemary asks.

“He asked for you and I told him you and Marcus are done and that you have kids.” Cassia is so excited over nerdy Beetle asking for Rosemary.

I guess it’s because we all knew Marcus, but Beetle was like family. He was a nerdy, Japanese boy with huge kneecaps and long gangly limbs, he wore the old school coke bottle glasses. That’s why we called him Beetle because he resembled one.

“Does he look the same, nerdy, bucked teeth?” I needed to know.

“What do you call a beetle when it metamorphosed? A butterfly?” Cassia scratches her head.

“You are so silly, that’s a caterpillar.” Sage holds her belly and begins to laugh.

“I don’t know what’s the life cycle of a Beetle. But Beetle is beetling.” Cassia chuckles. “He is fine!”

“Beetle? Are you sure?” I had to ask because I couldn’t see it.

“Sis, I’m 100% sure and I’m 100% sure he still likes Rosie.” Cassia rocks her head as she looks at Rosie.

“Yes, he liked me and I liked him, but I was with Marcus.”

“You liked Beetle, EWWWWW,” Sage shouts.

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