Page 1 of Love on the Line

While AJ’s friends sat around her livingroom trying to convince her to join them for a Saturday night out, she silentlymulled over excuses to make, knowing she was running out of them.

She had pretty much wasted her entiresummer—her favorite time of year—doing nothing but sulking, and now with LaborDay only a week away, the rest of the year would surely fly by.

“Come on, AJ, it’s been six months forgoodness’ sake. That man shouldn’t still be dragging you down.” Jen, AJ’s bestfriend, made no bones about her dislike forthatman—AJ’s ex, Brad. Jen rarely said his name, preferring to call him a hostof other colorful ones, her latest favorite being “fucktard.”

“I knew you were always too good for thatslimeballand you’re finally rid of him. So, time to starta new chapter.” She took a healthy drink of her wine while winking at AJ overthe rim of the glass.

AJ scoffed at the idea thatshewas rid ofhim,when he’d been the one to dump her after two years together. Shewrinkled her nose in thought, poised to protest, but before she could say aword, Jen started again as if she’d read AJ’s mind.

“And so what if he’s the one who gave youthe send—off, he’s gone. He was a fucktard of the highest order, and so notworthy of you. I’m just sorry you didn’t see his duplicity behind the fake façade,and wasted all that time with him.”

“Well, I learned the hard way that looksaren’t everything,” AJ responded. She set aside her glass of the wine,preferring beer over the sweet drink Jen insisted she try.

“It’s definitely a start,” Kayli said. “Imean, who wants to be with an unattractive person?” Although Kayli wasn’t drinking,one would think she was already half tipsy as she giggled constantly throughthe conversation. She was also a bit of a klutz, seeming to trip over lint asshe made her way to the bathroom twice in the span of an hour.

“True that.” Jen laughed.

“Yeah, well, I’ll be sure to look beyond apretty face before I let the next guy move in and start making wedding plans.” AJ’ssarcasm wasn’t lost on her friends. Jen seemed to go through guys faster than anewborn went through diapers, whereas Kayli hadn’t had a boyfriend in whatseemed like years. AJ was more cautious, practically putting them through ascreening process tougher than the FBI. Evidently, Brad had been a master athiding his selfish, manipulative side.

He had been a new coworker at theadvertising agency where AJ worked, and an instant attraction occurred whenthey were assigned to the same team to work on a major project.

“To your defense,” Jen started, “you didput him through the paces before you got really serious. I think thejackwadactually thrived on the challenge. He only caredabout the conquest, proving he could get whatever he went after.”

“Gee, thanks,” AJ mumbled.

“And then the jerk had to go and takecredit for all your hard work,” Kayli added. “What a douche move.”

Jen spewed her wine, obviously notexpecting sweet, reserved Kayli to use that word. Hertwofriends couldn’t be more different from each other, with AJ falling somewherein between, but the three of them meshed perfectly. Jen, loyal to a fault, wasbrash and brutally honest, never intending to be mean even if many of hercomments came out that way. Kayli, although intellectually smart in a freakyway, was more naively innocent in an endearing way when it came to matters ofthe heart. Each had one another’s back no matter what the crisis may be.

While AJ handed Jen a napkin to wipe upher mess, Kayli continued on. “And to accuseyouof being the unsupportive bitch who wouldn’t stand by her man! Uh,hello, 1950 called and they want their chauvinistic pig back!”

Jen howled with laughter causing Kayli togiggle, and AJ couldn’t help but join them, thankful for their support. They’dbeen friends since college, and even now in their early thirties still managedto act like schoolgirls at times.Lighthearted occasions like this had beensunshine in an otherwise bleak period for AJ over the past few months.

She had been steadfastly focused on hercareer, having only a few casual relationships, so Brad’s intense interest inher had thrown her off-kilter. When he had relentlessly wooed and pursued her,she’d been flattered. After all, who could resist a charming, handsome, andseemingly like-minded man who said they could be the next dynamic duo ofadvertising? And while she would’ve liked to have said she’d been smart abouthow she eased into their relationship, truth was, she fell head over high heelsfaster than a cat could go from loving you one minute to scratching your eyesout the next.

AJ was not a cat person.

Then, finding out she had just been a pawnhe wanted to use in his attempt to rise higher in the agency had been quite ablow. It shook her confidence, both personally and professionally.

“If you ask me, he got off too easy simplybeing fired.” Jen threw aside the napkin and finished off the little remainingwine in her glass. “He should be blacklisted from any agency and forced todrive a garbage truck for the rest of his life.”

“Yeah, he’d fit right in with the rest ofthe stinky trash, huh?” Kayli giggled.

AJ could only chuckle as she shook herhead, actually thinking about Brad behind the wheel of a garbage truck. Herchuckles turned into full-on laughter, causing tears to stream down her face,which in turn became muted sobs as she began to feel sorry for herself. Again. Somethingshe never did. And it pissed her off that it was happening too frequently.

Wasn’t she stronger than this?

Jen was quick to pull AJ off the couch. “Oh,no you don’t. He doesn’t deserve your tears.” Jen practically dragged AJ up thestairs, leading her to her own bathroom as Kayli followed. “Kayli, pick outsomething awesome for AJ to wear, and while you’re at it, please find meanother blouse. Can’t be seen with wine-splotched clothes, now can I?”

“But—” AJ started to protest, only Jen wasquick to interrupt.

“But, nothing. You’re going to splashwater on your beautiful face, you’re going to put on some makeup and clothes,and you’re coming with us. No protests, no excuses. You need this.” While Kaylimade her way to AJ’s closet, Jen lifted AJ’s chin, making eye contact. “Youarestronger than this, you will getthrough this, and we need our friend back. So let’s go.” Jen turned AJ aroundand gave her a swat on the rear before turning to join Kayli in front of thecloset.

AJ stared at herself in the mirror, hatingthe puffy red eyes staring back at her. She took a deep breath and a longerexhale. “Okay, let’s do this,” she mumbled.

“Louder, and with more conviction,” Jencalled to her. And when AJ didn’t sound off soon enough, Kayli followed that upwith, “We can’t hear you,” in a sing-song voice.

AJ smiled, loving her friends more thanever at this very moment.

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