Page 26 of Love on the Line

“Stop your hollering, I’m fine,” AJ calledout.

“See, I told you she’d be fine,” Kaylisaid.

AJ snorted at Kayli’s comment, knowing shewas anything but fine.

“She’s anything but fine,” Jen said rightbefore entering the kitchen and coming to a halt in front of AJ. “What the hellhappened? Are you all right? And why the hell are you dressed like that?”

AJ could only imagine what she looked likeafter her crying jag and sleeping in a ball on the couch. Her makeup wasprobably all over her face, hair a mess, and clothes rumpled. She straightenedand gathered some semblance of strength.

“I’m dressed like this because I wasmeeting Mathias this morning, as you are well aware. And no, I’m not fine. Howcould I be fine when one of my best friends and a stranger at a bar scheme toget me to meet said stranger under false pretenses? How could I be fine when Ihave the most amazing conversations with a stranger, think I’m falling for him,and learn that it’s all a charade?” Her strength was quickly waning. “How couldyou, Jen? And did you know about this, Kayli?”

“No, no, I promise,” Kayli saidemphatically. “Only on the way over here just now did Jen tell me what wasgoing on after she received a call from Mathias. He was really worried aboutyou. He’s really sorry,” she added with her own special kind of tenderness.

AJ looked to Jen and thought she actuallysaw regret and remorse. Too bad. She wasn’t getting any sympathy from her.

“I don’t give a damn if he’s sorry, whichhe should be, but it doesn’t excuse what happened. And you, myfriend,” she pointed at Jen, “are nokind of friend at all to pull some shit like that. How could you, Jen? Howcould you?” AJ closed her eyes against the fucking tears that just wouldn’tstop. When she felt arms circle her, she instinctively reached out in return,holding on tight to Jen.

“I’m so, so sorry it went down like this,”Jen started. “I really am. Damn his honor for coming clean.”

AJ choked on a sob. “Really? So we couldstart off a relationship on a lie, never to be revealed? What kind of trustdoes that inspire?”

Jen pulled back and stared at AJ. “Admittedly,none. But we really did have the best of intentions.”When AJ snorted and started to pull away, Jenheld tight to her arms and carried on. “Really, we did. And if it’s anyconsolation, Mathias was really,reallyreluctantto go along with my plan.”

“Yet he did anyway.”

“Only because I can be very persuasive,and I convinced him it’d all work out. That you’d see the humor in this andstill give him a chance.”

“Humor? Nothing about this is humorous.”

“But he really is perfect for you. Yourreluctance to meet anyone was holding you back.”

“Don’t you think I should have had somedecisions in this? Maybe you could’ve convinced me to go to the bar again, meethim,havethe courage to engage in conversationmyself.”

“Maybe,” Jen said softly. “I was justgiving you a nudge, speeding up the process.”

“It was wrong, Jen. And again, why thepush to have me meet someone? Why should my happiness revolve around having aguy in my life?”

Kayli chose that moment to speak up afterwatching the exchange up to this point. Jen released AJ, taking a small step tothe side. “Didn’t we go over this just last weekend? What, are you going toturn into some lonely spinster with no joy in your life? I know you won’t turninto a cat lady, because you hate cats.”

“Well, hate is a bit strong,” AJ saiddefensively.

“Pssh, whatever,you hate cats, and that’s fine.” Kayli crossed her arms, looking from AJ to Jenand back to AJ. “What Jen did, she went about it the wrong way, even if herheart was in the right place.” When Jen started to protest, Kayli held up ahand to halt any comments she wanted to make. “Uh, uh, don’t. You know it wasthe wrong approach, given what AJ went through with Brad, yet you did itanyway.”

“Thank you,” AJ said.

“However,”Kayli started again, “maybe this wasn’t a total fuck-up after all.”

Both AJ and Jen just gaped at Kayli, neverhaving heard her talk like this in all their years of friendship.

Kayli just waved a hand at them both. “So,yeah, this is the new Kayli. I’m going to speak my mind more often. Get used toit.”

“I like it,” Jen stated, giving her a widesmile.

“Me, too,” AJ added.

“Okay, can we all go have a seat and talkthrough this?” Jen asked.

“I need to pee and wash my face first, butfine, we’ll talk,” AJ said, making her way out of the kitchen and toward the stairs.Once she took care of herself and returned to the living room, Jen and Kayliwere seated, each holding mugs of tea. AJ noticed a third mug on the tablewaiting for her.

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