Page 37 of Sweet Love From Saturn

Saturn

“Do you need me to come over and help set anything up?” Ava asked as we walked through the aisles of the grocery store.

As badly as I fought against having a small party, Mccoy and my parents convinced me that it would be nice to have one. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a gathering and the idea was starting to grow on me. I’d gone from not wanting to do anything to now wanting to prepare this enormous feast and getting card games ready. Aaron and Mccoy wanted to cook something on the grill, but I told them they could do all of that if I won the competition. All the support from my family and friends had lifted my spirit, but I wouldn’t get too excited until the competition was over.

“If you have the time, it would be appreciated. You make the best potato salad and I could use the help. I told everyone dinner would be done at six, so I’ll be prepping tonight and starting tomorrow morning,” I replied.

“Girl, you actin’ like my momma on Thanksgiving. I was thinking some finger foods, a few drinks, then everybody get out. But you cooking everything from fried turkey to collard greens.”

“If I’m gon’ do it, I might as well do it big. Plus, this is the first and maybe the last gathering I’ll have for a while.”

“Okay.” Ava shrugged. “Do you have paper plates and plastic silverware?”

“No. I need to get that and some Solo cups.”

For a while, Ava and I continued through the aisles in silence. It wasn’t until I noticed her staring off into the distance that I inquired about the sudden change in energy.

“Something on your mind?”

“Yes…but I don’t know how to come out with it.”

“Just say it. You’ve never been the type to bite your tongue, so don’t start now.”

“It’s about Aaron,” she blurted.

Confused, I halted my steps and stared at her to continue. What my brother had to do with anything was beyond me.

“I…uh, didn’t know he was moving back to Pleasant Springs.”

“None of us knew he was moving back home. But even if we did, what does Aaron moving back have to do with you?” I inquired.

From the way she fidgeted with her hands, unable to keep steady eye contact, I knew I was in for some information I wasn’t expecting.

“Remember when I came back for Grandma May’s funeral?”

“Yes.”

“Remember how I went back to Cali without so much as giving you a goodbye?”

“Ava, stop breadcrumbing me and say what you have to say.”

“Aaron took my virginity that weekend,” she stated, shocking the hell out of me.

Part of me knew Ava wouldn’t lie about something like that, but my brother had very well been with his now ex-girlfriend at that time. Not to mention, the only reason she hadn’t been here for the funeral was because she had her own family issues goingon. Whether her family issues were severe enough for her not to be here for my grandmother’s funeral was an answer I’d never get. Nevertheless, Aaron was committed.

“It was a little after eleven when Aaron came by the house, looking for you. He said you weren’t answering your phone and he was starting to get worried. I knew he wasn’t lying because he’d even called your sister to tell her you weren’t with me. Not thinking, I jumped in the truck with him to look for you. Saturn, we drove around this small ass city for two hours and still didn’t find you. Absentmindedly, Aaron drove to his hotel room and we were there until Tiffany said she spoke with you.

“Naturally, we started talking and he vented a little bit about his relationship and living in Arizona. Shit wasn’t going well and he had suspicions about ol’ girl cheating on him. He didn’t go into detail about it, but I think not having his woman there at a time like that to console him messed him up. He was already in his head about Grandma May. Not knowing what to do, I gave him an innocent hug and he never let me go. One thing led to another and it happened.”

I didn’t know how to feel about Ava telling me this right now. It was bad enough we were in a public place having this discussion, but for her to wait years to tell me this made me feel indifferent. It made sense for her to tell me now since the opportunity presented itself, but I never would’ve thought of them being intimate.

“Are you mad at me?”

“I’m not mad… Just trying to process everything you told me.”

“I wanted to tell you back then, but we were so far removed that I thought it was pointless. I never thought I’d see him again honestly. I never came home to visit, and from the looks of things, Aaron didn’t either. There were so many emotionsinvolved that I thought being quiet about it would be for the best. Plus, he had a whole woman.”

Although anger wasn’t one of the emotions taking over me, I could see why Ava’s mind drifted there. I’d always thought the way she left for Cali after my grandmother’s funeral was questionable. However, I respected her point of view. I agreed that our friendship was so far removed that knowing this situation would’ve only made things worse. My mind was all over the place back then and there was truly no telling how I would’ve reacted.

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