Page 28 of Class Act

“My curves would be better if they were stretched out over your frame.”

I stood and walked into my kitchen as the timer I’d set on my phone rang. “No one is entirely happy with their body, you know,” I called as I grabbed a hot pad. “But that doesn’t mean there’s actually anything wrong with any of us. I think we’re all beautiful.”

I pulled a homemade lasagna out of the oven and took a deep breath, letting its scent rush over me along with the steam. The smell of bubbling cheese, savory sausage, and tangy marinara filled the air with happiness. It was going to be delicious.

“Do you think we did it out of order, baking cookies first?” Ruby asked as she came to grab the salad fixings out of my fridge.

“Keep those nasty thoughts to yourself, Ruby,” Aryn giggled. “We’re old enough to have dessert first.”

“And afterward, too,” I reminded them with a dimpled grin.

We settled in to light chit chat as Aryn put her breadsticks on a serving plate and Ruby mixed up a green salad. These were my favorite kind of weekend nights, with my friends in my kitchen making good food and talking about whatever. Lizzie had provided the cookies, so she stayed on the couch watching us move about in familiar patterns. We were only missing Meredith, who was attending an HOA meeting at her condo complex, where I was sure she was taking on her mortal enemy. I couldn’t wait for the wild tales she’d have for us next week.

“What’s the movie choice?” Aryn asked as we filled our plates and moved to my living room where I’d set up TV trays.

“He’s Just Not That Into You,” I responded as I set my food down.

“Ben Affleck is delicious in that movie.” Ruby took her seat. “Maybe even more so than this lasagna, although it looks amazing, Hailey.”

“Thanks.”

“I wonder if Ford Whittaker is a lasagna guy,” Lizzie tossed out.

I paused with my finger over the play button on my remote and gave her a look. “This is a Ford-free zone.”

She held up her hands and laughed. “Fine. Sorry.”

I glanced at Aryn as I hit play, and she gave me a sympathetic look. Only she knew how hard I’d been working to leave thoughts of him behind. I went through the motions of chewing my food and watching the movie, but Lizzie’s little comment kept my mind chugging along through all the ups and downs of love on the screen. Did Ford like lasagna? What would my friends think of him? Why did his gray eye color have to be so appealing? And the little flecks of silver I’d seen in his end-of-the-day facial scruff . . .

“What’s the sweetest thing a guy has ever done for you?” Lizzie asked when we paused the movie for a food reload. “Like, how did you really know if a guy was into you or not?”

“That’s tough,” Ruby answered first. “I dated a guy for a couple of months who was really good at hunting and skinning. He brought my family a lot of venison.”

The rest of us stopped what we were doing and looked at her. For a second she was oblivious, reloading her plate with gooey lasagna, but she paused with a string of cheese dangling off the serving spoon.

“Ruby, my friend, your life is full of odd stories, and I am here for it,” Aryn broke the silence with a belly laugh. “Did that feel like true love to you?”

Ruby cracked up. “No. I think he was in love with what my mother could do with the venison, because she always invited him for dinner. Sweet and sour venison, venison dumplings, venison low mein.”

“How many deer did he bring you?” I asked.

“Probably four before my dad scared him off. Said his wife wasn’t going to be wooed away from him with superb cuts of game.” Now Ruby was busting up, too.

“That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.” I sputtered.

“Well, you asked what the nicest thing was, and that’s it.” She dried her eyes. “I never thought he actually loved me, but it was nice to have some attention for awhile.”

I sighed as she handed me the serving spoon. “I have nothing to compare to that, Rubes. What about you Aryn?” I scooped my helping and passed her the spoon, moving on to the salad.

Aryn wrinkled up her face as she dove into the lasagna. “I haven’t had much luck in the love department, which should be obvious considering I’m still single at age thirty-two. But there was this guy in high school who sometimes left little notes of encouragement in my locker. He did it anonymously, but I knew it was him. It was sweet.”

“That is sweet,” I said with a soft smile.

“Why didn’t he fess up?” Ruby asked. “Or ask you out?”

Aryn blushed, which forced Ruby and I to pause on our way back to the living room. Lizzie, hearing the silence, stopped herself before sitting back on the couch and bounced back up to face the kitchen.

“Is there a scandal we should know about?” Lizzie asked.

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