Page 50 of Perfect Tragedy
“No reason,” Jesse smiles and shrugs.
“I already sent him a text,” my dad says with a grin.
“Look at you!” I praise knowing he’s the least tech savvy person I know.
Our food arrives before long and I’m in the middle of listening to my dad tell me about the mare that’s expecting her baby any time and how he’s excited for its arrival.
Suddenly, Jesse turns to me and says, “So, I have an announcement to make.”
“You do?” I ask turning to him with surprise having no idea what he’s referring to.
“Yes. I was offered a job position in Oregon, one I can’t possibly turn down, and I want you to come with me, Sienna.”
I choke on the bite I’ve just placed in my mouth, “Excuse me?”
“I love you,” holy hell, he chooses dinner with my father and his girlfriend to tell me this: To ask me to move away? “And I want a future with you. Say you’ll come with me.”
I don’t think this could get more awkward until I look at my dad and see his mouth is wide open in shock with surprise consuming his face.
“Jesse, I uh don’t know what to say,” I respond, but the truth is I do know what to say. My insides are screaming no, but I don’t want to say that in front of everyone.
“Say yes. Say you want a future with me too.”
“I, um,-”
I’m saved from answering when my dad’s phone suddenly beeps.
I can’t help but smile a little when he composes himself, and places his glasses at the tip of his nose so he can peer at the screen.
He clears his throat and looks at me, “ “It’s Jack,” he says.
“Yeah? Tell him he owes me a text,” I instruct him yet very aware of Jesse’s agitation at his moment being interrupted. And that he is still waiting for my answer.
“He says that he’s coming home,” he smiles.
“He is?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, that’s great, but back to my moving, Sienna, and you coming with me,” Jesse interjects and I sort of want to punch him.
“Jesse, I need some time to think about that, okay?”
“Oh. Yes. Sure. Of course. Okay,” he seems crestfallen and I seriously wonder at his common sense. Was he really expecting me to jump up in excitement and scream yes? My job is here, my dad, Vanessa. How did I not know he’s insane? “I guess I did spring that on you, huh?” He laughs but it sounds hollow.
“We’ll talk later,” I tell him. I quickly see our conversation from a different perspective. Perhaps I’ve been a bit naïve, and certainly not fully attuned to the extent of Jesse’s feelings for me. Why else would he have risked this here and now?
“Yeah,” my dad clears his throat and I’m thankful he’s steering the conversation away from this train wreck. “Jack’s due some time off and is coming home for Virginia’s funeral so he can be with Blake.”
I nod and smile but it feels frozen on my face. I knew Blake would likely come home after I heard the news, I mean, I have no idea what kind of relationship he’s kept up with his mom over the years if at all, but I imagine there’s some things he needs to handle.
I just never expected that one of those things would be me.
11
My stress level is currently a thirteen out of ten, easily. It’s the day of the funeral and Jack asks me to attend with him. I had planned on going anyway, it’s the right thing to do, but I readily agree. I’ve been flat out panicking since then about seeing Blake again.
Blake.
