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I felt my eyes widen. “Why?”
“Honey, he was practically our son. We missed him, too.”
“I didn’t miss him,” I said plainly before taking a bite of my burger.
Onyx chuckled.
D wiped her hands on her napkin. “So, you don’t mind if I say hello, then?”
Blood started traveling up my chest, but I took a sip of water to keep it from hitting my face. “D, you’re married.”
She shrugged. “Yeah, but my friend used to have the biggest crush on him and she’s going through a divorce. Could help take her mind off things.”
I took another bite of my burger. Onyx chimed in. “If you mean your friend Lisa, don’t make me laugh.”
D rolled her eyes, but she let it go. I nudged Onyx under the table gently with my foot to thank her for the redirect.
“Honestly, honey. If he’s your neighbor, there is no reason you can’t be civil. I still can’t wrap my head around why you two split, anyway.” I shot daggers at Mom. She always was on my side so this felt like a dig. “Oh, don’t give me those eyes. You two were joined at the hip for years. You both gave up too soon over what, a couple of years apart? In the grand scheme of life, that’s nothing.”
Dad put a hand up. “Okay, dear. Let her just enjoy her achievement for now. You can talk to her about her dating life later.” I smiled over at Dad. He just took one for the team. He never cut Mom off onanydiscussion. She shrugged it off and ate, asked Uncle Len about work, how D’s husband was doing overseas, and I took on a few questions about my internship.
Once dinner was done, I tried to get up to help clear the table, but D waved me off. “This is your day. Sit down and relax. You’re gonna need it!”
Family was strange. One minute they guilt you about being skinny and not talking about your ex, and the next they’re making you relax because it’s your special day.
Once dinner was cleared, we all sat around outside while the kids played in the yard, blowing bubbles that D got from the car.
“So D, when’s your man supposed to be home?’ Onyx asked while the parents were inside.
“Supposed to be in two months, but I never hold my breath until closer. Things can change.”
“How you holding up? Must be tough with the kids.” I couldn’t imagine managing that alone.
“Eh, you get used to it. This is his third tour. We miss him, but you do what you gotta do. So, you nervous?
I shrugged. “Maybe a little. But I’ve been prepping for this for a while. And I’ve dreamt about it as long as I can remember. Maybe more excited than anything.”
“Well, I think it’s cool as hell you’re a doctor.”
“Thanks, D.”
We all sat quietly for a few minutes, then D leaned in her chair toward me. “So, what’s the deal with you and Mike?”
And the moment has passed. “No deal. He just moved back to town. Honestly, our apartment is pretty close to the hospital and he’s working there so it made sense he got a place over there.”
“And you didn’t want to jump his bones when you saw him?” She winked.
“No, no jumping.” I deadpanned.
Onyx giggled. “Nonothing.”
We both whipped our heads at her.
She shrugged. “What? D, lemme tell you. These two looked like nine years with a crush. Neither of them could look each other in the eye. Just pitiful.”
D busted out laughing and I adjusted in my seat. “That isn’t true. It was just a little awkward. We were close for a long time, then we didn’t see each other for a long time. Just caught me off guard but no biggie.”
They both rolled their eyes. “Listen, I may not be smart enough to be a doctor, but I wasn’t born yesterday. If it was no biggie, you wouldn’t be sitting like you had a rod shoved up your ass,” D said.
