Page 30 of It Couldn't Be You
Katie pulled a few plates down from my cabinet, all of them mix and match floral patterns I’d found over the years, much like the floral throw pillows on my couch. Pinks and greens sprinkled throughout my house.
“So, you told Gabe I was fired, I take it,” I said, an awkward attempt at addressing my situation. We all gathered around my kitchen table.
“It did come up.” Katie grimaced.
“Well, yeah,” I said through a mouthful of pizza. “It was a bit of a bummer.”
“You know it was because they couldn’t keep you on payroll, not a reflection of your work,” Katie said, all sympathy and comfort.
I nodded. “I know, or, you know, I hope that’s true. It hurts the ego to be fired, but it also hurts the bank account. I’m bringing in the new year with no money and no prospects.” I laughed as I said it, but no one laughed with me.
“No prospects, my behind.” Gabe rolled his eyes. “Breakup with your boyfriend, breakup with your job, and you have a world of prospects waiting.”
“Oh yes, I forgot I haven’t seen you since I was let go from the girlfriend position, as well.” I looked anywhere but in his syrupy brown eyes.
“I heard climbing out a window was involved?” Gabriel asked curiously.
“You heard right.” I nodded.
“In that sparkly dress you left in?” He lifted an eyebrow.
“Sparkly dress and all,” I said.
“I liked that dress,” he said. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“You liked the sparkly dress, but Emma wasn’t a fan of the sparkly ring,” Katie cracked up at her own joke.
I winced but laughed in spite of myself.
“We’re only hours away from a new year—a fresh start.” Katie leaned from her chair towards mine to wrap her arms around me. “Are you going to the firework show in this outfit?”
I set my pizza down and hugged her back. “Can we just eat pizza and watch movies? I’d happily fall asleep through the whole midnight thing.”
“Sure,” Gabe said while Katie said, “No way.”
“Why is the word ‘no’ coming out of your mouth after I say pizza and movies?” I demanded.
“If it was any old day of the week, I’d be like, sure—” Katie started.
“No, it’s the day I wasfired from my job—” I interrupted her.
“But!” Katie said loudly, cutting me off. “It’s New Year’s Eve. Your favorite holiday. If I may add, it is also a metaphorical day. A day that means a fresh start. With how this year is ending for you, how you start the next year is important.”
“I think starting it with a belly full of pizza and sweatpants on…is just the right way to start the year, metaphorically speaking, of course,” I countered.
“Wait, wait,” Gabe said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “I actually agree with Katie.”
“Wow, for once,” Katie gasped dramatically.
“I think you’ve had some nice moping after the breakup—” he continued.
“Moping? Who said I was moping?” I asked.
“There were murmurs of moping. But, with that, I think you might need something new, especially since this is your favorite holiday. I don’t want you to have a memory of that depressing New Year’s Eve you spent passed out on the couch after a bad breakup on the day you were fired. I think you should have a lifetime of fun New Year’s Eve memories. Where you look back years from now and say, ‘Oh wait, I forgot I was fired that day. All I remember is having fun with Gabe. And Katie.’”
I felt myself soften to the idea. “Okay, maybe.”
“Maybe?” Gabe said. “Maybe?”
