Page 28 of So Worth More
When Abby asked if anything was happening with Will at Thanksgiving dinner at her house, I’d been honest when I’d answered, “No, we’re just friends.” Though we were barely that at this point.
Despondent at the mention of Will, I’d missed the gleeful look on her face which soon slipped into something like concern. She shared a look with Josh but didn’t question me deciding to leave their home early. Being around a happy couple was hard when that happiness seemed to have moved further out of reach for me.
The office was closed for a few days over Thanksgiving so that we could all spend time with our families. I couldn’t spend all of it with Abby, even if Josh’s parents had invited me over too. They were sweet people, but I just wanted to wallow. Instead, I spent that time alone, trying to cut those strings that kept Will tied in my heart.
Twenty Three - Andy
Abby called me the first Saturday of December, sounding far too cheerful for the early hour. If I’d dared call her at this time, I could guarantee that I would be chewed out for it, but hypocrisy, thy name was Abby.
“Hello, hello, little brother!” Not giving me time to reply, she carried on, “So, I have a favor to ask. Well, it isn’t for me. It’s for someone I know well.” There was a strange stress on the last part. “They need to ask for a favor, but I’m sure you’ll be up for it.”
Grumbling, both at her all-too-chirpy tone and the early hour, as I’d been unable to sleep until really late and still woke with the dawn light. I managed, “What’s the favor, Abs? It’s too early for this shit, y’know?”
She cackled over the line, “Revenge for all those early calls you’ve given me.” She paused for a long minute, making me pull the phone away from my ear to check that she hadn’t muted me or put me on hold, since she’d done both before. She was quiet for a moment longer before she said in a more sober tone, “You can say no, okay? Jonas needs a date to a charity gala, tonight. He’d like to take you.”
“What?” I shot up from the sofa and started pacing, “He’s going to out himself officially? He’s always kept away from discussions on his sexuality, I mean, I figured that if you were setting me up with him, he was at least bi, but….”
“Andy, chill out a sec. So, it’s been rumored for ages that he’s bisexual, and when I met him, I’d told him about you. I even showed him a picture on my phone. He said you were cute.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, so I said that you’d be interested but were coming out of something. I may’ve mentioned after Thanksgiving that you were still single. He called me just now, asking if I would get you to call him, and to warn you that he wants to take you to this gala.”
“Holy shit!”
Her laughter echoed in my ears as she disconnected the call and texted me his number. I was going to call Jonas Temper. He wanted to take me on a date! Somewhere we would be seen.
I paced for a little while longer to burn off some nervous energy and psych myself up for calling him. Deciding to send him a text first so that he had my number too, I almost dropped my phone when he called me instead.
“Andy,” his rich voice held no accent, having likely been trained out of him.
“Hi,” I squeaked, my throat closing with nerves. He laughed, which soothed me. “Hey,” I tried again the word coming out normally this time, “Abby said something about a gala?”
“Yeah, listen, I know it’s a big ask, but I need to go with someone and I finally feel ready to share that part of myself with the world. I’ve always wanted to do it on my terms, y’know what I mean?”
“I get that. I really do. Are you sure you want to do that with someone you haven’t met yet?”
“This might sound weird, but I think it’s safer this way. Say, for example, I was in a relationship, and the guy freaked out because he couldn’t take the pressure of the limelight, that would ruin everything.”
His words held a note of pain. There was more to this story, I was sure of that, but I wanted to meet him. Asking me to help him like this was an honor.
“Actually, I get that. I have to be honest. There’s this guy…..” I took the time to fill in this perfect stranger, the whole story of Will, and everything that I still had to tell my sister. When I was finished, I heard him sigh and thought for sure I’d ruined everything.
“You have no idea how much of a relief that is. I was going to ask if it could just be as friends. I know Abby wants this to be a proper date, and for us to really hit it off, but I have my own Will. He doesn’t want to risk outing me, but doesn’t want to live in the closet, so things are kinda off just now.”
My heart hurt for Jonas, “Well, that’s perfect then. I can handle a little heat for being your first guy date. Then your man will see it isn’t a big deal, and that it won’t ruin your career. Then you can start being seen with him in public.” I tried to sound enthusiastic, but I was nervous. The idea of being in the limelight for this was scary, but I could handle that to allow Jonas to come out in his own way.
He laughed, clearly relieved, “Let’s hope so. Maybe your man will get the hint that you aren’t waiting around forever and do something. I’m so glad you’re on board and I can be honest with you. I didn’t want to give you the wrong impression.”
“I’m glad I can help you out. How fancy is this gala? Because I have a decent suit, but not a tux.” I began to stress out at finding a tux at this late stage. I didn’t think I could afford to buy one, but I could rent a decent-fitting one, possibly.
“Abby has your measurements apparently, and is altering one my assistant is taking over. Then they will take it to you. I’ll need your address for that, and for the limo to pick you up.”
It all felt like something out of a fairy-tale, but at the same time there was a trickle of unease flowing through me.
As if sensing it, Jonas tried to ease my conscience. “You don’t owe Will anything. Certainly not after weeks of radio silence on what’s happening. You’ve asked, and he hasn’t given you anything. You can’t wait around forever. I think he needs to learn that.” He paused for a moment. “For my own part, I’m going to message my own man and let him know you’re a friend before he sees any photos.”
I thought about warning Will, but decided not to. I didn’t need to check with him that it was okay to go on a friend date. Sure, to the outside world it’d look like a proper date. If he was hurt by that, then maybe he could see that he had been hurting me with all these weeks of nothing.
