Page 23 of Enough
“No, really! You look great, Ev. I can see you’ve lost a ton of weight.”
“I’ve lost fifteen pounds. That hardly constitutes a ton when I gained fifty.”
“You still look amazing! You’ll get there. I know you will!”
“Why is the sex just meh?” I ask, attempting to refocus her on the question.
Gwen sighs. “I don’t know. You know I’m a commitment-phobe. I don’t know what possessed me to agree to marry him.”
“You love him… right?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
I reach out and grab her hand, forcing her to look me in the eye. “Gwen, if you’re not sure, don’t do it!”
She eyes me skeptically. “Wereyousure when you married Mike?”
“Yes!” I say without pause.
She stares at me as she shakes her head. “Oh, how soon they forget. Did having Kale make you lose so many braincells that you don’t remember the panic attack before the wedding?”
There’s a knock on the door. “Hey, hotties. You almost ready? Mike and I are starving.” I hear Alex’s voice and watch Gwen sigh heavily. She’s not telling me something. I just know it.
“Hold your horses,” Gwen shouts. “All you do is put on pants and you’re done. We actuallycareabout what we look like.”
“Aw, Gwen, you know I think you’re sexy in anything… or nothing.” Alex laughs.
Gwen rolls her eyes.
“Gwen?” I hush. “What’s gotten into you?”
“We’ll talk later,” she whispers back. “It’s date night and you haven’t been out on a date in… damn… how long has it been?”
I raise my eyebrows in uncertainty as I consider the question, applying a final layer of lipstick to my already plump lips. “It doesn’t matter. What’s important is we’re going out tonight! Let’s go!” I reach for my purse and realize I’ve become so used to carrying my diaper bag that a purse seems odd.
Mike’s parents agreed to watch Kale for the night so Mike and I could go on a date with Gwen and Alex. Mike and Alex get along fairly well. Too bad I can’t say the same for Mike and Gwen.
We walk out together and I see both Mike and Alex’s eyes focus on Gwen and her perky tits in her red dress. I feel slightly invisible.
“You lookgood,” Alex hums to Gwen.
“Thanks,” she murmurs dryly.
Mike diverts his attention to me and he smiles. “Ready to go?”
“Doesn’t Ev look fantastic?” Gwen asks, giving Mike an evil glare.
I feel like I want to crawl into a hole. I’m not good with attention and I know I don’t look even half as hot as Gwen does.
Mike stares for a moment. “Yeah, you look nice.”
I manage a small smile. Mike has never been good with compliments. My eyes dart to Gwen in time to see her flipping Mike off behind his back. Oh boy… This should be an interesting night.
Dinner goes fairly well, all things considered. Mike has to remind me several times that Kale is fine and that I don’t need to worry. I remind him Kale is only three months old and seems to have the sniffles. He doesn’t seem too appreciative when Gwen responds that I’m a good mom and that maybe a good dad would worry about his kid too. I have to tell her with my eyes to back off. I don’t need Mike to be in a pissy mood tonight. He’s already pissy more often than not.
When our separate bills come, I notice Gwen reach into her wallet and produce her credit card. Alex doesn’t even attempt to pay. Mike makes his usual pained expression as he places his card on the table. Every time a bill comes, he cringes. It’s trademark. I know for a fact his mom gave him cash for tonight so we could have a good time. I saw her when I came up from downstairs. Mike doesn’t know I know about it, and I’m surprised he pulled out his card rather than the cash. I shrug it off as my stomach aches. I’ve eaten way more than my fair share.
“Well, this was fun!” Alex says, standing and depositinghis napkin onto the table.
