Page 34 of Constantine: Britain's Story: Part 2
“So?” She holds her hands up like the answer is obvious.
“So…I’m seeing someone else. And it takes more than love to make a relationship work. It takes trust and communication, two things Liam has proven to me to be lacking.”
“You do remember yesterday, when I could barely get you to admit you liked Matthias, right?”
“I like Matthias, there’s something there.”
“Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?” Jess’ tone is a little bit bitter.
“Are you mad at me right now?” I ask cautiously.
“I’m not mad at you, but I am frustrated. You love Liam. Liam loves you. From what I can tell, it’s the end-all-be-all type of love. The mythical kind of love you read about, but don’t experience. And you’re just going to mess with some other guy’s emotions because you have something to prove to Liam? Yourself? It’s wrong. Sit and think on it, and if afterwards you can honestly tell me you are over Liam or don’t love him anymore,thenyou should go out with Matthias. But if you can’t do that, let him go. Don’t make him a pawn in your game because if the roles were reversed, you wouldn’t want that either.”
I anger instantly, but then her words start to sink in. There isn’t one thing she just said that isn’t true. I don’t know that I can go back to Liam, but I am starting to realize, maybe, I shouldn’t be dating Matthias.
“This morning you were pumped about me going out with Matthias, though.”
“I think these text messages and Liam coming back make a difference. I know you’re smart enough to see that whether you want it to or not, Liam being here changes things. If you feel strongly about Matthias, then wait. Wait till you’re sure you can get over Liam. Otherwise you run the risk of doing things you’ll regret and hurting people who don’t deserve it along the way.” She sighs before continuing, “I am grumpy, so I’m sorry this is all coming out in a bitchy tone. I will always be Team Britain, so if you want to date Matthias, I will root you on. I just don’t want you to make the same mistake as…someone I know. That’s all.”
“Someone you know?” I raise an eyebrow in question. Jess has been acting weird ever since this morning, but she doesn’t acknowledge my question.
“Want to go swimming?” She sits up abruptly from her spot on the bed.
“What? No, I want my best friend to talk to me about what’s going on.”
“I’m not ready. Not yet.”
“I can respect that. Honestly, I can. But not forever, okay?”
“Okay.”
“You know, I’m Team Jess, too, right?” She gives me a look in return that I can’t quite make out the meaning of, but she nods anyway. I push a piece of her dark brown hair out of her eyes to make sure she can see how sincere I’m being. After a second, she finally nods in acceptance.
“So then I guess I should make a decision about Matthias, right? Do you think I should cancel our date?” God, I feel awful just thinking about it. I do like him. I do care about him. I don’t want to end it, but I don’t want to hurt him either.
“I don’t know, Brit,” Jess says on a sigh. “Maybe go on the date and get your answer that way. Maybe you go, and if it doesn’t feel good, you’ll know it’s not what you want. Or maybe you go, and it’s better than you expected, and the feelings deepen, and you realize it’s worth it to move forward with Matthias.”
“Right…yeah, I think I’m going to go. But after that I have to make a decision one way or the other. Hold me to it, please?”
“I will.” Jess stares off after she says it. I wish she would just tell me what the hell is going on, but I’ll do my best to give her time. Doesn’t mean I won’t try to cheer her up, though.
“Wanna start Queen Charlotte before dinner gets here? I’ll make you a margaritaaaa…” I use my most enticing voice.
“Duh, yes.” She rolls off the bed and Eden and I trail behind her down the stairs. Jess heads for the great room and I branch off towards the kitchen when the doorbell rings.
I stop, calling out to Jess, “Are you expecting something?”
“Nope!” She calls back. I check the peephole before opening the door.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I ask Alex as he moves right past me and into the house, not even acknowledging me or the baby sitting on my hip.
“Damian called and said he was in town. Said to come for din–” He stops talking and stares down the entrance hall to where Jess is standing, frozen, in the great room, but he quickly resumes, “dinner.” Turning towards me so Jess can’t hear, he says, “I didn’t knowshewas going to be here.”
“Mmkay, well, time to grow up. Jess is my best friend and she’s doing me a big favor by being here.” Damian and Jess look like actual best friends compared to Alex and Jess. They’re like oil and water, cats and dogs. Whatever it is, these two just don’t mix. He grunts his reply and heads towards the kitchen while Jess stalks him with her eyes until he’s out of sight. I drop Eden into her mom’s arms before heading into the kitchen to make Jess’ marg.
Alex is rooting through the pantry while I stand just outside at the drinks station. “So you’ll never guess who I saw today…” Alex turns around holding a bag of almonds. He raises his eyebrows in shock and question, but doesn’t say anything.
“Yeah, Liam’s back.”
