Page 30 of The New Year's Party
“Huh?”
“Your tie.”
“Too tight,” he said, yanking it loose with so much strength it cut into the back of his neck.
“Stop, you’re messing it up,” Hellie said softly. “Let me fix it.”
She unbuckled herself. The overhead lights in the car dimmed as she propped herself up on her hip to face him. Her small hands went to work, unknotting it and restarting the whole process.
Looking at her, his heart pounded even harder. She was forcing his hand, making him lie. Well, he’d lie, then. He’d lie, and lie, and lie, and see how she liked it.
How would she feel if he cornered her? If she felt the noose tightening aroundherneck?
He could feel the vein in his forehead popping, beating,beat,beat,beat.
“Perfect,” she said, patting the tie. “Does that feel better?”
“Fucking great,” he said, pulling away and wrenching open his door. He exploded out of the car, slammed the door shut, and walked toward the house, not even waiting for Hellie. He could soon hear her quick steps, just behind. Sleet was wetting his hair, zinging into his cheeks.
The weather was fucking awful, but it couldn’t be worse than the storm in his chest rattling for release.
Time to party.
Chapter 14
Bennett
“Doug! Long time!” said Bennett, opening his arms wide to his old friend.
“Hey,” said Doug, holding up a stopping hand, “gotta use the facilities. Be right back.”
“Okay, man, okay,” said Bennett.
Jenn had just come in the door too and was side-hugging Hellie, who looked miniature and faded next to solid healthy-as-a-horse Jenn. Olivia, now in a breathtaking yellow slip dress with her dark hair twisted up, was hovering with a half smile, waiting her turn for hugs. Bennett wondered what she and Phelps might have said to one another when he stepped out for the bags. Wondered if his wife had told Phelps their secret was exposed. If so, Phelps had taken it in stride; he seemed utterly unfazed as he wrapped Hellie in a hug and showered compliments on her and Jenn.
Doug came blustering back out of the bathroom, red in the face, and made a beeline for Bennett.
“Okay, bring it in, B. What’s up, man,” said Doug, grabbing one of Bennett’s hands in his and beating Bennett’s back with the other. “What. Is. Up. My. Man.”
Phew—Doug didn’t smell good. His breath stank, sweat was ringing his armpits, and his hand in Bennett’s was clammy. Still, Bennett felt warm seeing him. It was easy to reduce people tothe updates you heard about their lives. Easy to scoff at their drama from a distance. Then you saw the real person, standing in front of you like Doug was now. You felt the scratch of his nails as you clasped hands for the bro-style back-pounding, and you remembered that the big highlight reel of failures was made up of a million little decisions you could actually understand, if you took care, if you stopped to look.
“Hey, I’m sorry about the miscarriage this year,” Bennett said quietly as Doug finally released him. Bennett had texted, and Olivia had sent flowers, just like they had for the first, but he never heard back.
“Yeah...” Doug’s eyes shot around the room. Bennett wasn’t sure if he didn’t want to talk about it, or was afraid who might overhear. “Hey, we should get some music going, right?” He pulled out his phone. “It’s too fucking quiet in here! It’s a party!”
“How’s it been, moving back to The Region? How’s your grandma?” said Bennett, trying to recapture Doug’s attention and move to safer conversational ground. “Oh, and I hear you have a fancy new job...”
Doug refocused on Bennett, lowered his phone, and did a little shoulder-roll dance, quick-stepping in place with his feet, like he couldn’t contain all his energy.
“Good, good, everything’s good, man, can’t complain.” He smiled and shook his head, like he was in awe of his own good luck.
For a minute, Bennett was reminded of the old Doug who had first brought them all together for that very first New Year’s. Who had designed the most awesome reimagining of Clue of all time. Who, at two in the morning in his mom’s kitchen, had made them all link arms to do tequila shots. Who had made them all swear they’d always ring in the New Year together.
An oath that only lasted nine years, followed by a five-yeargap. But even tonight, at their tenth party, Bennett had to acknowledge they were here because of Doug. The original stable center.
“Hey, I have news,” said Doug, stepping back a little from Bennett and repeating, “Some news, guys, some news,” as silence fell and the group’s attention turned to him. Bennett snuck a glance at Hellie. She was pale, her hands clasped under her chin, her eyes on Doug. Were they... pregnant?
“So, as you all know,” said Doug, “I’ve been working my ass off at EdgeTech Gutters... hah! Let me back up, let me tell you—fear sells gutters.” He laughed. Allie, Phelps’s surprisingly young date, released an uncertain titter. “Like... no onewantsgutters, okay? They’re one of those annoying expenses. Like, your gutter gets an infestation, or breaks, and...fuck!Right?”
