Page 12 of The Fadeaway
“Have fun. Get drunk, kiss boys or girls… just kiss someone.” She purses her dark purple lips and kisses the air.
“I really don’t think that’s going to happen.” I huff a nervous laugh, but the excitement of the unknown makes butterflies dance in my stomach.
“See you later.” Willa waves. “Nice to meet you, Tabitha.”
Tabitha returns the wave and then turns to me. “Why don’t you follow me to my place and we can pre-game and then catch a ride with Brody to the party. He takes longer to get ready than anyone I know so we should have plenty of time for a drink or two.”
This slightly embarrassing dirt on Brody somehow puts me at ease and a drink before walking into my first college party sounds great.
Tabitha’s apartment is just a few blocks from campus. It’s smaller than the place I rent for me and Christian, but I’m still jealous as I take in her cute décor – white couch, light pink throw pillows. The thought of a white couch anywhere near my son makes me cringe. And the toys and kid stuff that always seems to make its way to the living room no matter how many times I tell him to put it in his room doesn’t make for a very chic space.
“What do you want to drink? I’ve got wine, tequila, vodka, rum, a bunch of mixers.”
“Whatever you’re having is fine. I just need to make a phone call real quick.”
“You’re not bailing on me already, are you?”
I shake my head. “I have to call and check in on my son.”
“Get out, you have a kid?”
“Yep,” I say, and she doesn’t look surprised or weirded out, anything really. Just accepting. “A son, Christian. He’s three.”
“Well, call him, do what you need to do. I’m going to pour us two very strong glasses of rum and diet.”
She pours the drinks as I settle on to her couch. Dropping my glass down on the side table, she carries hers toward an open door I assume leads to her bedroom. “I’m gonna change. Holler when you’re done. I want to hear your story, Katrina Phillips.”
I take a small sip of the rum and diet. I can’t remember if I’ve had rum before, but I’m pleased to discover I don’t hate it. Pressing send, I take a larger gulp hoping it’ll ease my nerves. Nadine answers on the second ring. “Hi, Katrina. Christian was just asking about you. Well, you know before he darted off to the next thing that caught his attention.”
“He was?” I smile into the phone. “How’s he been?”
“Busy. Just like his father always was. I always used to tell Victor I hoped someday he’d have a kid as busy as him. ‘Course I assumed he’d be around to raise him.”
She goes quiet which is more alarming than her rant.
“Victor isn’t there? I thought he was coming down tonight.”
She sighs, and I breathe through my nose and let it out slowly trying to erase the irritation I feel. “He had a slight change of plans, but he’ll be here tomorrow. Christian’s out back with Bill filling the bird feeders. You want me to call him in to talk?”
“No, that’s alright. Can you just tell him goodnight and I love him and that I’ll call him first thing tomorrow morning?”
“You don’t want him to call before bed?”
“Well actually I’m just getting ready to go out with a friend so I’m not sure…” I know it’s not the same, but suddenly I feel like Christian has had two parents flake on him tonight. “Actually, yes, have him call me.”
“How about I have him call first thing in the morning instead? He really should be getting to bed.”
“Oh. Okay. Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Enjoy your night, Katrina,” she says, and I think it’s pity I hear in her voice.
We say our goodbyes and I toss my phone into my purse as if it’s some symbol of the responsibilities of my real life.
Tabitha is in her room holding up two dresses when I walk in. “What do you think?” She moves the one in her right hand in front of her. “Little black dress?”
It’s a simple dress – short, low cut. It’s more barely-there-dress that just so happens to be black, but with Tabitha’s long legs and tiny waist, I have no doubt she could pull it off.
“Or the pink?” The way she practically squeals with excitement I can tell which she prefers. And when she holds it up to her face, it compliments her pale skin tone and auburn hair. She’s like a hotter coed version of Molly Ringwald inPretty in Pink.
