Over. (This. Is. Not. Over. #2) (28 page)

              “Athletes have a way of finding each other.” Jax says with a nod. “They’re their own frat.”

“I agree.” Wynston says. “I played baseball in college with Nat’s father. We ended up best friends and then our sons ended up best friends.” He points and nods at Malcolm and Nat in approval. I don’t even look at those assholes.

              “Oh that’s special.” Elise says.

              “It is.” Angie agrees.

              “Very good.” Jax adds.

              Silence.

              So … where do we go from here?

              “Uh, Nat’s wife,” Angie says, “Dena, is a little under the weather about the whole fire thing.” Angie gives an ‘eek’ face.

              “Poor thing.” Elise says. “She and Laura must be close.”

              “Very. Such a pity.”

              “Is Laura safe? Her family hasn’t released a statement.” Elise looks at Lola.

              “Oh she’s fine.” Angie waves her off. “Oh! And that’s little Ralphie, Jacob and Gwyneth’s son.” Angie smiles and waves at Ralphie. Ralphie smiles and waves back. Damn, he looks like Jacob’s twin.

              “Gwyneth?”

              “Oh, that’s my real name.” Winnie says with a wave and a smile of her own. I look at her and she seems like the cool as hell type: dark hair, red lipstick, smiling ear to ear. I can tell Danny really likes her. When Danny came to the table, Winnie yanked her into a big hug and then pushed Lola out of the way so that she could sit next to her. They were whispering with each other as I sat down and the only thing I could make out was Winnie saying:
Come on ‘D’, ignoring my calls for two days? Family’s got to stick together.
So Danny went from being Danielle to being Danny to being D. Pretty soon she won’t have a name at all. And I guess she’s graduated from being part of the ‘the crew’ to being family. I tuned her ass out after that. Because as much as I want to hold on to this fantasy of getting Danny back, the reality is that when she came to this table, Malcolm’s crew was all over her. Jacob and Cadence bear-hugged her, Nat hugged her politely, Malcolm’s parents kept saying how beautiful she is and Malcolm wrapped her in his arms and buried his face in her neck. That was hard to watch. It was hard to watch him do that, it was hard to watch her eyes close when he did that, it was hard to hear him whisper ‘I love you baby’, it was hard to see her look up through her lashes after he said it, and then nudge him away. She was playing coy with him. She likes him. It’s obvious. Why am I still fighting over her? Marla would cross the seven seas for me, Danny is looking up at Malcolm through her lashes. Danny doesn’t want me anymore. Why am I not with Marla right now?

              “Now Winnie, how did you and Jacob meet?” Elise asks.

              “Actually, we were a hookup as well.” She smiles at Rena who smiles back. “Nat’s wife introduced me and Jacob when I was a junior in college and Jacob was in his first year of law school.” She looks at Jacob and smiles. I look over to Jacob who gives a small smile back, nods his head and then takes a sip of his scotch.

              “And how long have you two been married for?”

              “Are you asking when did I rescue Jacob from his wayward ways?” Jacob gives another small smile and nod while evading all eye contact. What the hell is wrong with this dude? The whole table, besides Matt, Malcolm, Jasmine and me, laughs. Malcolm hates me, I hate Malcolm and Matt hates the fact that Jacob was holding Georgie yesterday. Jasmine is highly pissed about Marlon’s face; Elise had to damn near threaten her to come. So it’s no surprise that she’s not even pretending to enjoy herself. “He and I married when he was in his third year of law school so for six years.” She gives a small happy clap and the ladies say
Oh … that’s sweet.
Well, everyone except for Jasmine who’s still mad about Marlon’s face.

              “And then you had your baby.” Elise says with a dreamy look on her face.

              “We do and he’s a year older than Nicky. They were actually born a month a part, Ralphie was born on March 7
th
and Nicky was born February 7
th
.” Winnie turns to Danielle and smiles, proud that she remembers Nicky’s birthday. Danielle smiles back and blows her a kiss. They both laugh.

              “Malcolm was born February 8
th
.” Wynston says.

              “Oh really?” Elise says.

              “He sure was.” Angie says that as if Malcolm being born on February 8
th
is an achievement. I was born January 2
nd
, who gives a shit?

              “And Danielle, you’re birthday just passed.” Wynston says. “December 1
st
.” He says with a politician’s smile.

              “It did.” Danny says with a smile of her own. “I turned twenty-eight.”

              “Oh, to be twenty-eight again.” Angie says.

              “Tell me about it.” Elise answers. “Apparently Halle Berry wishes she was twenty-eight too.”

              “Oh I heard about that baby of hers, how tacky.” Angie shudders.

              “Very.”

              “Now Marlon,” Wynston says, “when did you and Jasmine marry?”

“This past summer.” Marlon says with a smile. Marlon has the remarkable ability to act happy in times of turmoil. I both admire and hate this trait in him.

              “Nice wedding, at the Ritz.” Jax says.

              “Oh it was and Jasmine was
stunning
.” Elise says. “Dressed in a beautiful Vera Wang gown, what was it called, my love?”

              “Lisette.” Jasmine answers and then reaches for her water glass again.             

              “Yes, Lisette. Vera likes to name her gowns.” Elise says with an eye roll and shrug. “But it was beautiful on Jasmine with her coloring and her hair was pulled up … she was just breathtaking.”

              “Oh, I can only imagine. A wedding at the Ritz in a Vera? That says it all.” Angie says. “Now Jasmine, did you go to college with Danielle?”

              “Oh no, Danielle and I have known each other since we were babies; our families both go to the same church. But eventually we did go to St. Bernadette’s together.” Jasmine adjusts her pearls around her neck and then tries to give a polite smile.

              “Oh! Then you knew Malcolm, Cadence, Jacob and Nat!”

              “Oh, I had no idea.” Wynston says with excitement. “You all go way back.” He points around the table.

              No one says anything.

I look to Jasmine and she’s trying to hold her polite smile, I look to Malcolm and he’s running his hands over his face, I look to Nat and he’s nodding with a smile, I look to Cadence and he’s rolling his eyes at Lola while wiping something off his shirt, and I look to Jacob and he’s taking the last sip of his drink while turning around, looking for the waiter.

              “Malcolm, did you all know each other well?” Wynston asks.

              “In a way.” Malcolm answers with his signature smile. “Danielle ran the school newspaper so just about everyone knew her. Jasmine was her roommate and she was on the volleyball team so we knew her too.”

              “What did I tell you about those athletes?” Jax says to Wynston.

              “You’re right because Malcolm and Jacob played football and basketball and Nat and Cadence played baseball.” Wynston answers.

              “And they knew Jasmine because she played volleyball.”

              “Yep, it all makes sense.”

              “Ooh, Jasmine.” Winnie says as she leans into the table and smiles. “Tell me about Jacob in high school.”

              Silence.

              What the fuck is going on? Why is it like pulling teeth to get information out of everybody?

              “He … was … really nice.” Jasmine says with a smile for Winnie as she reaches for her water glass again.

              “Jacob’s a charmer.” Danny says as she looks at him and smiles. He winks at her. “I didn’t know him in high school but I most certainly heard about him.” She raises her eyebrows at him. He grins and shakes his head, implying that the rumors weren’t true. The table laughs … well everyone except for the
usuals
: me, Jasmine, Matt and Malcolm.

              “Yes, Jacob’s the charmer, Cadence is the poet, Nat’s the brain and Malcolm’s the bullshitter.” Wynston says proudly. Everyone laughs again, except for the usuals.

              “But you knew Malcolm.” Angie says to Danny with a smile. Now it’s Danny’s time to go silent. She glances over at me and then smiles at Angie. She’s feeling uncomfortable with me here. Good.

              “Danielle could have cared less about me.” Malcolm says. And once again he’s saved the day. Heaven forbid he allows Danielle to feel the shame she should rightfully feel. “I was the one who would do anything for just a five minute conversation.”

              “How romantic.” Cadence says as he looks at Lola.

              “And then years later, here you two are.” Angie says with a wide smile.

              “Years later … good girl Danielle,” Wynston says, “You didn’t make it easy for Malcolm. You went ahead and explored other options before you settled down with him.”

              “And no one had to die in the process.” Cadence says.

              Well I can see how this night is going to go. We’ll be talking about Malcolm and Danny, their love story and the six degrees of separation between them and everyone else in the world. So I get comfy, and look around for the waiter to order another brandy. But now I have a feeling that I don’t belong here. This is Danny and Malcolm’s story, not mine. This night belongs to them and the rest of us are just the friends that came along. But I don’t even fit in that category. I’m the ex-husband who won’t let go. I’ve embarrassed myself by coming along to this little meet and greet in Hilton Head. The conversation is flowing around me as everyone is now commenting on Nicky, Georgie and Ralphie. No one has asked about Danny and my story or how we met or when we were married because our story is done. The Book of Jon and Danny is done, the story is over, the book is closed and no one wants to reread it. It didn’t turn into a classic, it wasn’t a bestseller. It was a flop. The Book of Malcolm and Red, now that appears to be a hit. This book club seated around this table is dissecting it, trying to find out how all the pieces fit together. They’re trying to learn about the supporting characters and the ensemble cast. I’m done here. I won’t embarrass myself any further. I take out my phone to text Marla.

             
Me 8:45 pm:
I was just thinking, did you want to head to NYC for a few days? It’s pretty nice during Christmas. Lots of lights. Music.

             
Marla 8:45 pm:
Oh wow! Absolutely! When?

             
Me 8:46 pm:
I can fly into Philly tonight and we can head there tomorrow.

             
Marla 8:46 pm:
That sounds perfect Jon.

             
Me 8:46 pm:
I’m going to bring Nicky with me.

             
Marla 8:47 pm:
The more the merrier! I love my little Nicholai.

             
Me 8:47 pm:
See you tonight, I’ll rent a room at the Ritz for us.

             
Marla 8:47 pm:
Just one room this time?

             
Me 8:48 pm:
Yeah. But I’ll make it a suite so Nicky can have his own room.