That Boy (40 page)

I squint my eyes at her.

“Okay, maybe not, but my point is that I understand your friendship with Danny, and we
both
value it.”

“So brilliant wife-to-be, why do you think I should risk my friendship with Phillip by dating him?”

“Because you're perfect together.” She pauses for effect, “Jade, it's like you were
made
for each other.”

“That's all great, Lori, but I think it may be too late. But you don't need to hear about my problems, this is your wedding day,” I smile. “We're only going to talk about happy things.”

“Did something happen between you two last night?”

“No.”

“Oh,” she says understanding, “is
that
the problem?”

“Evidently,” I say with a roll of my eyes.

Lori and Danny's wedding is held on the beach at sundown.

We stand beneath a beautiful white archway that's laden with tropical flowers and smells heavenly. The hotel's wedding planner must have weddings down to an art, because they say
I do
and kiss, just as the big orange sun is sneaking below the horizon. It is the most simple, yet most beautiful and romantic wedding I've ever seen.

It's intimate and personal.

I think if I ever find a man crazy enough to marry me, it needs to be on a beach just like this.

I recovered from my massive hangover and because I had been pampered all day, I have to say I looked pretty darn good at the wedding. Unfortunately Phillip, who was looking damn fine himself, didn't seem to even notice. He was cordial and overly polite to me at the
reception
dinner with everyone.

And as maid of honor and best man, we did have to dance together and toast the happy couple. But the whole time, he was stiff, and I just wanted to cry and beg him not to be mad at me. I even thought about telling him I was sorry, although I'm still not convinced I did anything wrong. I also thought about telling him that he might be right about me being a little in love with him, but I couldn't. I wasn't sure he'd believe me.

Before we came here, I had pictured in my mind how much fun Phillip and I would have at our two best friends' wedding. Needless to say, my picture didn't happen.

As soon as Danny and Lori left, Phillip said, “Good night,” and walked away.

I thought about going dancing to try to make myself feel better, but I couldn't.

I thought about going to his room, but I didn't know what I'd say.

So I went straight to my room and kept hoping he would knock at my door.

Of course, he never did.

I know it's over between us. It got completely screwed up.

What am I going to do without my best friend?

Phillip basically ignored me for the final day of the trip, so I was pleasantly surprised when we got back home, and he was true to his word.

He acted like it never happened.

I guess what happens in Mexico,
really does
stay in Mexico.

We still talk every night on the phone. It felt a little forced at first, but we slowly worked our way back to normal.

I moved to Omaha, where I have a job with an engineering firm. Phillip is living at his parent's house, for now, and working at his dad's company.

My romantic life is, well, not exactly going the way I'd like it to, mostly because I haven't figured out what to do about Phillip.

So I'm sort of dating this cute guy who's in a band.

It's a perfectly mindless fling.

And perfectly mindless is
perfect
right now.

The summer flew by with work, and the move and the guitar player. Soon, there is a chill in the air at night and even though the days are still hot, you can practically feel fall, and more importantly, football season in the air.

I haven't gotten to see much of Danny lately. He went to Wisconsin for the Chiefs' training camp and was named back up quarterback. I try to talk to Lori and him every few days and am thinking about calling them now, actually, when my phone rings.

I look at the caller ID and am happy to see Danny's name.

“So you're still coming down for the game on the 11
^th
?” he says, without even saying hello.

“Hello, Danny, and it depends on how good my seats are.”

“Oh, they're
very good
, Jaybaby, you're sitting next to Phillip.”

I'm not sure what has happened to Danny since he started the NFL, but he says
baby
a lot. He and I have spent a lot of our time on the phone discussing the fact that I may very well be in love with Phillip. Actually, we have determined that I
am
in love with Phillip, and what my possible options are. I swore to him that I would talk to Phillip about how I feel tonight, while we get ready for the Husker Party we're having.

The Husker party is an annual event, celebrating the first game of the season. We've done it since high school. The venue has changed a lot, sometimes tailgates in Lincoln, sometimes at different houses, but the guest list stays pretty much the same. It's a fun way to keep up with old friends, and I'm really looking forward to it.

“I probably shouldn't tell you this, but did you know that Phillip is going out with Monica again? I think it's getting serious.”

“Really?” I'm surprised by this news because I got the distinct impression from Phillip that she was just bugging him again. “It doesn't sound serious to me.”

“Well, I think Phillip might be afraid to tell you.”

“Why? I'm dating someone too.”

“Jay, a drummer…..”

“
Guitar player
,” I interrupt and correct him.

“Does not count. I'm just trying to impress upon you the importance of your doing something this weekend.”

“I know, Danny. I know what I have to do, it's still just a bit scary to me.”

“I understand that, but I'm afraid if you don't, you'll lose him
for good
and to someone like Monica.”

“My life sucks.”

“Well, I expect to hear a progress report on Sunday night. And Jaaaayyyyy?”

“Yeah.”

“There had
better
be some
progress
,” he stresses and hangs up.

I pull up to my condo on Friday after work to find Jimmy, the guitar player, waiting for me. Jimmy has long hair and really does have a rock-n-roll star thing going on. My friends think he is really hot. He is, but he's nothing compared to Phillip, and Phillip is the only thing I can think about lately. Jimmy is just a decent diversion.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to take you with me.”

“With you where?” I reply, not following him.

“It's so exciting, Jadyn. The band is playing at the Bash tonight. There was a cancellation, and they called
us
to play at the last minute. There will be a bunch of music industry people there. This could be our big break, and I want you there with me.”

“But I told you last week, I have to go to Phillip's house tonight to get all the food ready for the big Husker party tomorrow.”

“Of course,” he snarls, “Phillip is much more important than I am.”

Yeah, I think, but don't say it.

Instead, I say sweetly, “You know I care about you and your career, but I have 32 people coming to the party tomorrow, and they're expecting something to eat! And the game is early, 11:30. There's no way I could get everything made in the morning, and I haven't been to the grocery store yet!”

Jimmy pushes me away. He looks angry. I have never seen him look this way before.

“I am
so
sick
of
Phillip this
and
Phillip that
. I'm sick of being compared to Mr. Perfect. As a matter of fact,” he grabs me by the wrist hard, looks straight into my eyes and says, “you're
done
hanging out with Mr. Perfect.
You're coming with me tonight
.”

I wrench my arm away from him.

I don't like to be told what to do, and I'll be damned if he's going to do the telling. I look straight at him and speak very slowly, so Mr. Dense can understand.

“I'm going to keep my plans for tonight. I'm sorry, I cannot go to your concert. If I didn't have people depending on me for this, I would change my plans and go with you, but I can't. You'll just have to deal with it.”

“
That's it
.
It's time for you to choose
.”

He is furious with me.

“Choose what?”

What is he talking about now?

“Between Mr. Perfect and Me. You know everyone thinks the two of you have something going on. I always say it's not true, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe the real reason you want to go has more to do with
cooking with Mr. Perfect
than
cooking food
.” He adds, “In fact, if you don't go with me tonight, we're through. So choose.”

Okay, that's it. He's pushed me too far.

“Let me get this straight. You want me to choose you, someone I have known for like
two seconds
, over someone I have been friends with for like my entire life? Well, let me tell you, Jimmy, the choice is easy.” I wave bye-bye with my hand and say, “
Goodbye
.”

“I
knew
the two of you had something going on the whole time. I'm outta here.”

He storms out the front door, turning back toward me and yelling, “
You'll miss me when I'm famous!”