Equidistant by Tatyana N. Phelps

Author:Tatyana N. Phelps [Phelps, Tatyana N.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798885044363
Publisher: New Degree Press
Published: 2022-12-12T20:27:56+00:00

14.

Gia, Kenna, and Jessalyn gather at my rustic-style kitchen table with their tacos. I join since, well, it is my party, and I need to socialize. Taco-less and all.

Gia insisted I have a housewarming. Initially, I opposed the idea, but I haven’t had much company since moving in. My mother visited once—well, twice if you count the time she came over that I pretended to be asleep. I wasn’t in the mood that day.

Jon may stop by a little later, so Gia says. A part of me believes he feels weird being around me now that Darren and I aren’t together. I’m enjoying the girl time, though. I won’t be upset if he doesn’t come.

It’s hard to believe all of this is happening without Darren by my side. Since I couldn’t share the home-buying journey with him, it’d at least be nice if I could share pictures or tell him how the process went. We were supposed to buy a home together after our lease ended. We’d been saving vigorously for the past year. But I’m probably the last person he wants to hear from, and my fear of rejection is stopping me from reaching out. What if he forwards my call to voicemail, or what if I text him and he leaves me on “read”? Even worse—what if I’m blocked? I’d rather not find out.

“Who’s ready for tacos?” Gia calls out from the kitchen, which, of course, is only a few feet away from where we’re sitting on the sectional.

“Oh my gosh, yes,” Jessalyn says, practically salivating at the mouth. “I’m starving!”

She hops up from the couch and dances her way toward the island, where Gia has just set everything up—guacamole, shrimp, ground beef, lettuce, Pico de Gallo—the works. It all smells delicious.

“Want me to fix you a plate?” Kenna asks me.

Although it smells great, I decline.

“I’m okay.” I flash a warm smile. “I don’t have much of an appetite. Thanks, though.”

Kenna rolls her eyes. “If you say so.” She scurries into the kitchen. “Hey, do you know if anyone else ever comes out here? I swear I smelled weed when I was outside. Like, really strong weed.”

“What?” I crinkle my forehead. “No, no one else is out here. And who would come out here just to smoke weed?”

Kenna shrugs.

Gia starts telling us how stressful wedding planning has been. Her wedding is in five months, and she still hasn’t lost the ten pounds she wants to lose. Anytime she says this, I always joke, “Ten pounds where? Your head?” She usually gives me a playful shove and laughs. Gia’s body is to die for. Her waist is practically nonexistent, she’s got full, D-cup breasts, and hips like J. Lo in the early 2000s. But tonight, I don’t tell my usual joke. Tonight, I just listen and giggle when appropriate.

After Gia finishes telling us about the ridiculous ranch fountain Jonathan is trying to have at their wedding, the giggles and tee-hees die down, and there’s a brief moment of silence. Thick silence.

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