Page 48 of That Boy (That Boy 1)
After lunch, we're both getting pedicures and manicures, and then I'm scheduled for a detoxifying body wrap.
Now that is something I need.
Suck all the alcohol out.
How much do you want to bet the yoga instructor set that one up?
During our pedicures, Lori finally breeches the subject of Phillip. She doesn't know about the disaster last night, and I have no intention of telling her.
"I saw you at breakfast the other morning," she says, like she knows some big secret. "When Phillip whispered in your ear, you just melted. Your eyes got all dreamy looking. You know, I have NEVER seen you react to any guy like that." She does an imitation of how my eyes looked. She looks ridiculous, and I'm sure she over exaggerates.
"You're a smart girl. You always amaze me with your ability to see the world as your great big playground. You can see miles into the future, so why can't you see a good thing when it's right in front of your face?"
"Phillip." I state, knowing full well what she means.
"Yeah, Phillip. You know, Danny thinks so too."
"I know, he told me once after he dumped me."
"He didn't dump you."
"Oh, I know," I say with a wave of my hand, "but it bugs him when I say he did. Sorry, it's an old habit."
"You know, I know all about the flag bikini, Jade. I've even seen that sad, tattered little picture."
"He still has it?" I'm surprised. "You know, I love it that it doesn't bother you. A lot of girls would have a problem with it."
"Well, I think Danny has kind of a been there, done that attitude towards you."
"Been there, maybe," I say, "but never done that." I grin at her and then frown and say, "Unfortunately."
"No. Fortunately. Because if you had, he's right, you probably wouldn't have stayed such good friends."
"Why? Is he that bad at it?"
"Well, I think you could expect that he approaches it, the same way he does everything else in his life," she says cryptically.
But I understand completely. "100 percent focus and full out energy." I sigh and shake my head.
Figures.
"Jadyn, end result is, I'm not jealous. Whatever works. He signed a six year, $48 million dollar contract. I don't care if he visualizes himself playing football with a donkey and a naked clown. Hell, I'd blow the picture up and hang it on the living room wall if I thought it would help his game."
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 11th?" 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, i
t'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.
