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“You might want to also pay attention to your girlfriend. You remember her, right?”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Hayley is sweet and sensitive, and she’ll let you run things, even if it runs her over in the process. I know Eli is trying to stay neutral, but I can’t. I really like you, Wes, but you’re clueless.”
“Jesus. Nice. I wish you’d take it from my point of view for once. I’m trying my best.”
“What’s your point of view? Your girlfriend knows literally nothing about your baby mama. Eli knows more than she does. Don’t you think that’s fucked up?”
“This isn’t easy for me, Dylan. None of it is.”
“Well, make her feel like she’s an equal partner instead of picking up scraps. Catch my meaning, Mav?”
The line is silent for a few seconds before he speaks again. “Loud and clear. I’m a block away. I’ll be there in a few.”
I hear him kill the call before I hang up. I walk back out to read the room once more. Hayley’s setting the table as if she was with her parents. Eli’s plating all the food in the kitchen and setting it on the peninsula for dishing up. She seems a little lighter. Eli always seems to be able to reach her. I hope I didn’t just cuss out my husband’s best friend for nothing.
Conversation around the dinner table seems normal. We all take turns talking about work. The one thing that isn’t is Hayley seems to be pushing her food around more than she’s eating it. “Hey, Hayley, was your steak overdone?”
“Wow, wife. Was that a shot?”
“No, I was just curious.”
“Oh. No. It’s fine. It’s good. I’m just not overly hungry tonight, I guess.”
“All good, Kiddo. Don’t worry. We’ll send it home with you for tomorrow.”
The awkwardness manifests from nowhere. Wes gets about five successive texts and responds every time. “If we were eating with Lily, she’d have your ass for being on your phone at the table,” Dylan states.
“That’s a normal thing for him.”
Hayley gets up from the table to start clearing the dishes to the kitchen. Her movement finally engages Wes. He sighs before putting his phone in his pocket, following behind her.
Hayley
I vanish to the kitchen. I wish I could go home. I can’t believe I’m snarking about him to his face. The dishes rattle as I set them in the sink. I lean back against the counter while I massage my temples and simply breathe. “Hey. I know you’re angry at me, but can we save it for home?”
“You mean the other place we don’t talk? How can I have the conversation with you just days ago that I need more of, especially that from you, and then here we are again. You totally bailed on me today.”
“She needed my help. What did you want me to do?”
“She didn’t call you in the first five months. Now in the last five weeks you seem at her beck and call. Where do I fucking fit in? Just tell me that?”
His voice raises just slightly. “You’re my girlfriend.”
Wes takes a step back after he realizes he was nearly yelling at me. “Who do you think you’re talking to? I want to go home. Now.”
I turn to leave, but he catches my wrist to hold me in place. “Wait. Just stop for a minute.” Allowing him to turn my body, I end up facing him with my eyes at his feet. If I look at him I’ll cry. “Hey. Look at me, please?” My eyes slowly rise to his. He cups my cheek in his hand. His eyes suddenly narrow. “Do you feel alright?”
“I mean, yeah. I’m fine.”
“You don’t feel fine. You feel warm to me.”
“I’m supposed to be getting my period.” I shrug.
“Yes, I know. By Friday.”
“You know that?”
