“Shit, I have some catching up to do.”
“I got you covered.” I licked my lips and stuck my thumb and index finger in my mouth producing a shrill whistle. It was loud enough to catch the attention of one of the bartenders. I mimed pouring a pitcher and Hubbard, the bartender, nodded his head in understanding. In short order, a tall pitcher and two frosty glasses were delivered to our booth.
Fancy’s face lit up. “I feel like I’m in VIP,” she teased.
“Only the best for our hometown hero.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I hate that term.”
“I know you do and that’s exactly why I said it.”
“You’re a brat.” Fancy finished off her bottle before pouring us both fresh glasses. She looked back at the crowd before turning her attention to me. “Hey, who did Margie get married to?”
“Joshua.”
She slapped the table. “Margie married Joshua Leftfoot? Is this the fucking twilight zone?”
“They fell in love. The wedding was nice.”
“Wait, you went to the wedding?”
“I did.”
“You hate Joshua. He was a bully with an undeserving heaping of bravado.”
“Water under the bridge.”
Her face sparked in remembrance. “He literally threw you off of Golden Pass bridge.”
“Well, this parts going to shock you, I actually consider him a good friend now.”
“Joshua Leftfoot?” Her face was a puzzle.
“Yeah, one night he pulled up to my table at The Drunken Zombie and we got to talking. He apologized for the shit he did in high school. You know, saying it was never really about me, it was more about him.”
“Pigs are flying. Pigs are sprouting wings and flying across town.”
“Stranger things have happened. Look at you … you left town and moved to California with Darla of all people.”
“My best friend.”
“Your number one hater.”
“What?” Her head flinched backward. “Darla’s always had my back.”
“Yeah to your face.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I don’t know, maybe she’s changed. It’s been a minute.”
“Darla’s my best friend. We are good. Inseparable. So let’s just drop it.”
Raising my hands, I capitulated. “I’m letting go and stepping away.”
I guess some things never change. Darla was the type to preen in your face, but all the while she was tossing daggers in your direction. She needed to be the prettiest, smartest, funniest woman in the room, but if that room included Fancy, it was an impossible feat. Fancy had a way of pulling people in, and Darla and I were not immune.
Shit, I met Fancy when I was five. We were in Mrs. Noone’s kindergarten class together. The second week of school I came home and announced I was changing my last name to Pat because seating was assigned by last names and since my last name was Birch and her’s Palmer, we were situated on oppositesides of the classroom. At five I didn’t have the words to express what love was, but I knew Fancy made me feel good. When she smiled at me or shared her fruit snacks at lunch, it made me feel special and I wanted that feeling to last forever.
