“Don’t call me Van,” I deadpanned. “That was our second date, Evelyn, and my mother planned it. No one’s proposing after a single date. And as I recall, we didn’t have a third.” I said it completely indifferently, and Evelyn turned red in embarrassment. It was Evelyn’s turn to blanch. I wasn’t participating in that bullshit.
“Let’s see,” my mom started, “actually, the last time I visited the Statue of Liberty, I took you and Evelyn. You were in second grade Donovan, and little Evelyn was in town and came with us. We took photos in hopes we could use them in a celebratory slideshow of sorts someday.”
Jesus. Fucking. Christ. This was ridiculous.
“So you have known each other for a long time?” Audra tried making conversation, despite the rudeness.
“Yes. Our mothers are best friends,” Evelyn chimed in.“Unfortunately, I didn’t live here my whole life, but when we moved, Donovan took me under his wing and helped me … get used to being here,” she laughed to herself like she was in on some joke. She was clearly flaunting to make Audra jealous, because I hadn’t done a damn thing to help her.
“I went to Central Park this week,” McKenna tried to steer the conversation a different way again, “but other than that, I don’t think I’ve done a touristy thing in years.”
“That’s because it’s foolish to parade around the city likethat as an adult, McKenna,” my father harshly spoke his first words. “You visit those places in elementary school on field trips. And the Ghostbusters building? Really?” It was the first time he had made eye contact with me.
Audra’s shoulders sank. How fucking embarrassing was my family?
“Ok, let’s cut the bullshit. I’m here because McKenna asked me to come help her celebrate her amazing achievement. Let’s remember our fucking manners, and that my sole intention in agreeing to this dinner is to support her and celebrate this achievement.”
“Watch your mouth, son,” my father warned.
I curled my lips into my teeth. They wanted a reaction, and I would not give them one. Reaching out to Audra’s knee, I wasn’t sure if I was trying to ground myself or her. I wasn’t going to say I wasn’t his son, I wasn’t going to tell him to watch his tone, I was just going to take it, get through it for my sister, and never return.
This hell spiral went on for twenty more minutes. They were passive-aggressive to Audra while Evelyn kept throwing herself at me.Fuck it, I tried. I was going to wrap the shit show up, regardless of the food situation.We could go out after this and I would make it up to Kenna.
“Audra! Donovan!” A familiar and friendly voice cut through the glacier at our table.
“Jules?” Audra squeaked out. “What … what’s going on?”
“Hi, everyone!” Jules greeted the table. “I’m Juliette, and I’m friends with these crazy people from back home. I can’t believe that out of the billion restaurants in New York, you’re at the same one I’m at for my work party! That has to be statically impossible!” She stood between us and put a hand on each of our shoulders.
“What do you do, Juliette?” my mother asked. Her fake society smile appeared on her face.
“I work for Roscoe Marketing! It’s a pretty great gig, and I get to wine and dine at these fancy places,” Jules exclaimed as she gestured around. My parents warmed to her; I could see it in their eyes. But that made me furious. They didn’t like Audra because they viewed her as a barrier to me being with Evelyn, even though that was never going to happen.
I’m not sure what crazy world they operated in that they thought I would see her and profess my undying love.Their world,I reasoned with myself. They were operating in their own little fucked up world. The one that bowed to them because they paid for it to do so.
“I’ve heard great things about that firm. Do you like it, Juliette?” My mother inquired.
“I do. It’s a challenge, I enjoy my coworkers, I’m passionate about the work, and it’s fun. It’s a good fit for me.”
“I can see that,” my mother replied. “Why aren’t you just a gem? I can get the waiter to bring a chair if you’d like to join us.”
“Oh, I can’t. I’m still being celebrated,” she laughed, pointing her thumb behind her. “Besides, I figure my best friend here has already blown you away, right?”
My mother’s glare came back as she turned to Audra, and Jules picked up on it immediately.
“You know she’s a pediatric nurse in the ICU? Not many people could hold up in that job, eh?” She gushed over her friend and tried to get a better read on the situation.
“Why didn’t you want to be a doctor, Audrey?” Evelyn interjected.
I caught sight of Jules’s face at the wrong name. Welp. We weren’t getting away without a scene. Audra may take thingsand put a fake smile on her face to avoid confrontation, but from what I gathered, Jules wasn’t a fake smile kind of girl. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like if Maeve were there too. They’d probably drag Evelyn and my mother out back.Maybe I should arrange that next time.
“Actually, I think I will sit down,” and Jules pulled a chair over from another table. This wasn’t the local Applebee’s. You didn’t just take a chair from a two-person table that had been booked for six-plus months, but Jules didn’t give a shit. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Audra shake her head no in the slightest manner to Jules, but she promptly ignored it.
“What was your name again?” Jules looked at Evelyn.
“Evelyn.”
“Evelyn. You like your name, yeah?” Evelyn nodded. “Of course you do. Me too, me too. Do you, um, know my friend’s name isn’t Audrey? I’m guessing you do, but wanted to make her feel small or uncomfortable. Because you’ve been here long enough to eat appetizers”—she gestured at the table—“so if you don’t know her name yet, that means that you’re fucking dumb or you’re a fucking bitch. Which is it, Evie.” Jules leaned forward and rested her elbow on the table with her cheek on her fist, and just stared at Evelyn as if she was completely riveted by the answer.
