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“I mean, not really. I’m not the one hurt. I’m the one doing the hurting.”
“It’s clear you’re hurting, Rae. Just in a different way.”
I paused. “Maybe so.”
Allison darted her eyes between us. Michael sighed as his free hand settled against my knee. I looked down at it and smiled with tears in my eyes, then settled my hand on top of his. It felt good, having him back. Having him talk to me. Having him near me. I’d missed my friend, my confidant, my cheerleader and my guiding moral light.
I nodded as I held back tears. “I’d really like to put this behind us, yes.”
Michael took my hand, ripping me out of my seat. And as he wrapped his long arms around me, I squeezed him around his waist. I giggled breathlessly as he nuzzled against me, trying to soothe my invisible wounds. I heard Allison get up before a soft pair of arms wrapped around both of us, causing Michael to chuckle to himself.
“Had to get in on the action, huh?”
Allison smiled. “I mean, I can never resist a good happily ever after.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’ve been watching Disney movies again, haven’t you?”
Allison scoffed. “Just let me say, ‘And then everyone lived happily ever after, the end’.”
Michael laughed. “Okay, but only this once.”
All of us gave one last big squeeze, then we unraveled ourselves from one another. We sat down and started unpacking our lunches, smiling and talking like we used to do. It felt nice, having some semblance of normalcy around this table again. And it felt really good to hear Michael’s lame jokes as I talked about Mom and D.J. I rehashed the conversation, telling them about my mother’s decision. How I really felt she was serious this time. How it felt like things might actually be different.
But soon, I felt my eyes scanning the cafeteria.
“He left.”
Michael’s voice pulled my eyes back to him, and he gave me a knowing look.
“What?”
Allison giggled. “Oh, come on, Rae. Don't play that game.”
Michael shook his head. “Lying’s what got you into this mess, you know.”
I sighed. “No, omitting information is what got me into this mess.”
Allison smiled. “So, you admit you’re lying now?”
I paused. “I plead the fifth.”
Michael scoffed. “He left, and he hasn’t come back yet.”
I shrugged. “Oh, well. His loss. I was going to throw a Cheeto at him.”
“Uh huh,” Michael said as he spooned a bite of chicken pot pie into his mouth. “Sure, you don’t.”
I rolled my eyes at him before focusing on my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Mom had actually packed me a lunch today. For the first time in years, I came downstairs to a brown paper bag that she handed off to me with a big smile on her face. And thinking about it made me smile with every bite. Mom looked radiant lately. Like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. I mean, I knew she’d end up stressing herself out over money and bills. But being free of D.J. looked good on her.
I really hope it stays this way.
“So you actually told your mom about Clint?”
Allison’s question made me nod as I swallowed my sandwich.
“Mm-hmm. I did. And I’m actually glad I did. It’s been a long time since I’ve really been able to talk to her like that. And, despite the hiccup of that evening, we still enjoyed our pizza and movie marathon.”
Michael grinned. “Shame you didn’t invite me in for pizza.”
