Celeste holds my gaze, tilting her chin down to peer over her glasses at me again. “Is that how we’re phrasing it now?”
“That’s not fair,” I say. “She’s not avoiding you guys. She’s busy. She literally just left to go to a TA meeting this morning, and classes haven’t even started yet.”
“Mm-hm,” Celeste hums, turning her attention back to her tea.
“She will, just give her time,” I insist. “We’ve only been dating for two months.”
“Two months in and she still doesn’t feel like it’s necessary to get to know her partner’s two best friends?”
I shrug. “Two months isn’t that long.”
“I call bullshit,” Celeste snaps. “Remember Adrian? You and Max demanded Adrian’s time less than one month in, and Max forced us to host a movie night as our fourth date.”
“That was all Max!” I argue. “I would have given you way more time.”
“Would you have given us two whole months?”
I hesitate. “I mean, it’s not like you guys haven’t met Nikki. Y’all see her all the time.”
Celeste takes a long sip of her tea, then sighs. “I don’t want to fight with you, Jude. I just think Nikki might not see this as along-term thing the way you do. If she did, she’d want to get to know your friends. That’s all.”
I take a few sips of my coffee and allow Celeste’s words to sink in. I see where she’s coming from. And if our roles were reversed, I’d probably be pestering Celeste about this, too. I know she cares about me and doesn’t want to see me hurt. Again.
I can’t tell her that I’m scared to death to lose Nikki over anything. I’ve never been in a relationship with someone like her, and I’m constantly terrified that I’m one bad date away from losing Nikki’s affection altogether. I’m sure she has dozens of lady suitors lined up, waiting for me to screw up so they can have their chance with her. What’s so special about me?
Finally, I clear my throat to speak again. “Thank you for being honest, Celeste. I’ll talk to Nikki soon and schedule a game night for all of us or something. Okay?”
“Okay,” Celeste replies with a soft smile. “Love you, Jude.”
“Love you, too, Cel.”
After a few moments of comfortable silence, both of our phones vibrate.
Max
hey bitchessss are you coming to help me move in today or what??
Celeste laughs aloud. “Is he serious right now?”
I frown. “Wait, isn’t he supposed to be in The Village, too?”
“Yeah, he’s going to be on the third floor in a four-bedroom.”
My face twists in disgust. “Eww, with three strangers?”
“You know he loves that shit,” Celeste says, already typing out a response.
Celeste
Boy, I know you are not asking for my help when I specifically said I wasn’t doing any heavy lifting the day before class starts.
That’s why Jude and I moved in yesterday. Today is a day of rest.
Max
oh no way queen I would never ask you to do the hard stuff. I only wanted y’all to help me decorate once my brothers and Randy are done bringing it all upstairs
Celeste
