Morgan yelps from across the bar. “It’s recognized!” she exclaims. “They voluntarily recognized! Erickson’s been removed by the board, and they’re pausing the layoffs!”
Sarah shrieks and runs over to hug Greg, who spins heraround, and when he lets her go, she jumps into Grace’s arms. Greg pumps both fists into the air, and I can see, with a twinge in my chest, that he’s still wearing my scrunchie around one wrist.
“Ruby!” Greg calls, waving me over. I work my way through the crowd, and he tugs me toward him and kisses me. And aside from Steve, who groans,Get a room!,everyone actually cheers.
It feels like sunlight on my face after too long not going outside. I’m blinking in it, disoriented, wondering what to do with it.
Greg drifts away from me, moving through the room to talk to different clusters of people, checking in on how they’re doing after the tumult of the day. And I perch on a stool at one of the high tables and text Trisha.
Ruby:
maybe your affirmations worked
Trisha:
told you
I wiggle my thumbs, wondering what to say next.how’s school?I ask and add an ogre emoji, so at least she knows I’m being an old person at her on purpose.
Trisha:
LOL it’s a grind!
mom and dad are having another family party next weekend, you should come
and stay for karaoke this time
you didn’t even introduce me to your boyfriend
I almost correct her, but then I realize there’s no reason to. She was ahead of the curve all along.
Greg eases onto a stool next to me, and I squeeze his arm. “You in the mood for Tita Rina’s lumpia next weekend?”
He kisses me on the cheek. “Always.”
The party moves where Greg does, and everyone is clustered around us now. Sarah and Al are arguing about something to do with time signatures, and Steve and Grace and Ahmed are talking about the best birding spots in the area, and some of the accountants are shooting the shit behind us about a movie I haven’t seen.
I raise my phone to take a selfie—everyone crammed in behind us, Greg with his arm around me—and out of habit, I send it into the DM with Mom.
sampaguita72:
Ruby you look so happy!
I’m so proud of you
I know you’re going to be okay
It’s like being splashed with a bucket of cold water.She said she’d be able to move on once she knows I’m going to be okay.
ruby.ocampo:
Mom! Mom wait
I’m typing frantically with my thumbs as a chant of “Chug! Chug! Chug!” goes up around me—over to the right, Steve and Carol are racing to be the first to drain their beers.
sampaguita72:
I was always proud of you, I hope you see that.
