That got something close to a laugh out of me.
“Hey!”
The sound made me pause. I glanced back over my shoulder.
Janine finally looked at me properly. “…good luck.”
I nodded at Janine on my way out, pushing through the back door into the alley.
The cool air was a sharp contrast to the warmth of the café. There was a faint smell of coffee grounds and something greasy from the restaurant down the street.
I breathed it in, hoping it might steady me. It didn’t. I let my phone continue buzzing for another second before I finally hit accept.
“You finally answered!”
I flinched, pulling the phone slightly away from my ear.
Glen’s voice was loud enough that I was pretty sure half the alley heard him. There was some shuffling on his end, like he’d turned away from whoever he’d been talking to.
I forced my voice into something casual, like I hadn’t just ignored his last ten calls. “Hey, Glen. What’s up?”
There was a beat. Then, flatly Glen asked, “That’s all you have to say?”
I leaned back against the brick wall, closing my eyes for a second.
“Look, whatever,” Glen continued before I could come up with something better. “Are you coming to my brother’s wedding or not?”
I shook my head, even though he couldn’t see it.
How many versions ofI don’t want to go to my ex of five years’ weddingdid they need?
“I already told you why I can’t.”
Glen went quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice had softened a little.
“I know. I get it, but look,” he continued, “the whole gang’s gonna be there. Even Lynn’s flying halfway across the world for this. And you?—”
He hesitated, like he was choosing his words carefully, “we haven’t seen you in years, Seth. Everyone’s been asking why you never show up for the reunions anymore.”
I didn’t have a good answer for that. Or at least, not one they wanted to hear. The sigh slipped out before I could stop it.
“C’mon, man,” Glen said, exasperation creeping back in.
“Don’t be such a—” he broke off, then laughed lightly, “a hermit! Live a little. Get out of your tiny town and come see your friends. There’s gonna be food, drinks. My idiot brother’s paying for everything, so you might as well take advantage.”
"When else are you gonna get an all-expenses-paid trip?" he added.
“I’m not a hermit,” I muttered under my breath before I could stop myself.
I cleared my throat, hoping he hadn’t caught it.
“Hey,” I added quickly, forcing a lighter tone, “you just saw me like, seven months ago. That’s not that long ago. That’s less than a year.”
“Yeah,” Glen said dryly, “and that’s exactly why they’re making me call you.”
I dragged a hand through my hair. For a moment, there was nothing but silence on the line.
“Still there?” I asked, hopeful that the call had dropped, or maybe he’d given up.
