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“Oh, believe me, I know,” Noah says.
I’m getting more and more stressed about what’s to follow. There’s a second half to the story.
“Sorry you have to deal with that, man,” Noah says.
“Oh, no, it’s not a big deal. I mean, it’s not how it used to be. We’re—”
“Well, I say cheers to that,” Noah says and raises his beer.
“Yeah!” Marc agrees and clinks his glass of water against the glass.
I shake my head and do the same.
I don’t know how to tell Noah about Jenna.
The conversation changes to what Marc’s season has been like. We reminisce about our days studying together in Miami, where the three of us met.
“It’s crazy how far we’ve come,” Noah says. “When we just started college, we were young and stupid, with stars in our eyes. Now…we’re just stupid.”
He bursts out laughing.
“I’ll second that,” I say. “Jenna and I—”
“She was stupid, too!” Noah cries out. “We all were. I bet she’s grown up just as we have.” He shakes his head. “Here’s to moving forward, growing up, and…drinking!”
He laughs as we clink our glasses together. I don’t know how I’m going to get this through to him. He’s very drunk now. I waited too long. And when he’s passed out, which will inevitably follow, it will be too late.
But it doesn’t matter, right? It’s been a decade. And Noah didn’t know who she was when I talked about her. That’s saying something.
Maybe he won’t care at all. That’s what I’m going to assume. It’s what I’m hoping for.
I don’t have to worry about it.
Noah stumbles to the bathroom at one point, and Marc and I are left alone together. I look at him and get ready to talk to him about what Jenna told me.
“Are you ready for married life?” I ask.
“You bet. God, it’s been so long, I can’t believe we’re finally here.”
“And you’re set with all your plans and investments and shit?”
“Yeah, I’m in a good spot, my friend. Very good.”
He rubs his hands together.
I want to tell him that he should stop. As his best friend, and best man, I’m the one who should talk to him about it. I just don’t know what to say. Hey, I know you’re cheating, I think you should stop. You’re fucking up. You’re going to ruin shit before you get out of it. When you fix a game, no one wins.
“Stacey is a great girl,” I say.
“She is. I’m a lucky fuck.”
“Don’t fuck it up, okay? She deserves for you to treat her right.”
Marc frowns at me. “What the fuck, man?”
I know it’s not my place to say that to him—I’m not her brother or her father. I’m on Marc’s side, technically.
But that’s just the thing. I’m not on his side anymore. I’m disillusioned after what Jenna told me.
Noah comes back and he orders more drinks for us. I look at him, and I realize that I’m a dick. I’m a shitty friend to both of them. I don’t talk to Marc, and I don’t talk to Noah.
But I’ve kept to myself so long, not letting anyone get involved in my life, that I’m not used to reaching out and helping others. And fuck, it’s not my job, is it?
So, I drink with them, and we laugh and we party, and I try not to feel like I’m the worst person in the world for not opening my mouth but keeping things easy.
The. Fucking. Worst.
