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I look up and see that just across the street on the snow-covered sidewalk, Jennifer is standing there, tears in her eyes as she points a finger at me.
“Jennifer?” I ask. Next to me, Leah stands frozen.
“See, Damascus?” Jennifer asks in a shaky voice that steadily grows louder. “This. This is the reason Idumpedyou!”
I look behind me… at the sign outside the entrance to the building. The sign that reads,Support Group Meeting Today!
Then I turn back to Jennifer incredulously. There was a reason I never told her that I was going to therapy.
I take a few angry steps toward her, away from Leah. “Wait,what?” I ask, my pulse rising.
“I knew I made the right choice!” Jennifer shouts back. “When I saw you at the ugly sweater party, I should have walked the other way!”
“What the hell is the matter with you?!” I shout. I don’t think I’ve ever felt angrier at her. Not even when she first dumped me. I had always been afraid that I might get this reaction if I told someone close to me about my therapy sessions. I had been right to close myself off. People are cruel.
Jennifer looks like she’s about to reply to me, probably to say more offensive, hurtful things, but then a voice yelling from a car at a stop sign to the north of us makes us both turn our heads.
Blair is sticking her head out of the passenger window of her family’s vehicle, a crushed expression on her face. “Damascus?!” she calls. Then the car resumes driving, and Blair and I make eye contact until I can’t see her anymore.
Great. It’s the day of Christmas Eve, and my girlfriend has just caught me in the snow with my ex.
19
BRENNAN
This is a new one for me.
It’s Christmas Eve, and I’m sitting by myself at the bar inside of Henderson’s. Normally, I’d be at my house or at Brielle’s parents’ house, hanging out with our families, sitting by warm fires, and stuffing our faces. Normally, I’d get to see Derek, and the two of us would hang out, joke around with each other, and make Mom mad together accidentally.
It amazes me how quickly things can change.
Mom and Dad are still furious at me for fighting Derek. They won’t talk to me, nor will they even look at me.
Part of me feels like they know that the rumors about my brother are true, but they’re sticking by their son because they feel like it’s their job. Because they feel like they can somehow make this all go away. I’m pretty sure Mom would be devastated to have everyone in Quincy think she raised a wife beater.
The door to the bar opens, and large, loud voices suddenly fill the air. When I look up, I see a group of people of all ages. White-haired men, middle-aged women, and some people who barely even look old enough to drink. Amongst them, is Leah.
“Jane!” a large, old guy cries to the bartender.
Jane beams at them. “I was wondering what time I’d see you all tonight!” She heads around the bar and goes over to start writing down everyone’s drink order.
After Leah tells Jane what she wants, she starts heading my way with a smile on her face. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen you here on Christmas Eve,” she comments. She and the people she’s with are bundled up in warm coats, hats, scarves, and mittens, and none of them make any move to take any of the layers off.
I shrug, feeling sorry for myself but not really caring for her to notice. “I might be starting a new Christmas Eve tradition,” I say. “I am still testing it out.”
She looks around herself. “Are you meeting anyone?”
I shake my head at her. “Just me tonight.”
She doesn’t look satisfied. “On Christmas Eve?”
I nod at her.Thanks for rubbing it in.
“Well, that just won’t do,” she says with a frown.
Jane walks around behind the bar to start making all of their drinks. When she sees Leah and me together, something seems to click in her brain. “Is this who you were waiting for all day last week?” she asks me, mixing something in a metal shaker.
Heat creeps into my face. “Yeah, but not for the reason you’re probably thinking.”
