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I can tell that Beth notices the shift in my mood, and a tinge of guilt grows on her face.
"I was so surprised to see her and ended up telling her about the wedding anniversary. One thing led to another, and I extended an invitation to her," Beth quickly explains, and I struggle to maintain my composure, fighting the urge to freak out.
Now, I understand. Beth doesn't know the extent of how bad it was—it had mostly been kept between Jessica and me, with me choosing to share things only with Tyler. Despite Jessica's distant demeanor, being married to me for years had made her familiar with my family and the Norths.
Now, I'll have to be around her. What's even worse, is that Archer will have to be around her, too. The mere thought of it makes me feel sick to my stomach.
"I'm so sorry, Jared. I know it will be difficult, but I'll do my best to keep you away from each other. Look, I even have you guys at completely separate tables," Beth tries to console me, turning her computer screen towards me and pointing at her seating chart.
I attempt a tight-lipped smile, but I know it does nothing to reassure Beth that I'm okay with this.
"Can I have a snack?" Archer interrupts the awkward silence as he ascends the basement steps.
"Archer, how about you and I go get some ice cream?" Beth offers, hastily getting up from her seat.
It's almost comical how eager she is to leave her own house.
Archer looks at me with pleading eyes, and I reluctantly give him permission to go, concerned that my patience could snap at any moment.
And I definitely wouldn't want Archer around for that.
Beth leads Archer out of the house to get their frozen treat, leaving Monica and me alone on the living room couch.
"Jared," Monica begins, reaching out her hand to rest on my shoulder.
I instinctively pull my shoulder away, causing hurt to flash across Monica's face. I immediately regret my reaction.
"I'm sorry," I mutter, running my fingers through my hair.
"It's okay. I understand," she says softly, gazing at me with earnest eyes, waiting for me to open up.
We sit in silence as I struggle to find the right words to convey my emotions. Monica already knows how much this situation hurts me. What else can I even say to her?
"I'm really sorry my mom did that. Do you want me to talk to her?" Monica finally offers.
"No, there's no need for you to do that," I assure her, taking a deep breath to regain my composure. "It's your parents' wedding anniversary. It will be fine."
I try my best to sound convincing, but deep down, I know it's a challenge to pretend that I'm okay with Jessica's presence at the celebration. I don't want her to come, I don't want to endure her cold demeanor, and above all, I don't want Archer to be exposed to her. But as an adult, I understand that sometimes, we have to navigate through difficult situations.
"I'm sure my mom would understand if you chose not to come," Monica persists, but I shake my head in disagreement.
"No, it'll be fine. It's not ideal, but I'll manage," I tell her, mustering a smile.
Monica gazes at me sympathetically, and I find myself disliking the sight. I hate the idea of her seeing me vulnerable or defeated.
Turning to her, I say, “It’s fine. It truly is fine.”
I know deep down that it's not the ideal solution. While I could ask Beth to uninvite Jessica or choose not to attend the party, I don't want to dampen the mood of Beth's anniversary celebration. For her sake, I'll find a way to cope.
But right now, there's something I can do to make myself feel better.
"How long do you think your mom will be gone?" I ask Monica, my voice devoid of worry or concern.
"At least twenty more minutes," Monica ponders, furrowing her brow at me. "Why?"
"I know something that will make things better," I smirk, and it immediately dawns on Monica what I'm suggesting.
"In my parents' house?" Monica exclaims with feigned shock as she starts to rise from the couch, joining me in the excitement.
