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“Lucas, I’m not coming to dinner with you and Rae and your mom and maybe your dad? No.”
“Why? You’re practically family.”
I wince thinking about the very not family-like things I’ve been doing with his father the past few years. “And I love that you want me to feel included, but no.”Even if I didn’t already feel like it wasn’t my place, there is a zero percent chance, I’m going to willingly have dinner with Theo and his ex-wife.
“Wes is coming,”Lucas offers.
“Wes is in a relationship with your sister.”
“And you’re my best friend,” he argues.
“This family dinner is about said relationship, Lucas. It makes sense for Wes to be there.”
He huffs. “I would do it for you.”
“I wouldn’t ask and also Camille Summers resents the comparison to your mother,” I say because even on my mother’s worst day, she could never be like Rebecca.
“Ave, in all seriousness…” He pauses. “Please.”
I sigh, remembering what it was like becoming friends with Lucas fresh off his parents’ divorce and witnessing that trauma firsthand through his eyes. Rebecca packed up and left Raegan and Lucas in the midst of turmoil at the beginning of their teenage years to go traveling around the world with calls once a week and a bi-annual visit that usually left Raegan in tears.
I definitely didn’t want to go to dinner with Theo and his ex-wife, but I’d go to dinner with Lucas and his parents because I’ve always been there for him over this. Feeling abandoned and unloved by your mother isn’t something I understand on any level, but I’ve tried my best to be there and listen. As of late, I probably haven’t been the best friend to Lucas with everything going on with Theo, but I still care about him. He’s not only been my best friend for eight years but he’s also my person and although things are slowly shifting, I suddenly feel desperate to hang on to this part of our friendship that made us more like family.
“Okay, I’ll be there.” I sigh. “Text me the details.”
TG: Heard you got roped into this shitshow tonight.
Me: Not how I expected to spend my Friday night haha
TG: I’m sorry.
Me: It’s okay. Lucas asked me to.
TG: I’m sorry if I can’t be as attentive as I want to be with you tonight.
Me: Theo, it’s fine. I get it.
TG: I don’t.
Me: What do you mean?
TG: Nothing, I’ll see you soon. Do you want to ride with me and Lucas?
Me: No, that’s okay. I’m going to drive myself. It will also keep me sober in case I have to drive any of you home
TG: As much as Rebecca makes me want to drink, I need to keep that in check. The last thing I need is to have one too many and spend the night staring at you like I want to fuck you.
Me: Yes, keep your eyes in check, Theo.
TG: I’ll try my best. See you at eight
After a few moments of staring at our conversation, I text him again.
Me: Hey
TG: Yes?
Me: Tell me something good.
