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Dropping by the counter, we get ourselves some sodas and stroll through the arcade so Jane can inspect the cute boys and play some games.
I’m having fun playing whack-a-mole when I notice that Jane is entertaining the group of boys with her stories, whatever they might be. For a place that doesn’t serve alcohol, Dancing Tony’s must see a lot of action.
After a few more rounds of whacking moles, I grow bored and look again to Jane and her new friends. I don’t really feel like being flirted with, so I move to the next game until she grows tired of the boys’ enchantment.
Now I’m playing skee-ball, alone and abandoned, and growing hungrier by the minute, while Jane keeps on blabbing her mouth.
I am so focused on the game that I don’t see it when one of the guys from her group is approaching me from behind.
“Hey.” He touches my shoulder and I jump, startled. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Your friend said to invite you for pizza.”
“Oh!” Even though I wasn’t done, I eagerly walk away from the game in exchange for food. “Sure!”
He follows my steps closely, and I feel uncomfortable. I don’t want to give any impression that I’m single and available, but I also don’t want to come across as rude.
My mind drifts to how Jane will take the news about me and Logan. I guess I will find out soon because we will have no reason for secrets once I’m no longer working for him.
“Your name is Joyce, right?” the handsome boy by my side asks.
He’s so polite and warm in his manners, and I feel bad I will have to let him down.
“U-huh,” I reply, trying to sound polite yet disinterested. “And yours?”
“Daniel,” he offers me his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.” I take his hand and shake it.
We arrive at the spot where the group is gathered. Jane is just finishing a story from our days as freshman when we would raid our friends’ fridges after midnight because ours was empty.
I smile a bittersweet smile. That was after my first semester, where I studied abroad. I spent my second semester living in a dorm with Jane, and even though I could only stay there for a semester, we still stayed best friends after. And the reason I didn’t stay in the dorm with her after that was because I decided to move back in with my aunt and sister after my mom was diagnosed. Everything changed after my freshman year.
“Joyce!” She opens her arms wide, soda still in her hand, and brings me in for a hug that’s completely intentional.
“What are you doing?” I say in her ear.
“Isn’t he a cutie?” she loud whispers to me. “Don’t ruin this!”
“Jane, I already told you, I can’t.” I pull back to look at her.
“It’s that serious?” she asks, an eyebrow raised in full disbelief. “How can it be if you’ve literallynevermentioned him to me before?”
“I told you why I can’t say anything yet. And I don’t know yet if it’s serious,” I shrug. “But I really like him and am not interested in seeing anyone else.”
“Oh Joyce! Bless you.” She cups my face. “Well, I hope he knows how lucky he is.”
“We’re getting a table. Are you two coming?” another guy now asks.
Still holding me, Jane looks at me and asks, “Are we?”
“We are!” I slap her lightly on the shoulder, then start to walk, following the boys to where we order pizza.
“That’s alright! Nothing wrong with making friends,” Jane says, putting an arm around my shoulders.
That arm has an intent, though. She discreetly pushes me towards Daniel, as if she is doubting my commitment to my secret beau.
I push her back to the opposite side, and soon we’re in a silly game of tug of war that loses all meaning besides making us laugh.
There’s six of us, and we sit around a large table to wait for service. Jane sits across the table from me, side by side with a blond kid who would be more handsome if it weren’t for the pimples on his face, but who makes up for it with his sense of humor.
