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Rose huffs. “Just so you know, you juggle like shit.”
Quinn steps out onto the patio, and just like that my mood sours. I watch as he walks up to us, a big smile on his face. He looks very happy for someone who had to spend half their Saturday in an office.
“Hey everyone,” he says, walking up to me and bending down to kiss me. I turn my head, and he gets my cheek instead.
I feel eyes on me, and I know I shouldn’t have, but I’m mad at him. He let me down. He let all of us down.
The chorus of hellos that greet him is subdued, and his smile dims.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” he says, flashing hisplease forgive mesmile at Hannah and Aidan. It’s always been a potent weapon in his get-out-of-trouble arsenal when he was younger, but we’re older now, and somehow, it feels a little…lackluster. And being late would mean you still made it to the party, but the party is over, so this goes way beyond late. He ghosted both me and Aidan when we tried to get a hold of him.
I want all those words to spew out of my mouth and hopefully wash him in shame, but I can’t. Not in front of everyone.
“I got held up at work and couldn’t get away earlier,” he continues, and I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes. If only I had a dollar for every time he said that.
“It’s cool, man,” Aidan says. “A heads-up would be nice next time, yeah?”
“There won’t be a next time,” he promises, but as I’ve unfortunately come to learn, his promises mean shit right now.
I get up and walk inside, not wanting to stick around, and listen to his empty excuses. Anger and resentment are twisting my stomach into knots, and I can’t stand to be around him right now.
*****
I’m unscrewing the cap off my beer when Quinn walks in.
“Where’s the twins?”
“They’ve gone home with Hannah’s parents. Something about early plans in the morning,” I mumble, not meeting his eyes.
Don’t make a scene in front of your friends, Bailey, I remind myself.
I watch as he grabs a beer from the fridge and takes a long swallow. He lowers the bottle, and then we’re staring at each other.
“What was that outside?”
“Seriously?” For the second time today, I have to stop my eye roll.
“What? I’m here now, aren’t I?”
I snort. “Don’t do me any favors.”
“Fuck, Bailey. Can we not start this shit today?”
“Sure,” I say, nodding. “I won’tnag. I won’t bedramatic. I won’t start on how you embarrassed me today. Or how you not only let me down but your friends as well. Or how you strolled in here, not a care in the world. Or how you don’t give a fuck about anything but what you want.” My voice is practically a hiss by the end.
“Aidan’s cool. You’re the only one making this situation worse than it is.”
“He’s not cool. He’s being polite,” I say, frustrated with his obtuseness. “You know, you can blame work only for so long before people get sick of your shit.”
Once again, the silence between us stretches. Nobody warned me when I said my vows that “for better or worse” would be so damn hard. I thought “for worse” would be issues like not agreeing on something and arguing until we both compromise. Or taking turns being strong when the other is weak. Or occasionally putting yourself second. Things like that. I never thought it would mean feeling like you’re existing in a marriage for one, and you’re the only one fighting for that happy ever after.
Laughter drifts from outside, and it makes me sad. I want to be out there without a care in the world. I want to snuggle up next to Quinn, his arm thrown over my shoulders, enjoying a fun evening with our friends.
“Bailey,” he sighs. “What do you want me to do? Quit my job? Would that make you happy?”
I shake my head. “No. You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to pin this on me and make me the bad person. I don’t know what the hell is going on with you, but for both our sakes, I hope you snap out of it quickly.”
“What’s that supposed to mean.”
