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“It’s not your fault. Even Tristan knew Annisa wasn’t what she appeared to be.”
Julia looked taken back at the mention of her husband.
“The Annisa you knew in grad school wasn’t the same person you introduced to Tristan. She had changed, and he saw through her phoniness. He never said anything to you for the same reason I never did. We both didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
“You’re right. Deep down, I knew that, but I didn’t want to admit it. Asking her to be a bridesmaid was a last-ditch attempt to bring our friendship closer.” She took a deep breath through her nose and said, “A getaway weekend will be good. Let’s go.”
I threw my arms around her and gave her a giant hug. When I released her, I said, “Okay, I’ll tell Peyton that we’re coming. I’m sure that we can get last-minute discounted tickets on one of those budget airlines always offering specials. I swear, every time I open my social media feed, I see an advertisement for an airline trying to sell me a ticket to someplace warm.” I pursed my lips, thinking about the creepy way my phone was listening and the way the internet tracked the browsing history.
“What about Aiden?” Julia asked.
I smiled, thinking about my boyfriend. “What about him? It’s just a weekend. I’m sure that Aiden can survive without me.”
“Have you figured out your status?”
“Yes, umma,” I said. Julia’s facial expression looked similar to my mother’s when she Facetimed me yesterday.
“Well?”
“Aiden and I agreed to date exclusively and see what happens.”
“What about your fear of long-distance relationships?” Julia was relentless with her questioning.
“Are you sure you don’t secretly work for the FBI?” I teased.
“I could shine a light at your face if that helps,” she said with a deadpan expression.
“No, just play “Arirang” on repeat until I crack,” I said in a tone that matched hers. That did it, and she burst into laughter.
“Seriously, Claire, are you okay with the whole long-distance thing?”
“He’s looking into a job in Japan. Actually, we both are.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I told you that Aiden’s part Japanese, and he worked there before. I’ve never taught in Japan, so I’m looking at several positions in the country. We might not be in the same city, but we’ll be close enough to see each other on the weekends. So, really, the long-distance thing might not be a factor.”
This time, Julia threw her arms around me and squeezed so tight that I had to push her away. “I can’t breathe. For someone so petite, you’re pretty strong.”
Julia flexed her muscles and gave me a menacing stare. “The next time you make me mad, I’ll use a judo throw on you.”
The End
