up, getting the distinct feeling I never do. Some nights are like that. No matter what I do I am behind. When my shift is over I slip into the break room to get my things and run.
Sam notices me and beams. “Hey, girl.”
“Hey,” I respond, too tired to be mad. “Was tonight crazy or was it me?”
“No way. It was super insane. I think the fraternities at the university were having a function or something. Anyway, want to go hang out?”
Is Kent at that function hunting? “I can’t. My sister’s in town.” I grab my purse as her face falls. Honestly, I’m not in the mood. “You can come over if you want. Bring Sophie. It can be a girl’s night.”
Her smile springs back. “That sounds like fun. I need a girl’s night.” She starts to wring her hands together and looks like she wants to say more.
“I didn’t like Trevor.”
“Okay, good, because it kind of just happened. We hit it off the last time we talked and you know the rest…”
I saw the rest. “It’s fine. Next time could you give a girl some warning?”
Laughing, she nods vigorously. “Can he come over tonight? He’s leaving for work tomorrow and I won’t get to see him until next weekend.”
Right now I don’t want to deal with Trevor. “Yeah, fine. Whatever. I’ll meet you two there.”
Before I get home I stop at the store and pick up some girl-friendly drinks. Somehow I don’t think Becca wants to pound whiskey shots the way I do. I grab snacks and then tiredly pack everything up in my car. When I get to my apartment Sophie and Sam are pulling up beside me. They’re much more awake, much more everything than me.
“What’s wrong?” Sophie wonders, helping me take the slack by grabbing a bag.
“Nothing.”
“Where’s Kent?”
“Out.” I focus on lugging the drinks upstairs.
“Oh,” she says, guessing my thoughts. “We’re hanging out too. We can hang out better than him.”
“It’s not a competition.” Why is she always so interested in what Kent’s doing? It further ruins my mood.
“With men like him it’s always a competition.”
Competitions have a winner and a loser. I want someone to fight with.
Becca opens the front door dressed in a pair of my pajamas and a black camisole. Her hair is in a messy bun and she’s got a beer in her hand. She smiles warmly when she sees me.
I give her a bland one back. “Girls, this is my sister Becca. Becca, this is Sophie and Samantha. We work together at Oblivion.” I wiggle the drinks at her. “You up for it?”
“Up for it? I was up for it way before you used to be. Girls,” she greets them.
Sophie’s eyes widen. “I have a girl crush.”
Becca smiles seductively. “Get in line, honey. It’s a mile long.”
Sam glares accusingly at me. “You didn’t tell me you had a cool older sister.”
“That’s because she isn’t the cool one. I am.”
Becca snorts. “Yeah, right, dweeb.”
I slowly begin to relax. As always Becca is a balm to my pain. She and I make grapefruit cosmos as the girls open chips and salsa. A comedy is on and Sam and Sophie are guffawing at the screen. I think I might be able to salvage the evening until the doorbell rings and Sam rushes to answer it.
“Who’s that?”
“Trevor. Long story. And it’s not even good.”
“Are you okay? You seem wound up.” Becca tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Is it Kent?”
I can barely meet her eyes. “I’m fine.”
Trevor comes in and his eyes light up when he finds Samantha. She bounces over to him and kisses him. I am momentarily gripped by jealously. I’m not jealous she’s with Trevor. I’m upset because they barely know each other and they’re already a bouncing happy couple. My unhappiness turns into rage. I stop worrying about Kent. He isn’t here. He’s probably out screwing Auburn Hair while I sit at home watching Sam and Trevor snuggle on the same couch she slept with Kent on. Oh the tangled webs we weave. I don’t remember weaving anything, and yet I’m caught in everyone’s sticky webs.
I join the lovely couple on the couch, burning on the inside. My drink is almost gone. Becca eyes me, hogging all the chips and salsa.
“Truth and dare?” Sophie asks.
“You just want to make out with my sister.”
Her eyes twinkle at me. “Busted.”
Becca makes a face. “I’m into a lot of things. Making out with girls isn’t one of them.”