friends says I made the right choice when I originally described our friendship to her.
“Oh, hold on one sec,” Juno says, pulling out her phone when it dings.
Neither Jason or Brigette give her a second glance, talking about boat rides or castles or something. I watch Juno as I fork my salad, her two thumbs poised over the phone. My phone vibrates in my pocket.
Juno: I’m sorry too. I’ll try harder.
Me: I know this is different.
Juno: She’s nice. I’m glad you found someone so nice.
Although that empty pit that’s resided in my stomach all week disappears with her forgiveness, things are still awkward. But I guess I have to assume that’s the way it will be now.
Me: Jason’s nice.
I really need to stop lying so much.
Juno: He is, and he seems very into your fiancée.
I look up from my phone and see that neither of them have touched their salads. You’d think the two of them were on a date.
Me: Maybe we should leave and see if they even notice?
Juno: :P We should probably try to join the conversation.
Before I can respond, Juno puts her phone back inside her purse. I guess that’s the end of that.
“Who was that?” Brigette asks the minute I put my phone away. I knew she saw the exchange. She’s got the vision of a sharpshooter.
“It was Mrs. Lopez about her cat,” I say.
She nods because Mrs. Lopez calls every other day about some new ailment she thinks her cat has.
The waitress arrives with our main dishes and it’s only then Jason realizes he never ate his salad, so we all shift around the plates so that he and Brigette can eat their salads with their pasta.
“This is so yummy. It must have been wonderful growing up with Rome cooking for you,” Brigette says to Juno.
“He’s only a year older than me, so we were grown before he could really cook me a meal that wasn’t mac and cheese.”
“Oh yeah,” Brigette says. “I guess I didn’t realize you were so close in age. Maybe because he’s married with kids, he seems older.”
I inwardly cringe as I twirl my fork around the pasta.
“Yeah, I’m just the loser sister,” Juno says.
Jason says nothing, finally eating his salad.
“Oh, I didn’t mean it—”
“I know. It’s fine. Sorry. I’m not being very good company tonight.” Juno twirls her own fork.
I’m hoping Rome’s pesto will help boost Juno’s mood. I’ve witnessed her mood change with a slice of pizza or a handful of fries.
Brigette shoots me an apologetic look and I shake my head.
“You guys were right. This is so good.” Jason’s fork is full of noodles as he’s still chewing. “How have I never had this before?”
“Don’t think you can get it just anywhere either,” Brigette says. “We tried that place in Anchorage, remember, Colton?” Her nose crinkles and she shakes her head.
I catch Juno rolling her eyes. Rome’s pasta isn’t doing the trick.
“Um.” Jason clears his throat. “Is this…” He clears his throat again. “There aren’t nuts in this dish, right?” He points at the dish before grabbing his throat.
“Pine nuts,” Brigette says, apparently more familiar with what goes into the dish than I am.
Juno’s eyes widen. “You’re allergic?” Her chair scrapes along the concrete.
All the tables around us turn their attention to ours.
“We need a doctor,” Brigette says.
“Do you have an EpiPen on you?” Juno asks Jason, whose face is growing red and swollen and is fumbling with his hand in his pocket.
Jason nods his head. Juno’s eyes widen, silently asking me what to do.
“Grab it and stab him in the leg with it then let’s get to the hospital,” I say, pulling my keys out of my pocket. What kind of idiot doesn’t tell the restaurant they have an allergy?
Jason pulls his EpiPen from his pocket and manages to stab himself in the thigh with it. We all run, Juno screaming to Harley about the bill. Jason slides into the back seat of the truck and Juno sits in the passenger seat, leaving Brigette standing by the door.
“Right. Sorry.” Juno climbs down and into the back seat with Jason.
Our eyes lock through the rearview mirror briefly. I guess I never did realize how different things would be.
Ten
Juno
“You guys should go,” I say to Brigette as we wait for Colton, who went down to the vending area to grab drinks and snacks. We’ve been here for hours already.
Since I’m not immediate family, I have no idea how Jason’s doing.
Talk about an epic fail of a date. First, I’m