Ch. 9: Lines (page 2)
by Emmet
�True� but � very true.� We did have fun together, and would still even with Barry. And perhaps even with this Jazmynne. I should go. I heard Grace moving in the other room. I would go out with someone my age, a grownup. That�s probably why I had been focusing too much on Grace � no distraction of a grownup relationship. I told myself.
�Who knows? Maybe we�ll end up having a double wedding?� Chris laughed.
�Well,� I forced a laugh too, �I wouldn�t go that far��
Grace came out of the living room with her backpack. �Good night,� she said quietly, and I suddenly felt bad for rudely carrying on a phone conversation. It�s not what I would have done to a friend.
But Grace couldn�t be such a friend. She walked to the door, and I lowered the receiver. �Good night,� I answered, then added, �Listen, I�ll try and locate that memo.�
�Oh� okay,� Grace said, and was gone.
Chris was still talking. �So, tomorrow okay for you? I�ll swing by, and then Barry and Jazmynne can meet us, maybe at your place? Then we can all go out for dinner?�
I watched Grace walk through the double set of doors, then her image was blocked by the reflection of the kitchen against the night glass. I said, �Tomorrow� I think we�ll definitely have to do that.�
�Okay then. Just casual, though. Nothing fancy. Take it easy.� She knew I sometimes went overboard preparing hors d�oeuvres to go with the wine. Had no desire to do that this time, though.
�Absolutely. That�s what I�m saying.�
�All this wedding stuff actually is making me a little nervous,� she confessed. �Jazmynne came here so we could shop for wedding dresses together. Me and wedding dresses! I never thought I�d be even thinking about them.�
�I know,� I said, waiting for her to realize the irony of that statement.
�Right,� she said. �Of course. You okay with all this?�
�I really am, Chris,� I said, and I really was. I was happy for her, because she did seem happy. I hoped she was. To find someone you think you can spend the rest of your life with� how lucky is that? �So, why don�t you all come by for some wine beforehand, and then we can go to Blind Faith.�
�You remembered Barry�s a vegetarian.�
�I remember everything you tell me, Chris. See you tomorrow.� I hung up the phone, hearing the sound of Grace�s car engine in the distance, driving away from my house.