Joey walked up to the apartment. Not just any apartment, his apartment. She was here under the pretense of looking for Jack. But the first thing she wondered when actually getting to the door was whether Pacey would be on the other side as well.
Jen would be at Joey’s apartment by now, sure that nobody she didn’t want to see would be there. If you went by Keith’s explanation, he was taking Audrey to dinner as an apology for everything that has happened. If you asked Audrey, it was their first real date. If you were outside this situation, it was Keith trying to cement what he had with Audrey so he could block out Jen’s words.
She hadn’t even realized she’d made the trip up to their apartment until the door opened, revealing Pacey. “Hey, Potter.”
Joey forced a smile, then asked, “Is Jack around?”
Pacey shook his head. “Not yet. He had a few errands to take care of.” He stepped aside. “Why don’t you wait inside?”
She obliged, slowly entering the apartment. She could see why Audrey wanted to play decorator. Boxes were still scattered around the living room, assorted bags lying around, and a pizza box on the kitchen table.
“Nice place you have here,” Joey remarked.
“Thanks,” Pacey replied, hoping Jack would return soon. “Would you like to sit down?”
Joey nodded, sitting down on the couch. Pacey sat on the arm of the chair, careful to keep a safe distance between them.
He glanced in her direction, noting the extra time Joey had taken to look a little more put together. Her hair with waves set in. The necklace with the charms she had purchased at a seaport on their summer trip. The wraparound blouse allowing the mind to wander. “You guys are heading out tonight?”
“Jen is reviewing a band playing at Gateway Tavern. She’s prepared to take ten minutes before giving her trademark scathing assessment. Once she finishes the write-up, we can drink away the horrific experience.”
“It sounds like fun.”
“I hope so.”
“Just watch out how drunk you get,” he smirked.
Joey protested, “I have gotten much better when it comes to consumption.” At Pacey’s surprised look, she explained, “At least I can hold three beers in my system now. After that, all bets are off.”
“Of course.” Pacey grinned, knowing this was as much about Joey trying to convince herself that was the case.
“Besides,” Joey added, wanting to ruin their regular bantering. “Brendan’s not much of a drinker either, so it’ll be easier to stay in line.”
Pacey didn’t have to ask who Brendan was. This was the guy he thought of as Lucky Bastard. What else could you call the guy who lived with as well as dated Joey Potter? Jack had been reluctant to divulge any other details, of which Pacey was very thankful. Mercifully, he hadn’t had to witness their relationship firsthand yet, either.
“Are you happy with him?”
“Yes.”
“Does he treat you well?”
Joey kept her eyes down. “Yes.” She knew Pacey was only asking out of concern. Yet Joey couldn’t help but think back at how everything had gone wrong during their past relationship. She wouldn’t allow a guy to be her downfall again.
“I’m glad to hear that. I hope you found the right guy.”
She felt a little bad for leading Pacey to think this was a serious enough relationship to think that way. Joey admitted, “Actually, tonight is our first real date. Everything up to this point has been confined to the apartment.”
Pacey winced, recognizing what ‘confined to the apartment’ meant. “So it’s a sexual thing only?”
Joey squirmed in her seat. “When you say it that way, it sounds sleazy. We were already becoming good friends before this started. Most of the time, that’s all there is. It’s only when we were alone that it developed into something greater. That’s why none of our friends figured out there was anything further than friendship.”
Which explained why Jack had asked if Joey was telling the truth. “He’s your roommate, right?”
“Yeah. That too.”
“Doesn’t it get a little strange, seeing the guy you’ve just started dating that regularly?”
Joey shrugged. “Not really. We’re not around each other 24/7 between school and work. If anything, it’s easier because we’re roommates.”
Pacey replied skeptically, “How’s that possible?”
“Well, I doubt we would have been drawn to each other otherwise. He’s Keith’s friend, thereby scum by association.”
“Oh, I see.” He knew there was a derisive tone whenever that guy was mentioned. Then again, Jen was his main source. Which reminded him, “So this is a double date with the ultimate non-couple,” meaning Jack and Jen.
“Yeah. We’ll have a better idea of where we’re heading after tonight. Technically, it’s a second date but since the first was the Halloween party…”
Pacey acknowledged, “I guess I ruined that one.”
“Don’t worry. It wasn’t a complete disaster. I’m glad you were there.”
“It was long overdue,” he replied gently, watching as Joey pushed strands of hair behind her ear.
She raised her head, surprised to see Pacey watching her every move. How she had wished for so long to see those blue eyes stare tenderly back at her. How she couldn’t look into those eyes anymore without thinking about the ending. She jerked away from his gaze.
Pacey commented, “I see you kept the necklace in excellent condition.”
“The neck…” She hadn’t even realized which piece she’d chosen, feeling the chain in her fingers. It was the seaport necklace. “Oh, yeah, it had been in the jewelry box for ages. I thought it was fitting for tonight. It’s not like this is a prom.” As soon as she said that, she felt horrible. There was no need to throw that back in his face. She offered an apologetic smile.
To her surprise, Pacey wasn’t upset. In fact, he broke into a slight grin. “I thought we were never to speak of that again,” a teasing tone to his voice.
“Sorry, I guess I slipped.”
“I hope that nothing I said that night was taken seriously. It seems so foolish now, thinking how I let Dawson become such an issue between us.”
“I didn’t make it any easier,” Joey added quickly. “He was an issue, there was no way around it. He was both of our best friends at some point. It was not handled well by either of us.” Huh? Where had this come from? Joey always blamed Pacey for the breakup. Either that or her perfect vision of their relationship. This was the first time she could remember admitting there were worse problems, some of them caused by her. “But, as you can see, Dawson doesn’t play much of a role anymore. He’s wrapped up in the film world. We’re only used as inspiration from time to time. As long as I don’t take his movies personally, everything is fine.”
“He’s no longer in love with you?”
“As a friend, yes, he’ll always love me. As a love interest, no, he’s moved on. I think he’s currently dating an up-and-coming actress.” Joey bit her bottom lip, then teased, “Guess I’m easy to fall out of love with.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Pacey muttered as he pushed back a stray strand of hair from her face.
Joey asked nervously, “Oh? How would you say it?” She wanted nothing more than to hear him say those words she never tired of hearing when they dated.
If there was one thing he had learned in the last few years, it was to not give in to that question. Especially not from Joey. “I’d say there are guys lining up to fall in love with you.”
“Uh huh. Right. Of course.”
Pacey stood up, forcing out, “One of those guys may be your boyfriend. You never know.” He left her alone in the living room.
Joey cursed silently. Sensibly, she shouldn’t have even laid the question out there. It didn’t matter whether Pacey still loved her. He wasn’t intending to make a move.
But why should she even want that? She already went through this with Pacey. She had moved on.
* * * * *
Jen headed to the apartment for the first time since the Halloween debacle. She checked the parking lot. Only one car was there - a hunter green jeep. Jen was positive that Keith’s car was black. Good. He wasn’t home.
It also meant that Jack was still hiding out while letting Pacey and Joey reminisce. Jen smiled as she realized that meant she would have some time alone with the third party. She strode up to the entrance, prepared for duty.
It wasn’t like Jen wanted to sabotage whatever Joey and Brendan had. Just a nudge in the other direction was all she and Jack had in mind. Ultimately, it was up to Joey whether anything needed to be done.
Jen headed up the elevator, ending up at their door. The door was unlocked so she let herself in. Brendan was sitting at the counter, his back to her, as he read a magazine.
“You really shouldn’t leave the door open. Any crazy person could enter.”
Not missing a beat, Brendan drolly replied, “That threat doesn’t work well in this place. They already live here.”
“Good point.” Jen sat down on the couch, uncomfortable about being there. How could she do this if Brendan wasn’t even paying attention? “Where’s Joey?”
“At Jack and Pacey’s. I guess Jack needed door-to-door service.”
“Maybe Pacey will come out with us.” Jen knew this wasn’t possible but thought it would be amusing to put that thought in his head. “After all, the whole Capeside gang could be in one place. It didn’t really happen at the Halloween party, what with Pacey and Joey running off…”
“Taking care of unfinished business,” Brendan finished.
Jen replied lightly, “That’s one way to phrase it.”
“You have to improve your digs at me, Jen. They’re not even at the level of being thinly-veiled.”
“I’ll have you know that my intrusive nature is well appreciated by those who know me.”
“You don’t know as much as you think you do,” Brendan muttered.
“I don’t? Well, by all means, enlighten me.”
Brendan turned around on the stool. “I can understand why you’re be mad at him.” Jen wanted to interrupt, to inform him this isn’t about that but his next words amazed her. “No big deal. He’s been such a jerk regarding both you and Audrey.”
“You’re agreeing with me?”
“What doesn’t make sense is why you’d jump to the conclusions you did. I’m aware that Keith is not the most open individual, but a sad, pathetic excuse for a human being?”
Jen cringed, aware that Brendan overheard their argument. “Look, I’m sorry you had to listen to that but I’m not taking back what I said. He got what he deserved.”
“You were trying to provoke a reaction. Well done. Keith wishes he never met you.”
“Good,” Jen snapped, satisfied at her success.
“I can’t figure out what he did that has clearly infuriated you. It’s gotta be more than him kissing Audrey.”
Jen replied in exasperation, “This isn’t something I want to get into now.”
Brendan insisted, “We’re talking, whether you and Keith like it or not.” Jen may not have wanted to do this now but she had to give Brendan credit for meddling. Something she tended to do when it came to her friends’ relationships. “You mentioned something regarding lying about his background. Is that when the problems began?”
“Keith claimed his father died years ago, yet Audrey told me he…” Jen then remembered where Audrey got her information. “You told Audrey that his dad was your professor.”
Brendan widened his eyes. “That’s the lie? Why didn’t you just say so to him? Wait…never mind. After all that you said, why should he explain? You still would have been convinced you broke the case.”
Jen crossed her arms over her chest. “Give me your best defense.”
“You want a trial? Fine, I’ll lead you to Exhibit A.” He jumped off the stool. “Follow me.”
She got off the couch as he guided her to Keith’s room. She stood in the doorway as Brendan searched through hiding spots such as the mattress and the drawers, muttering, “I was sure in the dorms he concealed this there,” at each location he was unsuccessful. Finally, he found what he was looking for behind the dresser. It was a worn-out red scrapbook.
Jen arched an eyebrow. “This is about an old book?”
Ignoring her, Brendan sat on the bed, thumbing through photos and newspaper clippings until he got to the one he wanted. “You can claim anything I tell you is just another shrewdly calculated move of Keith’s. A puppet master, if you will.” He rolled his eyes as he handed her the article. “But you can’t dispute facts.”
Jen saw the headline stating ‘C&B Auto Body Owner Killed in House Fire’. When she first met Keith, he was fixing his car, so it hardly surprised her that mechanics was a family thing. She said in a small voice, “A house fire?”
“It’s believed the furnace caused it. His mom barely made it out alive and was sure his dad was behind her as she fled. She turned back to the house to find the ceiling had collapsed on top of him. Never had a chance.”
“So if that’s true then his mom…the stupor threat…”
“Has a drinking problem? Yes. It was probably simmering under the surface before he died but it became a full-blown problem soon after. So with her in a drunken trance, Keith was stuck working out the financial problems with the partner of the business. Keeping busy was better than watching everything collapse. I’m guessing his mom observed how Keith was getting some semblance of normalcy so she pulls out the wild card. She goes off on this drunken rant and tells him that the guy who died wasn’t his real father. Her first husband was.”
The father Jen thought was alive and well at Worthington, Jen suspected. She needed confirmation before jumping to that conclusion. “Would that be the professor?”
“Yeah, that’s Stan’s connection. He moved up to Boston many years ago. The financial difficulties were mounting and she saw it only getting worse - Keith was a junior in high school and the last thing she wanted was for him to sacrifice school for a failing auto shop. So she suggested that he live with Stan. An ex she’d insult at every opportunity was the solution. He was more like a landlord than a parent in those two years.”
Jen said slowly, “So if I had asked him if Stan was his father, he would say…”
“As far as Keith is concerned, the only father he has is the one buried in Atlanta. Any current contact with Stan is for financial aid purposes. Certainly not for father-son moments.” He placed the article back in its place in the folder. “You might call that a lie, but it’s more like not giving Stan any satisfaction.”
“Jack and Joey will be back any minute.” Jen looked out the window. She could see the parking lot from here but they weren’t here yet. “I’ll do lookout from here.”
Brendan nodded, returning the folder to its position. “I have to get ready anyway.”
Jen watched as Brendan left the room, then debated what to do. If Keith wanted nothing to do with her, it didn’t make sense to wait around for him and apologize. Why did she even care about this? He was still out on a date with Audrey and this wasn’t about being bitter that he’d chosen the other girl.
“Right,” she muttered to herself. “You’re not the least bit annoyed about that because he’d be a terrible match.” Strange as it was to say, she needed to see him. To clear her conscience, at the very least. Jen took off her watch and set it on the dresser, then left the room.
* * * * *
“So you finally saw Jack’s place?” Jen asked, swigging down her beer. She had done her write-up of the band and was now lounging in the booth, back against the wall, her shoes on the floor as her bare feet rested against Jack. Joey and Brendan sat on the opposite side.
Joey held a french fry in her hand as she explained to Jack, “I so wanted to say Audrey should keep her decorating skills out of there. But you and Pacey need serious help.” She dipped the fry in ketchup then popped it in her mouth.
Jen pointed out to Jack. “Told you so.”
“It’s a bachelor pad,” Jack weakly protested. He tried to say it seriously but couldn’t suppress a grin as he raised the bottle to his mouth.
Jen chuckled. “I’d believe that more if Pacey said it. How quickly you forget my Scott!”
Joey said with a smile, “Weak excuse.”
Jack took a long sip then countered, “Funny. Sometimes I get the feeling he’s your boyfriend.”
“That’s only because of work!” Jen exclaimed, then realized Jack was only teasing. “Just because Scott and I make out in his car every time we work late doesn’t mean he wants me more than you. Right, Jo?”
Joey held a finger as she finished swallowing the food in her mouth, then replied, “It’s only okay if you both have your eyes closed and are pretending the other is Jack. Otherwise, well…” Joey offered Jack an apologetic look. “You’ll have to find new friends.”
Jen reached across the table and swiped a french fry from Joey’s plate. “I’ll have you know I’ve never done that to any guy regarding any other guy.”
Joey replied in mock horror, “You mean you wanted to have sex with Oliver?” Jack burst out laughing as Jen glared at both of them.
“That was a lapse in judgment caused by breaking up with C.J. days earlier,” Jen protested feebly. “I was absolutely heartbroken.” Joey and Jack kept laughing. Jen shrugged. “It provided Dawson with a better script anyway.”
Jack replied, “Yeah but Audrey was essentially playing you in that short film and had to kiss Oliver as a result. You still owe her big time.”
“I know,” Jen said regretfully. “That’s where the guy covered in chocolate comes in.”
Jack scrunched up his face. “The klutzy stock boy?” The story was that Joey, Jen, and Audrey visited a candy shop. They were trading stories when they noticed the stock boy was watching them, trying to be coy. The three turned up the heat on their discussion, enticing their victim to drop a tray of chocolates.
Joey muttered, “He was kinda hot.”
Jen reminded Jack, “This is the same person who dated you when you were an uncoordinated outsider.”
Jack replied defensively, “I didn’t realize at the time that Joey found clumsiness attractive.”
“Is this a fixation of yours?” Brendan remarked, turning to Joey, amused by the turn in conversation.
Joey narrowed her eyes at Jack. She could see now what her friends were trying to do. It was the reason Jack wasn’t home. Why Jen appeared settled in her apartment when Joey did return. Why the conversation was steered to keep Brendan on the outside. Okay, that might not have completely been their doing but it seemed better to blame them.
Jen answered, “No, it’s just Jack thinking he’s difficult to get over.”
Jack turned to Jen. “You can’t tell me that you have forgotten the lodge encounter.”
While Joey knew Jack was talking about his and Jen’s sexual fumblings, it triggered her memories of that trip. Joey had been so nervous about the possibility of sex for the first time. But, as the trip went on, she eventually concluded that this was the right time and Pacey was the right person. Looking back, she couldn’t be happier at the decision, even if was the beginning of the end of their relationship.
She had tuned them out momentarily, to return to Jen explaining to Brendan, "Basically, it was one of those nights that ended at the right time, before anything regretful could occur."
Brendan shook his head in disbelief, asking Jack, "You mean you’ve been romantically linked to both of them?"
Jack chuckled at the question. "It sounds cool when you phrase it that way."
"Is there a trifecta?"
"Audrey? Not unless you count her at the gay bar. She dragged me there."
"Of course she did,” Brendan kidded. “After all, you’re the life of the party. Able to attract the attention of both sexes. Quite a power you have, Batman." Joey and Jen couldn't help but grin as they saw Jack get embarrassed by the remarks.
Jack shot a glance in Jen’s direction, the smile still on her face. Jen caught his look, defending, “It’s true, Jackie. You have a gift,” through giggles. When she regained composure, she added, “Consider that came from the mouth of a straight guy.”
“A straight guy lamenting about a gay guy being more successful with the ladies,” Brendan said, offering a smirk. “How depressing.”
"You could always cross over," Jen offhandedly suggested.
"Um, no. Once is… never mind, no."
Jen sat upright in her seat, suddenly interested. "Oooh, this sounds like the beginning of a fun story you’re withholding from us."
"It's not nearly as good a story as you might think.” Jen leaned over to hear better. Brendan took a deep breath before explaining, “It was New Year's Eve. Keith was invited to this party but he already had plans so I accepted his invite. I run into this guy Trevor from work at the bar. He had broken up with his boyfriend a few days earlier. I had nothing better to do so I listen to his complaining about being alone as the new year came near. So the countdown comes - 10, 9, 8 - and when the clock strikes midnight, well…”
“He treated you like his ex-boyfriend and kissed you,” Joey finished. “You were there for the guy…”
Brendan cut her off, “That’s not quite what happened.” He took a sip of soda, trying to avoid their stares.
Joey pondered what could have occurred but Jen and Jack glanced at each other, already guessing the answer. Jack remarked, “Something tells me it wasn’t Trevor who initiated.”
“What would you have done in that position?” Brendan replied defensively. “Trevor still thinks I’m in denial.”
As Jen and Jack reveled in the story, Joey realized this double date wasn’t the best idea after all. Much as she was thankful that her friends were being more open about Brendan, it hardly answered any questions about their relationship.
Joey looked around the rest of the tavern. In the far corner was a small dance floor. Time to find out.
* * * * *
Audrey exclaimed as she entered the apartment, “I have to admit, that was so much fun. When you suggested that greasy spoon of a place, I thought you were being cheap.”
Keith followed behind. “Well, I guess I am in the sense that I don’t have hundreds available at the last second. But I thought you deserved an entertaining dinner. So if it’s a 50’s-inspired diner complete with the roller skates and a young Elvis impersonator, that’s more memorable than some snobbish five-star restaurant.”
She had to admit she was surprised by having fun without it necessarily meaning it was of a sexual nature. Every so often, there would be a remark that had a double meaning, reminding her why she agreed in the first place. Audrey tilted her head. “I guess those exist, in some bizarre otherworldly dimension.”
“Why, is it that strange for a guy not to shower you with expensive gifts?” If there one topic they couldn’t see eye to eye on, it was their standings in life. It was in the way that Audrey could spend however she wished while Keith kept quiet about side repair projects he’d do to cover expenses.
“I didn’t mean that,” Audrey said gently. “Maybe I wrongly assumed that’s what tonight was about.”
“To coerce you into making a decision about us? It doesn’t make sense to try to pretend to be someone I’m not at this point. We’ve known each other for over two months.”
“True but this is different.” She was wary of saying why this was different. It was the unspoken subject. As far as she was concerned, Jen Lindley didn’t exist in their relationship anymore. “Are you saying we have more of a relationship?”
Keith shrugged, nonchalantly replying, “Could be. I like having you around.”
Audrey smiled, seeing the finish line at last. “Can’t say I disagree. Who wouldn’t want to be in my presence?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know.” Audrey gave him a wink as she announced, “I’m heading to bed. Tomorrow’s a long day.”
“Right. That’s a good idea.” He took a few steps toward his bedroom, then faced her. “Have a good night.”
“Good night,” Audrey headed for her room, stopping when she heard his door shut. Odd, she thought she’d sent her signals clear that he should follow her. Was he really ending the night?
She twirled around, stalking toward his room and swinging the door open. Keith was standing there, checking his watch. “Thirteen seconds. Impressive willpower.”
Audrey narrowed her eyes, realizing he had beaten her at her own game. She took two steps closer, then placed her hand at the back of his neck and kissed him. Keith let her weight push him backwards, the destination being his bed. Their kisses keeping them together, both fell back onto the bed, Audrey on top of Keith.
She broke away just long enough to whisper, “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted this,” before untucking his shirt and resuming their kissing, this time allowing his tongue entry into her mouth.
Audrey freed up on hand as she fumbled in the direction of his dresser, knowing where he stored the condoms, when she felt a watchband in her hand. She broke the gaze long enough to recognize it as Jen’s watch.
She broke away from him, confused. “When was Jen here?” Here Audrey had been sure he’d written off Jen, so how had they made up?
“She wasn’t,” Keith replied, resuming kissing her.
“No, I’m serious. Don’t…” She pushed him back and moved to the edge of the bed, shoving the watch in his face. “Don’t lie when the proof is right there.”
“This doesn’t make sense,” he muttered. Louder, he said, “Audrey, I’m not lying. I haven’t talked to Jen since that morning. Why would I even want to speak to her?”
“Am I supposed to believe that?” Audrey couldn’t figure when Keith was telling the truth. Normally, it didn’t matter to her since it was only fun and games. This time irritated her.
“I wouldn’t advise putting the two of us in the same room to find out.”
Audrey narrowed her eyes, trying to read if that was fact. “Eh, I don’t know.” She stood up, straightening her blouse. “This isn’t a good idea.” Whether anything happened between Jen and Keith was irrelevant. Audrey knew she couldn’t have had sex with him at this point - it would never work out in a casual way.
Keith wasn’t interested in objecting. “If that’s the way you feel.”
“We had an enjoyable evening. There’s no need to rush this.” With that, she shook her head and left the room.
The watch lay on the bed, the silver band shining. Keith tried to figure out how the watch got in his room. It wasn’t there last night, that much he recalled. Jen deliberately left this behind, maybe wanting to talk to him. Either Joey or Brendan had to have let her in.
He sat at the edge of the bed, checking the dresser when he saw the red book sticking out oddly from the back. It had been moved since he last pulled it out. Sure, it was possible the dresser had been moved and the book shifted as a result.
But he doubted it.
It was in the way he could smell Jen’s mix of coconut and raspberry scent in the area. That, as desperately as he wanted to, she wasn’t so easy to rid from his mind. It was torturous to at once know he despised her and wanted her more than anyone who’d ever crossed his path.
Before, Keith was sure Jen knew very little about him, which led to her conclusions. But now, he realized in fact Jen knew way too much.
That concerned him even more.
* * * * *
“We have to stop this plan,” Jen declared, her eyes on Joey and Brendan on the dance floor.
Jack sharply turned to her. “I thought we were playing cupid!”
“No, we’re not.”
He smirked. “What did he say to you before Joey and I arrived?”
“Nothing.”
“The question really is, did you change your mind because Brendan was nice or because he made Keith look respectable.”
Jen glared at Jack, not wanting to admit the details of their talk. “What has Brendan done wrong? I’m being serious. If we had found out about them before Pacey returned to town, we wouldn’t care.”
“That’s true but given that her last boyfriend was Eddie, maybe we should have been paying better attention.”
“Regardless, Joey can make up her own mind.”
“This is a girl who was torn between two guys for the majority of high school,” Jack reminded her. “Guys are drawn to her and Joey is eventually compelled by their offers.”
Jen scolded, “Stop playing big brother and leave her be. They’re doing just fine without us. We supposedly have lives of our own. Let’s go back to them.”
* * * * *
Joey groaned as another sappy love ballad came out of the speakers. When she had the idea to try to figure out if there were sparks, she hadn’t anticipated music that would make her retch. It was a shame because she was enjoying dancing with Brendan.
“Has it been proven that music like this can rot your brain?”
Brendan let out a sigh of relief. “I thought it was just me. Maybe we can tune it out.”
Joey looked up at him. “How? Earplugs?”
Brendan didn’t really want to let her go, so thinking quickly, he pulled her close as he said, “Maybe that blocking out thing will work here.”
“The blocking out…” His comment wasn’t tinged with sexual undertones, which confused her. Joey peered at him, waiting for an explanation.
“You thought that my giving a speech over lousy singing would help with public speaking. Lousy singing can override horrid sentimental trash.”
Joey laughed at the idea. “Your reasoning is off. I’m not doing karaoke in front of all these people.”
“Didn’t say you would. Go along with me.” Brendan wrapped his arms around her as they swayed back and forth to the music. He began singing softly.
I don’t get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns,
The stumbles and falls brought me here
Joey began to relax, able to tune out the horns and violins in the real background.
and where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face
Now I see it everyday
And I know
That I am, I am
I am the luckiest
“The Luckiest“ - Ben Folds
She wondered how she would have reacted if Pacey had given her an answer. In theory, it shouldn’t have mattered. It wasn’t about being narcissistic and wanting him to feed her ego. It was about him. Because, as much as she wanted to deny it, there was one thing she couldn’t avoid.
Pacey Witter got to her in a way that nobody else could. One look from him could warm her heart for hours. She was still tingly from his earlier gazes.
Joey imagined Pacey’s arms around her, the heat keeping them warm without the need for a fire. How he’d whisper in her ear…
“I think I’m in love with you.”
Joey broke into a smile at the words. Just the ones she wanted to hear. Pacey’s gruff voice revealing what she’d hoped was true. “You think or you know?” Wait, this sounds like a first time revelation, which it wouldn’t be if it were Pacey.
That’s when she opened her eyes and realized her error. She had imagined what she wanted to hear, from the voice she wanted to hear it from. The reality was the words were right but everything else was wrong. Joey was dismayed that she could be thinking about one guy while in the arms of another.
Brendan had gone from embarrassed by the slipup to confused. “Um, I don’t know. I wasn‘t considering that far ahead. Just…something spur of the moment.” He dropped his hands to his sides, not sure what to do next.
What was supposed to be an uncomplicated affair had suddenly turned into a mess. Joey had no idea what she could say at this point. It was best for both of them to overlook their moments of weakness. She took his hand in hers as she said, “Maybe we should head back to Jack and Jen.”
“Good idea,” Brendan conceded as he let Joey lead him back to the table.
