by Karli James
“Did you have a good time?”
“I had a great time; your Dad is amazing. By the way, does he always lecture you to watch your mouth, as he’s cussing like a sailor?”
“Ha! Caught that, did you? Yes, he does. It’s our thing. But, yeah, he’s a pretty solid guy. I like him.”
“Well that’s always a positive—liking your parents. I like mine too.”
“Yeah? We haven’t talked much about them. When do I get to meet Mr. and Mrs. Vitale?”
“I’m sure we can arrange a time. They’d be more than happy to know their baby girl has finally found someone that’s not Craig.”
“Fucking Craig.”
“Exactly.”
“Well you figure it out, and just let me know. I’ll be there. However, if you could please implore your brother to attend, I feel like that would help ease my nerves, ya know? Already having big brother’s approval and all that.”
“I’m sure Drew will come if you ask him, I’m not sure about me though. I think he’s replaced me with you.”
“Don’t pout, Presh. Your brother loves you. He just needs some extra testosterone sometimes.”
“So, he’s choosing you? Over me?”
“That was hurtful.”
“But you still adore me.”
“Facts.”
She’s laughing, and I give her hand a squeeze as we pull into the lot.
“Speaking of, when is the next guys’ night?”
“Umm…I think tomorrow.”
“Sounds good. I have to work, but text me if you need a ride from wherever your boozy travels take you.”
“When is your girls’ night?”
“I think next Wednesday. Nina’s work schedule is sort of split up this coming up week so we’re probably going to meet when I get off shift. Wednesdays tend to be a slower night.”
“Make sure you only talk sweet about me.”
“Oh please, I have a feeling all that will be talked about is Nina’s issues with Liam, and Allison’s lack of sex life, which she’s yet to be able to rectify.”
“Why? She’s hot.”
“Right? I know. I think her problem is that she wants what she’s also scared of.”
“You mean…Drew?”
“What? No! Stop it with that. I mean no strings attachment. She claims it’s her thing, but somehow, in some way, there’s always a string and she always I think feels a little bit hurt when the guy is good with parting ways. I wish she would realize that she’s meant for more, but I’m not sure what holds her back from wanting a relationship.”
“We all have our shit, some shit we don’t even tell our besties.”
“I’ve told you all my shit.”
“I’ve told you all of mine too. But that’s because we’re like the next level of besties.”
“Oh really, next level? How so?”
“Kar, my penis goes into your vagina on the reg. If we partake in those activities and don’t tell each other everything, then the penis and the vag are having better communication than our hearts, and quite frankly I just won’t stand for that.”
“As strange and roundabout as that entire thing you just said was, I actually get it. And agree. I’m glad all our parts are on the same level of communication.”
“Me too. Now, should we go in so you can get ready to leave me and I can go get some writing done? I have edits I have to turn in by tomorrow and I’ve been a slacker hanging out with my girlfriend.”
“I suppose. I’m procrastinating because I’ve had such a great day with my boyfriend.”
“We’re gross, huh?”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“Wouldn’t change it.”
“Me neither.”
I lean over and kiss her cheek before we get out of the car.
“Are your clothes at my place or are you heading back to your apartment?”
“I left my work clothes at home, so I’ll see you tonight when I get off. I’ll probably stop home to shower and change first.”
“Sounds good, Presh. Text me when you have a free moment.”
“Will do. Good luck with your edits.”
“Thank you. Now give us a smooch before you leave.”
She rises up on her tip toes, wraps her arms around my neck and lays it on me just like I like. There’s never any falter in Kara’s kisses. They’re always open, ready, and delicious. Her tongue is hot, and soft as it glides with mine, and before I know it my dick is trying to escape—like it has a homing device attached to it: beep, beep, beep...we found our location Jude, let’s move in. If I don’t push her away now, I’m gonna have her naked up against my car in broad daylight.
“Damn girl, don’t get me riled before you leave. It’s cruelty to Jude, subject to fines and possible jail time. In my bed.”
“I bet your balls look good in blue.”
“Go. Get. You’re the worst.”
“You said best wrong.”
“Look who’s learning how to spar like Jude? I’m so proud. Bye, boo bear.”
“Bye shmoopies.”
“Ah! There it is, I’ve been waiting for the return of the nickname! Don’t hate on this game, Kar!” She’s waving at me as she walks away, a playful smirk on her lips. Yeah, that little asshole knows exactly what she did to me, correction: does to me. Every minute of the day. However, I wasn’t kidding earlier. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Chapter 22
Kara
Over the next few days my time with Jude was a bit more stunted. Between my work schedule, and him finishing up with edits and working up to release week, there just hasn’t been tons of time for our regularly scheduled program. He’s writing again tonight, while I have my girl’s night. I won’t lie that I miss him, but I’m also looking forward to solid girly-time with booze and apps.
When I got home from work, I immediately stripped and took a shower, now as I stand around in my towel trying to figure out what to wear, I realize it might be time for a shopping trip soon. My outfits are getting a bit repetitive. I’m pulling a simple black v neck sweater and jeans from the closet when I hear my phone buzz on the nightstand.
I smile as I see Jude’s name on the screen.
Jude: Woman! I miss your face. Have fun tonight, but be good. And call me if you girls need a ride.
Kara: I miss your face too. Will definitely call if we run into a problem, though I’m wondering if I should just be the DD.
Jude: Nope. Have yourself a glass of wine or five and relax. Gossip. Actually no, seriously, try to get some goods on Liam and Nina, I feel like something is off there. Like bad. I’m afraid maybe their adult conversation we forced them to have has shoved a greater wedge between them than before. Me no likey.
Kara: Hmmm…very interesting. I’ll see what I can dig up for you.
Jude: Love it, thanks Nancy Drew.
Kara: She was pretty badass.
Jude: And kinda hot.
Kara: Jude!
Jude: What? I was like 12, and she was all detectivey and cool. I wanted her to find my dick and use it as a clue.
Kara: I cannot with you!
Jude: You can. You will. So, are you going to come stay with me tonight when you get done hangin’ out?
Kara: I may be able to be persuaded, what’s in it for me?
Jude: Scoff! You mean, besides me?
Kara: Well, yeah.
Jude: I bought snacks and I’ll let you eat them on The Sheets.
Kara: Fuck! Those sheets, I’ve missed them the past few days. And snacks? You’re so hot.
Jude: They’re freshly laundered.
Kara: Holy shit.
Jude: So….
Kara: Yes. I’ll be there. I’ll text you if we need a ride, and if we don’t, I’ll let you know when I’m on my way over.
Jude: Okay Presh, have fun, be safe.
Kara: I will, xoxo
I’m grinning as I toss my phone onto the bed and finish getting ready. Dig up dirt on Nina and Liam, huh? This could be
fun.
It really wasn’t that fun. Sure, it started out fun, all three of us taking a beginning of the night shot, and chasing it down with some beers and appetizers. Allison was as I predicted a bit mopey and bitchy about the lack of peen in her life, and I honestly had no answers for her that she appreciated. She’s against the idea of a relationship. I have no clue why and every time I ask her, she tends to close up.
And then there was Nina, who seemed fine. Happy, laughing, until she wasn’t. Until one too many alcoholic beverages kicked in and tears shone in her eyes and shocked all of us by slipping out and down her pale cheeks.
“Alright Nina, out with it. What’s going on?”
“I don’t think Liam and I are friends anymore, and it’s really weighing on me. I feel like I’ve lost a best friend.”
“Wait, wait, wait…what happened to the adult conversation we made you guys have? You came back to the table and everything seemed to be ok.”
“We were, or at least I thought that we were. But then we weren’t.”
“Luuuucy, you got some ‘splainin’ to do.”
Nina wipes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and a giant gulp of her drink before continuing.
“Right so, we talked. We talked about our relationship and how it seems to have changed—I expressed that I didn’t like how he felt this need to act like an over protective big brother all of the time. I don’t appreciate him butting into my dating and sex life. I also told him I didn’t appreciate being used to break up with a girl, who so clearly felt insecure about their relationship because of me. Me! Of all freaken people. I also expressed that I had felt ambushed by that revelation, and I still don’t agree with him not telling me. With that said, I told him that it doesn’t mean I don’t understand his intentions, and that he I knew he clearly wasn’t trying to deceive me in a malicious way; that’s just not his style.”
I’m nodding, and listening, and patting her hand. Allison is nodding, and sucking down her one millionth drink with wide eyes—like she’s watching a reality TV show and absolutely cannot wait to see what happens next.
“That’s all seems fair to me, Nina. What was his response?”
“He said that he wasn’t trying to be an over protective big brother, but that some habits die hard. He’s used to that role; he’s used to looking out for me, for caring for me on that level, and that he cannot stand to see me setting myself up to get hurt by countless losers who don’t deserve me anyway. Which, trust me, I can appreciate. However, who exactly does he think he is? Is that not the most hypocritical speech he could have given? He does whatever, and whoever he wants. With zero regard to how it makes others feel; watching him dick around and then also, get dicked around.
Paige is not the only girl that’s seen a pretty face and tried to make him—no, shove him into their perfect-guy mold. When he can’t deliver, they treat him like shit and then leave him floundering. And he always seems to go back to them. I’m tired of watching him be a fool, and I’m tired of bailing him out.”
“Okay, so what happened after this conversation—I’m still lost on how it went from being adults, to losing friendship.”
“Right, so. After much talking, we decided to step back from each other’s lives. We agreed that we’re both adults, and we can make our own choices, our own mistakes, if that’s what it turns out to be. However, I feel like I misinterpreted the ‘stepping back’ portion of that convo.
I felt it simply meant we were going to respect each other’s dating life, whatever that entailed, and leave each other out of it. However, since that night at Shaney’s he’s barely talked to me. His text responses have been short. Like one-word kind of short. So finally, tonight before coming out I shot him a text asking him if there was something wrong—asked him why he was barely talking to me.”
“And?”
“And he wrote back saying that this is what we agreed upon. To step back from each other’s lives, and to keep talking like we were prior would just confuse the lines.”
“What the hell does that even mean?”
“Yeah, I asked him that too, and he said: ‘I’m confused why you’re confused Nina. I thought we both agreed to take a step back from our friendship.’ Only, that’s not what I thought we were agreeing to, at all. I didn’t realize we had to stop being friends entirely in order to remain civil. I just wanted him to butt out of my sex life! To treat me like a grown ass woman. I’m not a child. I’m not the little girl who used to chase him and Jude around the yard, hoping to scare Jude with a gardener snake just to make Liam laugh.”
“While we will definitely be re-visiting this fear of gardener snakes thing, can I ask you if you actually told him any of this?”
“No. I didn’t. Because fuck him. It was very clear that night. I know what we said, and I know what we meant. All of a sudden, he’s decided he doesn’t want to be friends with me. Well that’s just fucking fine then Liam. Just fine. Throw away two decades of friendship because your ego, or whatever it is, can’t take a hit. I don’t need it. I will not beg. I will not show him I care enough. This is why I have you two. And booze. I can get drunk, I can vent it out, and then I can move on.”
“Is that really what you want though?”
“Yes! Kara, that bastard does not get to make this decision and then have me crawling after him like he’s still the cool kid on the playground, and I’m just the geek who wants to impress him enough to be my friend. I refuse. We’re past that. I thought, over time our friendship grew into a separate entity of Jude, Nina, and Liam. I thought we also were just Nina and Liam. I thought it was unique, and special, and we shared things that the three of us didn’t. We shared things that the two of them didn’t. I thought it was something…”
“What?”
“I don’t know! Just something else. Something that had nothing to do with Jude being his best friend, and me being Jude’s little sister. I didn’t realize how wrong I was; that Jude was still the glue that held all of us together all the time. But apparently, I was wrong. So that dipshit can go somewhere hot.”
“Oooh, somewhere hot. You tell him girl!”
“Shut up, Allison. No actually, you’re feisty, I like it. I appreciate it, even if you are a bit of an asshole.”
“It’s really what I do best.”
“I’ve come to realize.”
“Nina, are you going to let her talk to me this way?”
“Absolutely. So that’s it then Neens? You didn’t even reply?”
“I did. I sent him the middle finger emoji and kept it movin’.”
“Mature.”
“I never said I was mature. And fuck him. He knows I don’t do feelings. Also, I’m kind of enraged right now, and I’m afraid if I do respond, it will be much worse than a graphic drawing of a middle finger.”
“Well that’s a fair point. It’s never good to respond when you’re this emotional. However, what do you mean you don’t do feelings? You’re related to Jude.”
“Exactly. Jude stole all the feelings. He has every last one of them. I’m not like that. Especially after my dating history. Men are assholes. Except for Jude, you lucky bitch. You got THE one good guy out there.”
“That is not true! There are plenty of nice guys out there. My brother Drew is a nice guy!”
I hear Allison snort into her a drink and I shoot her a glare.
“Don’t listen to her, she hates my brother, he hates her, it’s totally fine. He’s still a good guy. A nice guy.”
“He’s still not a datable prospect for me. Or even a fuckable one. It’s too much—sibling swap. Yuck.”
“Well okay, I guess I can agree that would be a bit…much.”
“Drew’s probably shit in bed anyway, Nina. He’s so damn uptight. I highly doubt he could give a woman what she wants. He’d be too afraid he’d hurt her, and he would probably only use the words ‘make love’. Gross. You don’t need that kind of downer in your life.”
“Allison! First of all, stop talking about my br
other in such a harsh manner, while also making me, his SISTER, wonder what he’s like in the sack. It’s unnatural and I feel both weird for him, as well as a need to defend, even though I have no clue. It’s not okay. We have no idea what he’s like in the bedroom, and I’m perfectly okay with that lack of knowledge.”
“Fine, fine, fine. You’re right. I’m being a bitch. Okay, Nina, you know what we need? We’re two single girls on the prowl. We need to line up some men.”
“Line up some men?”
“Yeah, some hot, single, ready to mingle their peen with our vajeen kind of men.”
“And how do you propose we just line them up? This isn’t a fucking parade.”
“Oooh, what a good idea though! A good ole’ bone parade.”
“You’re absolutely insane.”
“What? You know you’d go to that parade. Talk about a march for women’s rights. My rights to multiple orgasms, that is.”
“Sweet Baby Ray’s. You are trouble.”
“Meh, only sometimes. And since I refuse to ever be in a relationship, and Kara over here is practically married, you and I—we’re going to need each other.”
“Hey! I am not practically married. My gosh you guys, we haven’t even talked about that. We haven’t even said the L word to each other.”
“Lame?”
“Ha. Ha. You know what I mean. We have a great, budding relationship. However, we are not in a rush.”
Nina’s face kind of scrunches up, and her lips purse like she’s been sucking on a lemon.