Getting Some. Kayla Perrin

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      “It’ll work out,” Annelise says.

      Her carefree attitude irritates me slightly. “That’s very Pollyanna of you, but this shit is turning out to be harder than I’d hoped.”

      “And I understand that,” Annelise tells me. “I guess I’m just saying that for today you should try to relax, put everything negative out of your mind. Things have a way of working out despite how much we fret over them.”

      I examine her then. Annelise has been looking really happy lately, despite the uncertainty in her life, but today she looks especially so. I ask her, “Something going on that I should know about?”

      “Oh, yeah,” Claudia chimes. “Annelise has some amazing news. And so do I.”

      “Well, spill it.” I sip my mimosa. “I could use some good news, even if it’s not mine.”

      Before Annelise can speak, a woman shows up at our table. I’m a little surprised that it’s not Sierra, the cute Asian girl who has been our regular waitress for as long as I can remember.

      “Have you made up your minds?” the stranger asks.

      I glance at Claudia and Annelise, wondering if they feel the way I do—unhappy that there’s this new woman at our table. They don’t seem particularly perturbed, but I am.

      “Um,” I begin cautiously. “Who are you?”

      Beside me, Claudia forces a chuckle. “Our waitress, silly. Lishelle, this is Apple.”

      “Apple?” I stare at the woman, a tall, skinny, dark-haired woman who looks too conservative to have such a ridiculous name. “Your name is Apple?”

      Apple giggles as she nods. “According to my mother, she was drinking apple martinis the night I was conceived.”

      “So she got drunk and got knocked up,” I comment dryly.

      Annelise’s eyes grow wide with horror. “Lishelle,” she admonishes.

      “I’m just saying…I thought only movie stars gave their kids names like ‘Apple’ and ‘Orange’ or ‘Banana.’”

      Claudia places a hand on my wrist. To everyone, it must look like a subtle show of affection. But Claudia actually squeezes my wrist—hard. “Looks like you were already drinking before you got here,” she jokes.

      “I can go through our specials,” Apple says. “Of course, we have the buffet—”

      “Which is what we always have,” I point out. “Sierra would know that.”

      “We’re going to have the buffet,” Annelise quickly says.

      “What happened to Sierra?” I ask. “She sick or something?”

      “That’s something else we didn’t get to tell you yet.” Claudia’s grin is far too syrupy. “Apple tells us that Sierra apparently fell hot and heavy for some guy, and she’s moved to L.A. to be with him.”

      “What?” I practically shriek.

      Apple shrugs apologetically, as though this is her fault. Or rather, as though I think this is her fault.

      “I’m happy for her,” Annelise comments.

      “She just fell for some guy? Didn’t we warn her? Didn’t she hear us bitch enough about men and how you can’t trust them?”

      “Can we…not do this?” Annelise gives me a pointed look.

      A frustrated breath oozes out of me as I look up at Apple. “It’s just that…for the longest time, Sierra has been our waitress. She always knows what we want.”

      “Lishelle, it’s okay.” Claudia lays a hand on my arm. “Apple here is perfectly capable of taking care of us.”

      I glance up at Apple. “Of course. I just didn’t…expect you.”

      Apple nods, seeming to accept my half-baked apology. “So, three for the buffet…can I get you anything else?”

      “Coffee,” Annelise answers.

      “And another round of mimosas,” I add. “Lord knows that one won’t be enough today.”

      When Apple disappears, Claudia looks at me and scowls. “Could you have been any ruder to that waitress?”

      “I’m sorry,” I say. Then I rub my temples. “The thing is…” I don’t finish my statement. I’m not entirely sure what I wanted to say.

      “The thing is what?” Claudia prompts.

      “The thing is…” My voice trails off on a sigh. “So much has changed lately. For once I’d like to see something stay the same. Something be…fucking consistent. Fucking reliable.”

      Annelise fixes me with a mothering look she’s so good at giving, then says softly, “Oh, hon.”

      And I swear, that simple look is my complete undoing. I feel my eyes start to mist, and I have to look away before I start bawling like a baby.

      “Sweetie.” Claudia’s touch is now gentle. “What’s really going on with you?”

      I don’t answer right away. I can’t. I feel foolish for even thinking what I’m thinking.

      “You’ve always told us everything,” Annelise says. “Same as we do with you. Don’t hold back now.”

      “Okay. I’m just gonna to say this. And I know this will sound weird, but hear me out.” I pause before dropping my bombshell. “I kind of miss Glenn.”

      Startled gasps explode from my friends.

      “I know. I told you it would sound weird. And I don’t mean that the way it actually sounded.”

      “Huh?” Claudia asks before she and Annelise exchange confused looks at my double talk.

      “Let me explain what I mean,” I go on. “Glenn screwed me over big-time, so there’s no way in hell I miss him. What I miss is being with a man. I miss being excited about someone. Since my divorce from David, I didn’t give a shit if I ever fell in love again. Then Glenn came back into my life. And he made me so many promises. He went to elaborate lengths to con me. That house he was supposedly going to buy—”

      “Lies, Lishelle,” Claudia says. “All of it. Glenn Baxter doesn’t deserve to breathe, much less have you missing him.”

      “Honestly, I know how this must sound, but I don’t miss him. I guess I miss being with someone. First my marriage fell apart. Then my relationship with Glenn spontaneously combusted. Glenn made me hope again. Want a man again. And now…” I sip my mimosa. “Suddenly I’m starting to wonder if I’ll ever find someone I can trust, who won’t fuck around.” I down the rest of my mimosa. “You know what? Forget I said that. I have no clue what’s gotten over me.”

      Claudia СКАЧАТЬ