“Hey!” Cam calls from the kitchen counter, his hands covered in mitts as he brings over a steaming platter of food. “Not cool. You’re supposed to be on my side.” He sets the tray on the table.
“I’m sorry?”
“No you’re not.” Cam hurdles one of the oven mitts across the table, laughing as it connects with my chest. I pick it up, ready to retaliate, but he dodges behind Jill’s chair knowing I won’t throw it with her in the way. Yes, I might be a tiny bit scared of my future sister-in-law. I abandon the oven mitt and return to flipping through the binder.
“Be prepared for updates,” Jill warns. “I’ve already had two people cancel and the seating charts are gonna have to be re-done.”
“Anyone we care about?” Cam asks, filling the table with the rest of the food and retrieving his beer.
“One of the executives at my office and her husband.” She shrugs and hands me an empty plate. “And your cousin Larry.”
“I can live with that. Oh! Shit.” Cam’s eyes go wide. “That reminds me.” He rushes to the front room, riffling through a stack of mail. “We got another late RSVP.”
Jill’s brow furrows. “Who’s it from?”
“It came with a note from the post office. Apparently, it got re-routed and took the long way here.” He returns with a slight grin and plops it down on the table. “I’m just glad it didn’t get lost.”
Jill rips open the envelope with more exuberance than I expect for a late RVSP. Cam watches her expectantly, leaning against the counter with the hint of a smile. Something’s up.
A squeal, part scream, part laughter, bursts from Jill’s mouth. Her lips part with a smile that takes over her entire face as she jumps from her seat.
I give Cam a look. He must know what this is about.
“It’s Alicia!” Her voice cracks with emotion. “Fuck! I can’t believe it!” Jill waves the invite and then launches herself into Cam’s arms. “She’s coming to our wedding.”
What?
“I thought you might be excited about that.” Cam rubs his hand between her shoulder blades, hugging her close.
Past memories slam into my mind. I can’t find my breath. My heart drums against my chest as if it’d like to escape. Alicia. Here in Richmond. She’s going to be at the wedding. I can’t decide whether I’m elated or panicked by the idea.
She’s been gone so long. She essentially cut everyone out, even her best friends, Jill and Callie, after the summer we spent together. Not that anyone knew Alicia and I were together together.
I’d almost settled on the idea of never seeing her again. The letter she left for me just over three years ago should have been the closure I needed to move on. Or at least that’s how she likely intended it. I tried reaching out but she never answered my calls and texts. When I found out she’d moved halfway around the Earth, I thought my chance was over.
I moved on.
Created my own life. One that didn’t include her. I found love again.
Only because I gave up.
I thought I had moved on. But now? Fuck. The feelings expanding my chest speak of hope and longing. Of promises unkept and love that burned with wild abandon.
“Chase. You okay?” Cam asks.
I’m frozen, filled with a shock I can’t try to hide. Fuck. I need to say something. Make an excuse. Act like my world hasn’t been rocked by one little RSVP. Because Cam and Jill don’t know about Alicia and me.
“Fine. I’m great. Just wondering. Is there a plus one?” Fuck. What is wrong with me? In a day or two I’ll get the updated seating chart.
“Um, yeah.” Jill looks down at the card still gripped in her hands then back at me. She studies my reaction, her interest clear. “Hey. You and Alicia worked at the same community center the summer before she moved, right?” Jill asks the question as if she doesn’t already know the answer.
I pretend it’s something I hardly ever recall. “Yeah.”
“Did something happen?” She narrows her gaze, as if she’s a lioness going in for the kill.
I swallow hard, my mouth parched. “What do you mean?” I flip open the cap on my water bottle and take a sip.
“Between the two of you.”
I practically choke. “Excuse me?” I shake my head, playing up my reaction with a burst of forced laughter I hope they won’t catch. “You do remember how much Alicia hated me? Or has all this love shit given you temporary memory loss?”
Jill’s lips pull with her frown. “I remember.”
“You weren’t my biggest fan either.” I raise my brows accusingly.
“Yeah, yeah.” She rolls her eyes. “Well, you were kind of a dick.” She lets out a long sigh. “Sorry, I was just wondering if you know anything. Because after that she just left. Even her family cut us out. It’s really weird to be so close to someone and think you know them, and they just go and get a new life like you were never important.”
“I’m sorry, babe.” Cam squeezes Jill’s hand. “I know how much that hurt. Maybe you’ll get some answers now that she’s coming to the wedding. She left her number on the RSVP, right? Maybe invite her to the rehearsal this week? You two could catch up before the wedding. Set things right.”
Jill nods, her smile hopeful. “That’s a good idea. Thank you.” She leans his way and steals a kiss. “Okay, let’s eat this feast you made.”
I go through the motions, filling my plate with food and trying not to think about the fact I’m days away from seeing the woman I’ve tried desperately to forget. The one I loved with my whole heart. The one who’s responsible for my recovery. The only reason I’m standing here today, sober, confident, happy, and at peace.
Jill isn’t the only one with questions for her long-lost friend. The bigger question is whether I’ll have the guts to speak mine aloud. It’s not as if her answers
