Page 3 of February

“Yes, I know.” Bridgette gritted her teeth.

“Honey, Jill is very nice. And Melinda said Kyle had a sister when she came by the other day.”

Bridgette laughed, her headache be damned, and said, “Mom, Kyle’s sister is super straight; not at all into women. And Jill and I are just friends in the same way Melinda and I are just friends.”

“But maybe it could be more.”

“I’m not into Jill, Mom.”

“But you’re over Toya, right?”

“Yes, Mom. I’m over her. It’s been nearly eight months since we broke up.”

“She broke up with you, you mean?”

“You just had to point that out?”

“Well, when you’re the one who gets dumped, it takes longer to get over.”

“I’m fine,” she repeated through gritted teeth.

When her phone beeped from inside her bag, she pulled it out and checked the screen. It was a text from Melinda.

Melinda Andrews: Jill looks like crap. I’m taking her to lunch later. Do you want to go? I’m buying you both a lot of carbs and some bacon, too.

Bridgette wanted to reply with a ‘yes’ because she could use some carbs and protein to soak up the sugar in the alcohol she’d consumed, but she also wanted to ask if Kyle would be there, too, and didn’t know how to do that without Melinda understanding why she wanted to know.

“What’s wrong?” her mom asked.

“Melinda and Kyle are really happy.”

“And that’s a bad thing?”

“No, it’s great. I’m just feeling a little left out.”

“That’s Melinda on the phone, I take it?”

Bridgette nodded.

“And she’s been spending all of her time with her new girlfriend?”

“No, that’s not it; we still hang out all the time. It’s just that Kyle is usually there.”

“Do you not like Kyle?”

“I do. She’s great. Just seeing them all loved up and happy makes me wish I had that, too. And before you say anything, I don’t mean with Jill.”

Her mom nodded and patted her shoulder as she sat back against the desk.

“Bridgette, it’ll happen when it happens. You can’t rush these things.”

“You met Dad in college. He’s the only guy you’ve ever dated.”

“I’m still a mother, which means I come with infinite wisdom. If you ever give me grandchildren, you’ll see that.”

“Mom, I don’t want–”

“Kids, I know. I’m not giving you a hard time about that anymore. I respect your wishes. I’m only saying that I’m older and wiser.”

---