Page 22 of One More Round

That is why I’m sitting in Ruby’s living room watching the local news. She is obsessed with the news. She gets theChicago Tribune, watches the local news in the morning and again in the evening when she gets home from work. She even has several news apps on her phone that ping every time the source deems the notification as “breaking news.” I’ve never met another twenty-something who looks forward to her weekly news magazines more than Ruby does. ThinkNewsweekandTime. But it’s part of her charm, as it's not something you would expect from her, considering her bubbly personality and total addiction to comic books.

But I’m here tonight because Morgan was having Dex over for dinner tonight and I knew, just knew that Simon was going to come with him. They didn’t have plans to go out this evening, and when that happens, Dex always brings a friend so I don’t end up being the third wheel. Plus, Morgan is expanding her cooking skills and I know those boys don’t eat many homecooked meals. With my luck, it’s inevitable that Simon will be the one tagging along.

Another good reason I’m hiding at Ruby’s place.

I’m just so embarrassed. One, I don’t drink to get drunk. I did this once in college and it wasn’t worth it. I don’t mind getting tipsy though. That doesn’t come with nasty hangovers. But the other night, three shots of tequila plus the two lemon drops I’d had before Simon showed up … Yeah, those were bad decisions. Every single one of them.

I’m not really ready to face Simon yet. For all I know, he will probably just behave even more hostile toward me, which is ridiculous since he’s the one who followed me to the bar. I was just trying to get away from him and his date. And yeah, I might have been a little mean to him about his date, but the alcohol was already in my system and I wasn’t prepared for the wave of jealousy that hit the minute I saw them.

Therefore, my plan is to hide out here with Ruby, eat dinner, watch some TV or something and then sneak back home. If Simon is there when I get home, I can just act sick and go right to my room.

“So, what are we eating tonight?” I ask absentmindedly while watching the news.

“Well, what sounds good? Pizza? Thai? Mexican? I could go for some chips and salsa myself,” she replies.

“That sounds good,” I say, distracted by the talking heads. I have to admit; Ruby’s news addiction has rubbed off on me a little. Before Ruby, the only news I cared about was of the entertainment variety. Hence, my choice of professions. But now, I try to catch some kind of news broadcast at least once a day. While I like the attractive newscasters the morning news rewards the early birds with, I prefer sleeping in. So, I usually miss it and watch the afternoon or evening news instead.

Lost in the news clip about how a firefighter reunited with a family he helped pull from their burning car, I almost completely miss Ruby’s next words.

“That’s OK, right?”

“Uh, what? Sorry,” I say.

“No prob. That firefighter was pretty hot. Pun intended,” she laughs. “I said Link and Simon are joining us for dinner. Since you weren’t going to be there tonight, they didn’t want to join Dex at your apartment. Itisgetting adorably nauseating being alone with those two.”

I stare at her, trying to compute everything she just said. I give my head a slight shake.

“I’m with them all the time and I don’t think it’s a big deal. They are in love.”

I don’t know why I’m getting a bit defensive on Morgan and Dex’s behalf. When Dex is over, half the time, I stick around just long enough to eat and socialize before I bolt to my room. Because they do have that whole lovey-dovey, twinkly-stars-in-their-eyes thing going on when they are together. It’s cute and I’m incredibly happy for Morgan, but it is kind of … adorably nauseating. Especially when I’m the third wheel and they start looking longingly into each other’s eyes.

Ruby rolls her eyes and waves away any reply.

“So, you don’t have any objections to Link and Simon coming over?” she asks dragging out Simon’s name.

I huff and slouch down in my seat. She chuckles.

“I guess I don’t have a choice since you already invited them.”

“You and Simon are just so interesting to watch. You know that?”

Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes.

“I mean, we all know the two of you have this secret past, but we just can’t get over the drama as it unfolds before our eyes. He clearly brought that chick with him the other night to get a rise out of you. And you gave him exactly want he wanted.”

“And I thought you were my friend. You knew the reason I was here tonight, yet you still invited him over.”

“Ah, no, I didn’t invite him. Heaskedif he and Link could crash our dinner. And I’m your best friend. I want you to be happy. The sooner you and Simon work this,” she waves her hand around toward me, “thing out between you, the sooner you can go back to being Fun Gia when we all hang out. Because, whenever that boy is near, you close yourself off.”

She looks at her phone to give me a reprieve.

Gah.

She’s right. I’m a social person and love hanging out in groups and going out on the town. Whenever Simon is around, there’s no Fun Gia, only Guarded Gia.

“Plus, I’m all for a Gia and Simon hookup. I can see it, there is heat behind all that hate when he looks at you,” she adds as she stands.

“What? No. No heat. Just hate,” I stutter.

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