Page 64 of Heartfelt Pain
He and Abe have both been annoying me to eat more vegetables.
“How are you doing?” I ask Russ.
Despite her earlier venting, her smile illuminates her whole face. She’s wearing a cute dress with a cardigan thrown over it.
“You know this fall it’ll be two years since I met you guys at Fujimori’s,” she says over her shoulder. She’s leading us to an impressive-looking table full of snacks and sweets.
Abe links his arm through Ben’s, shooting him a grin.
“Ben did all the work then,” I say thinking about theadoption paperwork. Russ turns, handing me a plate, and adds a cupcake to it. “I’m sorry about my phone call.”
I shake my head.
She motions to the party. There are a lot of people here, but nothing is off considering the host.
“I might’ve been a bit angry about a few things. But I get it now why she invited you all.” She forces Abe to take a cupcake. “You guys helped with the adoption. Thank you.”
Abe takes the cupcake. “We love that little munchkin, you know that right?
She smiles and runs a hand under her eyes.
Ben elbows his boyfriend. “You just made her cry.”
“I’m tired and it’s the sugar.” Russ shakes her head. She peers around Ben and whispers, “Don’t let Max know.”
She takes a cupcake for herself, licking the frosting. Before she moves on she squeezes my shoulder. “Thank you for coming. I’ll make sure I’m around in case there’s any awkward run ins.”
My mouth opens, ready to tell her it’s not necessary. Sailor flies into her, her wings sparkling. Russ is busy and deserves to enjoy this moment. She doesn’t need to worry about me.
I chose to come here. I’m not sure why and as I stand in front of the cake tower a wobbly feeling descends on me.
“That was really sweet of her to say,” Abe murmurs to Ben. He’s loading fruit onto his plate.
Ben pours two glasses of punch, one for him and one for his boyfriend.
It’s such a tiny detail but it hammers home, how they’ve always got each other.
“You want some?” he asks.
He doesn’t realize how much of a third wheel I’m feeling. It’s ridiculous anyway. I’m at a little kid’s birthday party. Wallowing about my relationship status is pathetic.
I clear my throat. “No, thank you.”
Abe and Ben go back to chatting.
“Here.” I don’t have the heart to eat sugar right now. Trevino frowns at my offering. “Please.”
Instead of chiding me for loading up a plate full of sweets, he takes it. I’d pay money to watch him eat a mini cupcake. He acts like his body will fall apart if he eats one single serving of sugar.
“You can loosen up you know,” I tell him.
Trevino lifts a brow, his shoulders back.
“You’re going to freak the kids out,” I say. A group runs by, giggling though. And then a giant dog comes up to Trevino.
“You were saying?” he asks, smirking.
“Albert’s just hoping you drop something.”
