Page 80 of Once Bitten, Twice Fried
“She probably thought all of this was a mistake or something. Just like when she left ten years ago.”
“Wait what? You hooked up ten years ago already?”
“No, we only kissed then.” Julie sighed. “It was after that stupid bet. She stayed at my place and we spent all night wrapped in each other kissing. Don’t make that face, you’re the one who wanted to know everything!”
“Sorry, there are some things that friends would rather not picture. Please go on.” Yasmine poured herself another glass of wine.
“The next morning, Zoe just left me hanging. She told me she didn’t want to but she had to go back to your place to help with the plumber fixing the sink.” Julie wasn’t even sure if that was the truth, or an excuse Zoe made up to play with her feelings just a little bit more.
“I remember that,” Yasmine interjected. “I didn’t want the plumber to scam us and thought maybe with the two of us there he would feel more intimidated.” She paused. “I’m pretty sure we still got scammed.”
Julie sighed. “Anyway, after that she acted like that night was a mistake and I didn’t want to hurt myself more than I already was so I slowly let our friendship die out.” Saying it out loud made Julie realise how cold she’d been, but it didn’t really matter any more, did it?
Yasmine nodded. “I can tell you that Zoe had been very hurt by that.”
“And so was I,” Julie said, defensively.
“Sorry.” Yasmine thought for a second. “She really told you that it was a mistake? That’s harsh.”
“Not exactly.”
“Still, it’s not a really nice thing to say. Has she apologised?”
“No.” Julie paused. “It’s complicated.”
Yasmine looked puzzled. She rubbed her eyes. “Julie… What were Zoe’s actual words from ten years ago?”
There were no words, but Zoe had implied it, Julie was sure of it. “We didn’t talk about it, but she acted like it was a mistake and then she went back to London.”
“So… She didn’tactuallytell you that it was a mistake.” Yasmine squinted.
“No, but it felt all the same!”
“OK I see. And now she came back into your life, slept with you and then left again.”
“Exactly.” Julie was relieved that Yasmine finally understood her point.
“And this time, did she tell you that it was a mistake?”
“Not like that. We were supposed to meet up and talk it through but she left me hanging because she had to go back to London.”
“Really? Why?” Yasmine looked very surprised. Maybe she didn’t understand what Julie was trying to say after all.
“I don’t know! To get married to her fiancé probably.” Julie said it more harshly than she intended. This wedding was really like a black cloud that could ruin her day at any moment.
“She didn’t tell you why she had to leave?”
What was Yasmine’s problem? Wasn’t it enough to know that Zoe had stood her up? It meant so much more than words.
Julie shook her head. “I had her on the phone but I wasn’t really into hearing excuses.”
Yasmine was clawing at her own face. She let out a guttural groan, sipped her wine then suddenly stood up. She paced back and forth, started a sentence several times before shaking her head and then let out a big sigh.
“I know… It’s sad but I think I just need to forget about Zoe. It wasn’t meant to be back then and it surely isn’t now.” Julie said, defeated. “I hope she’ll have a nice wedding.”
“Julie.” Yasmine said bluntly. “You’ve been my best friend for I don’t know how long any more.” It was a matter-of-fact declaration. The kind that preceded harsh truths. Julie braced herself.
“You’re the biggest idiot I’ve ever met. I want to strangle you right now but you’ve been so nice to me about me ruining my own wedding.”
