Page 46 of Is This for Real?
“I didn’t know that.” Rory studies the portrait. “It’s good.”
“My mom framed the portrait you drew of me,” Jamie says.
“That’s not the only one she drew of you.” Olivia sips her coffee.
I shoot Olivia a warning look. “Do you have any coffee filters? We’ve run out.” That’s our code for my complaining that she has no filter.
Olivia rolls her eyes. She usually thinks that I’m too sensitive. “I can imagine. Weren’t you using coffee filters to make the miniature tulips in your recent blog tutorial?”
“Yes. They worked perfectly.” She does follow my blog faithfully.
The conversation moves on.Crisis averted.
I finish my omelet. The four children ask to be excused, and they run over to the living room to set up a Lego village.
“I was thinking I could adopt a dog, now that I’m back in New York, if I can take advantage of your dog-sitting services, paid, of course,” Jamie says.
“Oh, you’ve always wanted a dog,” I say.
“I have.” Jamie nods. “Maybe you want to come with me to pick out a dog at the pound?”
Rory stiffens next to me.
“I’m afraid that if I went with you, I’d end up with my own dog,” I say.
“Don’t you want your own dog?” Jamie asks.
“Yes, some day, but for now, I’m good being a doggy aunty to the dogs that come live with me,” I say.
Rory and Jamie help clear the dishes. Thomas comes over and asks Rory if he can separate two Lego pieces. Rory sits on the couch by the Lego village and works at it. Jamie’s phone rings, and he asks if he can take it in Olivia’s home office.
I help Olivia with the dishes, even though I want to berate her for bringing up my Jamie crush—as if that wouldn’t be a sore topic with a new boyfriend. She brings in the final dishes and says, “You didn’t tell Rory about applying for a job, and you didn’t look like you knew about the art show tonight.”
I face Olivia. I think she suspects. “I didn’t. Because we weren’t planning on spending tonight together. Because I need to write. Because I have to finish this book in three weeks. We don’t spend every night together. You’re presuming that I’m living up to the standard set by you and John. We’re different. I need my own space to create.” I place the last of the dishes in the dishwasher. “And John knew immediately that he wanted to date you, and he courted you like a crazy guy, sending you flowers and meeting you for late-night snacks after you left work. This is a different scenario.” Very different. I feel bad for lying to Olivia, even though she does drive me crazy. Maybe I can tell her after this. But she’d be hurt.
Olivia places the remaining condiments in the refrigerator. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry if I’m pressuring you. But it is a Saturday night. Why wouldn’t you go to the art opening? Meet other creative artists?”
Because Rory hasn’t invited me.“I find Rory’s parents a little bit intimidating. It’s one thing to meet them as ‘the friend.’ It’s another to meet them as the ‘girlfriend’ of their only son.”
Olivia squeezes my arm. “I’m sure they’re delighted Rory is dating you.”
“Oh, yes, the orphaned, struggling writer—every parent’s dream.” I cross my arms.
Olivia shakes her head. “Think positive. And hopefully in three months, you’ll be a successful published author. That’s so exciting.” Olivia hugs me. I hug her back. “And Rory is so great, his parents must be cool.”
So, you’d think. But I always feel tongue-tied when I talk to them. Especially because his dad is a psychologist. And I think they wonder what Rory sees in me. And this is when I was just his close friend. Anyway, Rory didn’t invite me, and we’re not actually dating, so it’s not like I’m going as his girlfriend.
Rory enters the kitchen. “Do you need help with any washing up?” He puts his hands on my shoulders and massages them. That’s good. That’s very couple-y. Maybe he’s recovered from his disappointment. Olivia smiles.
“No, we’re all done.”
“Suspicious timing,” I say to Rory.
He laughs.
We join the others in the living room, say our thanks for brunch, and leave. Jamie rushes to join us. We all enter the elevator together. Nobody says anything. Rory’s arms encircle me. Jamie stands straight next to us. The awkward silence is so loud that I hope some other people join us in the elevator. But instead, the elevator goes straight down to the lobby.
“Do you want to come over to visit my mom tomorrow?” Jamie asks as we exit the elevator. “She’d love to see you.”
