Page 36 of Two Friends in Marriage
And thinking about other things involving her mouth.
The night after the heat pump is repaired, we return to cuddling while we watch the K-drama, but I miss a bunch of dialogue because I’m too busy focusing on her skin against mine to read the subtitles—and too embarrassed to ask to go back.Fortunately, she rarely wants to discuss the episode afterward.I’d make a fool of myself if she did.
Ugh.This wasn’t supposed to happen.But the combination of her capability and composure—plus her occasional vulnerability—is getting to me.
The next day at dinner, she tells me that Gina emailed her back.She hadn’t really expected a response from her childhood friend, even if she still checked that email address semi-regularly, but Gina seemed happy to hear from her.There’s a strange look on Jane’s face, which I read as fond sadness, and it stirs more unwanted feelings in me.
Yeah, I cannot be alone with this woman all weekend.
When we’re cleaning up, I say, “How about we have Max and Kim over for a meal?”
“You’re an idiot,” I mutter to myself as Jane enters the kitchen, wearing dark jeans and the black shirt that she wore on our date last week.
“What’s that?”she asks.
“Nothing!”I say.“Nothing at all.”
“It sounded like you were talking to the cheese.”She gestures to the cheese board that I’m in the middle of preparing.We’re making good use of our friends’ housewarming gift.
“Maybe I was,” I say playfully.
This is, of course, better than telling her the truth: I was cursing myself for giving her a reason to dress up a little.Why do I find her exposed collarbone so enticing?
She ties my flowered apron around her waist, and that doesn’t help.There’s something endearingly incongruous about her outfit.
My older brother and his girlfriend are coming for an early Saturday dinner, and we’re doing burgers on the barbecue.And by “we,” I mean Jane, who’s more excited about grilling than me, though I was the one who procured the barbecue.I bought it secondhand from someone down the street.They’d gotten a fancy new barbecue and didn’t need this one anymore.It cost me fifty bucks.I have no expectation that it’ll last for a long time, but I hope we can get a year or two out of it.
The doorbell rings.
“I’ll get it.”I wash my hands, exit the kitchen, and open the front door.“Welcome to our air-conditioned house!”
Kim smiles and gives me a quick hug.“Hey, Evan.”
She and Max have been together about year, which is the same amount of time that Jane and I have supposedly been together.They met at their friends’ wedding, then proceeded to see each other at a bunch of other weddings that summer.
“How was the drive?”I ask.
“Not bad,” my brother says.He’s standing behind Kim and has a bakery box in his hand.He looks a little stern, but there’s nothing unusual about that.
Kim tugs him inside, and my gaze is riveted on that point of contact.Though Jane might touch my hand, I know for them, it’s a sign of something more.I can’t help feeling envious of Max.Before, it was a general feeling of envy—he had a serious romantic relationship and I didn’t—but now, I have a particular person in mind.
Jane Yin.
And the preposterous thing is that we’re already married.
I clear my throat.“What did you bring for dessert?”I ask as Max hands me the box.
“A very sophisticated cake,” Kim replies.
“It’s an affront to human decency,” Max says.
She gives him a playful shove before putting on a pair of slippers from the collection by the door.
“You’ve piqued my curiosity.”I lead the way to the kitchen, where I set the box next to the cheese board on the table.“Should I take a look now?”
“Absolutely not,” my brother says.“I’m embarrassed to be in the same room as it.”But a smile tugs at his lips.
“Would you like anything to drink?”Jane asks.“Beer, wine, juice, tea, water?”She puts aside the salad bowl and walks over to our guests.
