Page 111 of The Moon Also Rises
“Don’t stop him.” Jenna lifts her hand to me.
“But this is his weekend off,” I say.
“He’s a head chef now, don’t you know? He barely does any menial labour these days.”
“I’m going to go help him.” Rami stands then, and before I can tell him to sit down, he’s gone.
“Good! Just us!” Jenna declares as she slides over to sit in Rami’s vacated seat.
“God, you’re so happy, aren’t you? Like violently happy?” I say, studying her.
“I really am.” Her eyes flicker over to Marty who has changed my music again, this time to the BeeGees.Give me strength.I spare a quick glance at Rami to see how he and his ultra-cool taste in music is coping and I find he’s smiling with Marty who is shaking his hips like he shouldn’t be that cheerful washing up.
“Aren’t you happy too? I mean, youlookhappy with Rami,” my sister asks.
“Rami is a great guy,” I say honestly.
“And…”
“And what?”
“And are you happy with him?”
“Yes.” The word flies out of my mouth easily. Because I am. I really am.
“And he’s besotted with you.” Jenna leans a little closer.
“Besotted is a strong word.” I tsk it away.
Jenna pulls back and blinks at me. “Jake, why are you resisting this?”
“Resisting what?”
“Your relationship with Rami. I can tell you’re not giving yourself fully to it.”
As I put my coffee cup back on its saucer with a light chime, I’m flooded with the urge to tell Jenna the truth because it would explain everything. It would explain how Rami and I aren’t really months into a relationship but in fact we’re standing on the precipice of starting one. It would explain how chaotic the last few weeks have been and why I’ve been terrible at replying to her messages and vague about what I say regarding Rami. It would explain why I’m not comfortable sitting here and declaring unequivocally how much I like Rami and how good he makes me feel.
My desperation to avoid this line of discussion gets the better of me in the worst way possible.
“So, you’re not pregnant yet?” I ask.
Jenna’s face doesn’t fall, more morphs into a question. “Oh, Jake, that was an awful way to change the conversation. Even for you,” she says with a dry chuckle.
I close my eyes as my shoulders sink. “I’m sorry. I know it’s much too personal. I was just feeling the heat of your… attention.”
“Or maybe it was the heat of your feelings for Rami?” Jenna challenges me back and I take it. It’s what I deserve. “But no, I’m not pregnant. Not yet. Although, I can assure you we’re doing anything and everything we can to change that. In fact, you’re lucky I’m not ovulating right now or we’d have had several quickies in between courses.”
“Delightful,” I mumble.
“My turn to change the subject and make you feel awkward,” Jenna says re-crossing her legs.
“Oh, goodie.”
“Have you heard from Dad recently?”
“Oh, yeah. He calls me up weekly to check how I’m doing. Texts every day and regularly emails me articles he enjoys from The Times.”
“Jakey…” Jenna’s eyes narrow on me.
