Page 54 of My Three Roommates

There was no mention of Cody and me. Maybe Nadine hasn’t told anyone after all. I could be worrying for nothing. I still can’t relax.

The party’s energy pulses toward me from all the way down the narrow hallway in the back of the restaurant. Even though I’m early, everything’s in full swing already.

The private room is beautiful, all decorated for the occasion in bright pink and pale grey. So pretty. I deposit my gift with the others on the table just inside the door and take a look around.

Rosalie and Nadine and Paige are drinking champagne near the open patio door, talking animatedly to each other.

I try to absorb their carefree energy as I join them. “Hey, the place looks great! Rosalie, are you excited?”

It’s as if I’ve dropped a hand grenade on them. Their laughter halts as Rosalie and Paige give me a cold, hard stare.

“I’m surprised you’re here,” Paige says, her voice disdainful.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I reply brightly. “We’ve been planning this for so long. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Inside I’m quaking. They’re clearly angry at me.

“That was before,” Nadine says.

“Before?” I ask, stalling. Facing them is so much worse than I imagined.

“Before I caught you out with another guy,” Nadine continues.

“Are you cheating on Brad?” Paige asks. I’ve always admired her bluntness. She’s that friend everyone needs who will tell you the truth, even when you don’t want to hear it.

Except this isn’t fair. No one here knows what’s going on, so it’s not right for them to judge me so harshly. We’re all best friends. I should get the benefit of the doubt. It stings that not one of them reached out for my side of the story.

I straighten my spine. In my heels, I’m a couple inches taller than all of them. “No.” I stare at Paige directly. “I’m not.”

“You being here isn’t fair to Rosalie.” Paige’s continuing as if I haven’t even spoken.

“That’s right,” Rosalie says, as if I’ve offended her personally. “Tonight’s a celebration of my upcoming marriage. How can you show your face when you’re cheating? That’s my worst fear, Kenna, and you know it.”

I feel bad. She’s been cheated on before, so she’s extra sensitive about it. I can’t blame her for that.

“Rosalie, I’m not cheating on Brad,” I begin.

The full force of their judgement is weighing me down. There’s no way around it now. I cast about for the simplest possible way to explain everything. Brad told me he doesn’t mind if I tell my friends about his relationship with the other guys, but I know he’s not really comfortable with that yet. I’ve got to try to avoid that part if I possibly can.

“Brad and I agreed to open up our relationship,” I continue carefully. I’ve got to ease into this. “He and I both decided we can see other people.”

If my friends are okay with the idea of an open relationship, then I’ll explain everything else. Just not here and now. This is Rosalie’s day and I don’t want to take away from that with gossip about me, because everyone here will find out no matter what.

“You’re fine with him dating other women?” Paige practically explodes at me. Her voice is so loud, half the room turns to face us.

My face flames. I don’t want to get into this with anyone other than my closest friends.

I lower my voice in the hope that everyone else will turn back to their own conversations. They do, but I’m certain they’re all keeping one ear open for what I’ve got to say.

‘We agreed that we can both see other people. It’s not about random dating. Cody and I have been friends forever, so it was natural to take it to the next level with him.”

“But why? You always said you want to marry Brad. You two are couples goals. Are you guys going to break up?” Rosalie blinks back tears. “You can’t do it. Whatever it is, you can work it out. Kenna, do what it takes. He’s worth it.”

Even Paige’s nodding along in agreement. Nadine isn’t. Her eyes have narrowed. I guess she might have heard Cody’s take on our relationship after all.

“Is that really it?” She asks me. “Are you telling us the whole story, Kenna? Because that’s not what I heard.”

Dammit. This isn’t going to be easy. I take a deep breath that does anything but calm me down. “Like I said, we’re not just dating other random people. There are a couple of others involved now. Cody, as you know.”

“Why? Brad’s a great guy,” Rosalie says. “You couldn’t do any better than him. It doesn’t make sense.”

---