Everything happens so fast; Andy is already moving to block the guy’s sight of me as he was speaking. I have a vague memory of him the two times I briefly caught sight of him. I’m pretty sure he’s one of the friends Andy was with the night I was too plastered to get home by myself and at the masquerade ball.
I crouch down and step in my skirt while six foot plus of Andy hides me somewhat. I’m so mortified I know I resemble a ripe tomato. When my skirt is zipped, I step up behind Andy. He glances over his shoulder before reaching for my hand and tugging me to step forward next to him.
“Is this the one?” the guy asks. “She looks like the one we ran into twice. It’s her isn’t it?”
“Yes. Mitch, meet Cate. Cate, this is Mitch, one of my friends from undergrad.”
Mitch is slightly shorter but broader than Andy. He’s a decent looking guy with deep set dimples. However, he stands as if he has a chip on his shoulder. I’m not quite sure if he has a problem or if that’s his personality.
“Nice to meet you,” I say reaching out a hand to him.
Mitch just looks at it. Awkwardly, I drop my hand back to my side.
“Cate, the one that left you in Charleston. Cate, the girl you came to Baltimore to forget. Cate, the girl you just happened to run into in DC. That Cate?”
Even if he hadn’t said those words, the way he looks at me says he’s not my biggest fan.
“Mitch, don’t start.”
The guy looks dumbstruck. “Seriously? We don’t hang out much since undergrad. You show up in DC needing a place to stay for a while. Dave and I get you good and drunk and we hear this whole story about a girl who up and left you high and dry in Charleston. It takes a while to get your head out of your ass and move on, only for you to run into that girl again.”
I should be insulted he’s calling me a girl, but everything he’s saying about me is true.
“Now, she’s leading you around by the balls. If your mood is shit, I know she’s playing games with you. If you are in a good mood, then I knew she’s leading you around by your dick.”
“That’s enough, Mitch. What I choose to do with Cate is my business.”
“No, he’s right Andy,” I say.
Mitch’s brows shoot up into his hairline. “Andy? What the fuck is up with that?”
“Drew,” I say instead. “Maybe I should go.”
“You should,” Mitch says.
Andy cuts in. “No Mitch, you should go.”
I don’t want to be the cause of problems with his friends. Mitch has a right to be angry. “No, I have work in the morning. I should leave.”
“Unfortunately, nobody is going anywhere. Some freak storm that was supposed to miss us is pounding DC and headed to Baltimore to ram us up the ass. Maryland has declared a state of emergency. I’d already taken the exit off the highway when the snow started. I turned off Sirius to listen to local radio station and knew I was fucked. You’re stuck with us both.”
I walk over to the window and I’m surprised by the amount of snow on the ground. It has only been less than a half an hour I’ve been here and the roads are already coated. Under the lamps that line the street, you can see that its coming down so thick it will be nearly a white out situation.
“There’s a hotel in walking distance,” I hear Andy say, as I watch the snow with fascination.
“So that’s how it is now. I put you up when you first get into town and you’re sending me to a hotel.”
“I’ll pay for it.”
I turn from the window. “No, Mitch should stay. I’ll go to the hotel.”
“No fucking way,” Andy growls.
Mitch and I both stare at Andy. It’s not often I’ve seen him angry. His stubborn jaw has nothing on the narrow eyes he gives Mitch.
“Look,” I begin. “Mitch, you’re right. I made some poor choices with Drew.”
“You’re damn right.”
I breathe and let Mitch’s comment go for the sake of Andy. “I don’t want to be the cause of a disagreement between you two. Friends before lovers,” I offer like a peace pipe.
“Bros before ho’s you mean.”
“Fuck Mitch, stop being an asshole. Cate’s not going anywhere. If you want to stay, you’re going to be nice to her. You should start by apologizing. I’m a big boy. If I want Cate to keep my balls for me, that’s on me.”
His words might have been comical if not for the tension that’s created a wall between Mitch and him.
“I’m not wrong, so what am I apologizing for?” Mitch declares.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry to both of you.”
I head toward the bathroom because I have nowhere else to go and I’m not crying in front of Mitch. I won’t give him that satisfaction. And If I leave the apartment, I will be running again and I promised Andy I wouldn’t run. I close the door and stare at myself in the mirror. I want to cry, but I won’t. If I plan to be with Andy, this won’t be the last time I have to deal with hard feelings. This will be only the beginning.
I straighten my clothes by glaring at my reflection. I splash water on my face before I feel strong enough to go face the music. When I open the door, Mitch is there with his fist poised to knock.
He sighs. “Cate, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”