Desperate Chances

“Eli Bray?” I asked. Jaz nodded, biting on her lower lip. She glanced at Maysie nervously.

“Isn’t that the guy—” I began to say but Maysie cut me off.

“That I dated before Jordan. Yeah.”

“We’ve only been together for a few months but when you know, you know, right?” Jaz gave Maysie a worried look. “Should I have asked you first? I mean, I know you guys were together and I don’t want it to be weird.”

I remember Eli being pretty hot in that whole slacker, pothead townie kind of way. He and Maysie had never made much sense so it wasn’t surprising when it didn’t really go anywhere.

Maysie put her hand on Jaz’s arm. “Jaz, don’t be ridiculous. That was years ago and we were never serious. Eli’s a great guy. I’m happy for you. Congratulations,” she said sincerely.

Jaz beamed and you could tell she was happy.

“Yeah, congrats,” I added.

“Thanks!” Jaz tucked her pen and pad into her apron. “I’ll send you an invitation. It’s just going to be a small ceremony but we’d love you to be there. And Jordan too of course,” she went on.

“Absolutely. I’d love to come,” Maysie told her.

“Awesome. Okay, well, I guess I should take your orders, huh? The usual? Tequila Chicken?”

“How did you guess?” Maysie chuckled.

Jaz and I both rolled our eyes. “Only because it’s the only thing you ever eat here,” I piped up.

“What about you, Gracie?” Jaz asked.

I didn’t bother looking at the menu. I knew it like the back of my hand. “Uh, how about a Cobb Salad.”

“Okay, sounds good. I’ll refill your drinks and get you some more breadsticks.” Jaz took our glasses.

Once she had left I turned wide eyes to my friend. “Jaz Digby is marrying your ex-boyfriend? What crazy sort of Twilight Zone did we just wander into?”

Maysie leaned in. “Oh my god, I know! I was not expecting that one. I hope Jordan doesn’t pop a blood vessel when I tell him we’re going to the wedding.”

I giggled. “Didn’t Jordan knock him out or something? I seem to remember you telling me about an altercation between the two.”

Maysie waved her hand in dismissal. “That was back when Jordan thought peeing a circle around me was a good way to keep guys away. Eli was never a threat. Jordan figured that out pretty quickly.”

“God, it’s hard to believe all of that was almost four years ago. Four years since you went toe to toe with Olivia and Milla over your fiancé.”

Maysie grimaced. “Milla Wood. Yuck. I had tried really hard to forget about her.”

“I heard she got married to some guy from her hometown in Maryland, and has popped out two kids already. I also heard she’s gotten pretty fat too,” I said, grinning.

Milla Wood was our former sorority sister and all around assface. She had gotten Maysie black balled from our sorority over Jordan and had gone around spreading some vicious rumors about her as well. In the end, it turned out Milla was just pissed because Jordan had turned her down. She ended up transferring out of Rinard College, never to be seen again.

“Where did you hear all this?” Maysie asked, looking pretty pleased with the juicy gossip.

I smiled coyly. “I have my sources. I like to keep tabs and make sure karma does its job.”

“I shouldn’t care one way or another about the bitch but damn, that’s good to hear,” Maysie chuckled.

I inclined my head in Jaz’s direction. “But seriously, it doesn’t bother you to hear your ex is marrying someone else? Not in the slightest? I mean, I would be a little weirded out to hear a guy I used to bang was getting hitched.” I said, waggling my eyebrows.

Maysie snorted. “More power to ’em. I’m glad to hear they’re together. Eli’s a good guy. And Jaz…well she’s…”

“Enthusiastic?” I chirped.

We both started laughing again.

“I swear, I feel like I’m the last singleton from our graduating class,” I complained, thanking Jaz when she brought back our drinks.

A. Meredith Walters's books