I hold onto Brian’s hand as he pushes the cart around our local grocery store. I used to hate grocery shopping with a vengeance but since setting up home with Brian I love it. Mainly because we always go together. It makes me feel like part of a real couple, my husband pushing the cart while we talk each other into various foods. It’s cool. Yeah I know, how sickeningly domesticated am I?!
“We need wine right?” Brian asks, letting go of my hand and reaching for a couple of bottles. “We can take one to Nick’s party.”
“Only one?” I giggle and he reaches for a couple more with a laugh.
“Brian!”
We both turn round and see a tall blonde girl walking towards us with a huge grin on her face.
“Oh my God, it really IS you!” she exclaims as she reaches us. “Wow, it’s been too long!”
“Wow, Farrah, hi,” he grins and gives her a quick hug. “You look good.”
“Thanks,” she smiles. “You too. How have you been?”
“I’m great thanks. You?”
“Real good.”
“Uh, this is Jade,” he finally introduces me and we shake hands.
“Hi, I’m Farrah.”
“Hi Farrah,” I say.
Farrah? Where have I heard that name before? I half-listen to their conversation until it finally clicks. Of course. Farrah is the name of Brian’s ex-girlfriend, the one who left him for AJ and the reason he had initially made a move on me. The girl who he had kissed and taken to the AMAs as his date. I hadn’t recognised her out of her slutty dress. I look her over critically. Great, she’s standing right here looking immaculate in a dark blue dress. I look down at myself and groan inwardly. I look like crap. I’m wearing my oldest casual clothes and my hair is tied back messily. I key back into the conversation.
“Jade is my wife now,” Brian is saying.
“You got MARRIED?! Wow. Congratulations,” Farrah grins. “I guess I should never have let you go huh? Might’ve been ME in the white dress at the end of your aisle.”
I look at Brian, daring him to say anything that will give me a reason to kick his butt.
“That would’ve never happened Farrah,” he says eventually, looking a little uncomfortable.
“That was a dumb thing to say. Sorry,” she says.
“It’s cool,” Brian smiles and reaches for my hand. “Really. I met the rest of my life and I married her. Nothing before that matters anymore. I hope you find somebody too one day. We’d better go. Good to see ya Farrah.”
“You too,” she calls after him as he turns round and pushes the cart away from her, pulling me along with him. “Bye Brian!”
“Bye,” he throws over his shoulder and I lean in to kiss his cheek softly. “What was that for?” he looks at me and I smile, holding onto his arm with my other hand.
“For what you just said.”
“It was true,” he shrugs.
“Well it killed the jealous monster stone cold dead,” I tell him and he laughs a little.
“Good.”
“AARON!!” Nick yells. “Don’t drink that already!”
“Sorry,” his brother puts on an innocent face. “I can make some more.”
“You better,” Nick mutters and checks his watch.
Where the hell is Ali? It’s 2.30pm and his family have been here since 12.30pm. They are driving him mad. His mom is insisting on making some food for people to snack on, his dad is trying to work the barbecue, Aaron is drinking all the lemonade and jumping around the place, BJ is sulking in the TV room cos her boyfriend wasn’t invited and Leslie is blaring out sucky music by NSync and O-Town. Nick had always swore boy band music wouldn’t enter his house but Leslie had somehow sneaked the CDs in. Only Angel is staying out of his way, choosing to swim in the pool by herself for a while.
“My liquid dreams!” Aaron sings right up in Nick’s face.
“Shut up!”
“When it comes to the test
Well Tyra’s the best!” Aaron ignores his brother and Nick is about to smack him when the doorbell rings.
“ALI!” he yells and bounds down the hall to open the door. “FINALLY!” he yells at her before colouring up. “Sorry. You didn’t have to be here. Thanks.”
“You ok? You look kinda frazzled.”
“Uh huh!” he nods violently. “My mom’s turned into Ms Housewife, my dad nearly blew the garden up with butane gas, Aaron’s been jumping around like he’s in Kriss Kross, BJ is sulking somewhere but at least she’s quiet, Leslie is blasting out sucky music like O-Town and NSuck… Right now the only member of my family that I like is Angel cos I haven’t seen her!” he tells her.
“Ok,” Ali says slowly and follows him into the house.