Judy and John clutched each other's arms, smiling reassuringly to each other.
They turned to Collin and his new girlfriend, Missy. She gave them a cute waddle of the fingers, smiling gently. Her too-red lips were slightly pursed, and her fur coat was halfway off of her thin arms.
"Guys," Collin grinned, "this is Missy!"
Missy smiled, shaking their hands delicately. Her long nails accidentally scratched their hands, and John and Judy smiled, bringing back their hands. "Nice to meet you," said Judy. "Thanks for inviting us to lunch!"
"You're welcome." Collin nodded, letting Missy slide down the booth, then following her in pursuit. Judy and John slid in the other side of the booth.
"So, John and I are thinking of setting a date to our wedding."
Collin gasped, then began to chuckle, leaning across the table to pat John on the back. "Really! That's great." He glanced over at Missy, then turned back to Judy. "Where do you think it's going to be?"
"We were thinking a backyard wedding, but that would be a problem, because we don't really have a backyard. Just a teeny little slip of browned grass." She giggled. "And anyways, we wouldn't want to have our wedding behind our unattractive apartment building. Do you think the park would be a good idea? The one four blocks down, with the long sidewalk that always has bikers and walkers on it? With the fountain?"
Missy interjected before Collin could speak. "That place is beautiful. I think you two would have a totally fabulous wedding there. Are you going to have a clothes theme? Because I'd want to know what to wear to the wedding…"
John and Judy both thought, simultaneously, about how they hadn't invited her. But they figured it was right of her to assume because she was right there when they were telling Collin about it.
"We haven't a theme yet," admitted Judy. "We haven't got much of anything, in fact."
John turned to Collin. "So, is the park a good place?"
"Perfect!" exclaimed Collin. "But isn't it a bit cold?"
"We'll have it in the spring, obviously," nodded Judy. "We'll pray the flowers will be out and the grass will be green."
"That sounds perfect," Collin chirped.
"Yeah, it most totes does," nodded Missy. "You should most totes have a really cute wedding dress! Like, short for summer? Show a little leg, right?" She laughed, then glanced at Judy. "Do you need a fashion adviser? I can totally get you covered…"
"No, I'm fine." Judy nodded. "Really."
"Oh, okay. Whatever." Missy looked at her nails, obviously a bit insulted. Judy tried to ignore this by turning to Collin again.
"Collin, John's got something to ask you." Judy nudged his back.
"Oh, right!" coughed John. "Um, Collin, yeah, man, will you be my best man?"
Collin blinked for a moment before his mouth stretched into a grin that expanded all the way across his face. "Of course, man!" The two immediately began to pat each other's backs, exclaiming congratulations and gladness.
"Oh, good," nodded John. "For a second, I was worried that you were going to say no, and … well, that would've have been good." He glanced sideways at Judy. "Well, it's actually happening."
Judy nodded. "Yeah, it is."
- -
Judy couldn't believe she was here. She sat on the familiar purple couch, the one she'd become so accustomed to sitting on. Over and over, in her head, she repeated: You should not be here, you should not be here. Flashes of John's adorable face kept running through her thoughts, and they caused her to almost get up and run to the door. But, to her horror, she remained where she was. She didn't have the strength to leave.
Timothy entered the room, his face suddenly stretching into a grin. "I'm so glad you came," he said as a greeting. Then, without warning, he slid onto the couch next to her and immediately began to kiss her, immediately smudging her lipstick all over her round, flushed face. She didn't resist for a couple minutes, enjoying herself, as she did every time she was here. Then, she regained her composure, and sat up. Timothy's face fell onto the couch, and he sat back up. "What's wrong?" he inquired, cocking his head. "The door's closed." They were in Timothy's office; the blinds were shut on the windows, the door locked, and the wide space mood-lit.
"I'm getting married, Timothy," Judy said. "Married!"
"Oh, to that f—I mean, that guy? Jason?"
"John." Judy was busy wiping her lips.
"Right. John. Why him?" Timothy's hand tore from the arm of the sofa to her hand, grabbing it with a gentle strength. "I love you more than he will."
"No, Timothy. You… you really won't. He loves me. He's my acting partner." She glanced around the room. "I couldn't do this to him. I couldn't have him find out. Really…"
Timothy's finger was swiping across her lips, signaling for her to be quiet. "Hush, sweet," he whispered. "Loose all your worries."
"No… no—"
"Hush, hush. Shh." Soon, his mouth was encasing hers. She didn't resist.
About two hours later, Judy found herself lying next to Timothy. Oh, god! Oh bloody hell. What kind of wife would she be? And what would happen to her acting career if she was found out? Just as another worry was about to rush through her head, Timothy beamed at her.
"Are you leaving now? I've got to go to a meeting in an hour."
She frowned. "I'm leaving. I'm never coming back. Good-bye. Please, have a nice life."
"Oh god, Judy, no! Stop saying that. Break it off with him; come to your true love."
"I'm already marrying my true love," she replied coldly, shoving her feet into her shoes.
"Call me when you realize the mistake you're making," Timothy said behind her.
Judy felt tears wobbling at the bottom of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Timothy had broken it off with his girlfriend—he'd said for her. And he wouldn't let go of her own man?
She hated herself. She truly did.
- -