46. You are amazing
Eleanor
Jason walks us to his car, we get in, and as he is about to start the car, I grab his hand in mine. I lace my hands with one of his hands and place it on my lap. I use my free hand to draw smoothening patterns on his hand. I feel the tension in his hand reduce the more I continue to rub my finger on the back of his palm. I didn’t think it would be good to drive angry. I feel his eyes on me. I lift mine from his hand and lock eyes with him.
“You are amazing,” He says, staring at me with admiration in his eyes.
I just smile at him and ask him if he is feeling better.
“Yes, I am, thank you.”
“That’s good. Do you want to talk about it?” I want to know why he hates Alex, but I don’t want to push him to tell me why
“Sorry, I don’t.”
“You don’t have to apologize. You can tell me whenever you are ready.”
“Thank you again,” Jason says, pecking my forehead. “Let’s go. I am sure you are starving.”
“You don’t even know how much.”
“I heard your stomach growling while you were touching my hand, so I do,” He says, pressing the start button to switch on the car.
“My stomach did not growl” I can’t believe he heard it. While I was rubbing his hand, my belly was growling, but it was not loud, so I didn’t think he heard it.
“Sweetheart, there is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s normal for someone’s stomach to growl when they are hungry,” He says, driving out of the parking lot.
“So you say, but the smile on your face says otherwise.”
“Forgive me; I won’t ever laugh when I hear your stomach growl again,” He says with a smug smile.
“Thank you,” I say, smiling.
Jason drives us to burger king to have lunch. I was so happy his mood earlier did not change his mind about having a burger for lunch. I was a little worried it would.
After work, I drive over to Amber’s workplace to see her. I haven’t seen her in a while. I park my car in the club parking lot. I walk inside through the front door since the club is open already. I walk inside to find Amber busy working. I take my seat on one of the bar stools. I wait for her to finish attending to the person in front of her before drawing her attention towards me. She was so busy attending to customers she didn’t see me walk in.
“Hi, best friend,” I say,
“Hey,” She says, smiling. She makes a drink and walks over to my side with it. “On the house,” She says, placing the glass in front of me.
“Thank you,” I say, taking a sip of the glass of appletini she placed in front of me.
“So what brings you by? Trouble in paradise”
“No, things are great between Jason and me.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Yeah, and did I used to visit you only when things were bad between us.”
“Not really, but I saw you more often than usual when you guys were having problems.”
“I am sorry about that. I promise to see you more often regardless of how things are between us.”
“It’s fine. I am happy things are good between you guys.”
“Me too. The day we made up was the only day I was truly ever happy you were wrong about something.”
“Me too. I was so glad I was wrong, and his reasons were something else.”
“Yeah, and how are things with Evan. I hope things are great between you guys too.”
“I guess”
“You guess, is something wrong?” I ask, worried something might be wrong for her to be guessing if things are great between them.
“I met Evan’s parents last week.”
“Really, and you are just telling me now. How did it go?”
“I didn’t like the way it went; that’s why I didn’t tell you.”
“Did it go that bad?”
“His father hates me.”
“Oh my God, why do you think so.”
“My tattoos and the fact that I am a bartender makes him think I am not the best for his son.”
“He is judging you based on that. Does he not know just because you have tattoos and works in a bar does not mean you are not best for his son?”
“Apparently, he does not, and it’s making Evan sad because he values his dad’s approval of his girlfriend a lot.”
“Oh, my, this is not good. Did you try making his dad understand that just because you have tattoos and works in a bar does not mean you are a wayward person”
“I tried, but it didn’t work, and I don’t know what to do. I am worried he might make Evan break up with me, and I really like Evan. I even think I am falling in love with him,” Amber says, with tears pooling in her eyes.
“Don’t cry; we will figure something out. There has to be a way you can convince his dad you are good for Evan.”
“What if I can’t Eleanor, what if Evan breaks up with me because his dad never approves of me? If that happens, I don’t know what I am going to do Eleanor, I can’t imagine my life without Evan in it right now,” Amber says, with tears streaming down her face. I quickly stand up from my seat and walk over to the other side of the bar. I pull her in my arms and try to comfort her.
“Don’t cry; everything is going to be alright. I believe Evan feels the same way you do, and he won’t leave you just because his dad asks him to. You will be able to find a way to make his dad like you. I believe you will.”
“I hope I do.”
“You will,” I say, rubbing my hand on her back to make her stop crying. I hope she finds a way because Amber is falling in love with Evan. I can’t imagine what it will do to her if they break up. It will crush her. I know how much courage it took for her to open up and accept her feelings for Evan. It will destroy her if he leaves her. I just hope that never happens.
During the weekend, I go over to Jason’s house to spend the day with him. I didn’t feel like going out today, but Jason wanted to see me, so I am out of the house. I planned to binge-watch all the series I have missed during the week. He said I didn’t need to be at home to do that. I could see him and also watch my series.
“Eleanor,” Jason says, beside me on the couch
“Yes,” I say, with my eyes glued to the TV screen
“I need to ask you something.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
“I am listening,” I say, with my eyes still glued to the TV
“So, I met my grandmother yesterday, and I spoke to her about the way she talked to you last time.”
“You did,” I say, feeling happy he spoke to his grandmother about the way she talked to me last time. I thought he wouldn’t because he wouldn’t want to make her angry by supporting his girlfriend and not her. I am surprised he did.
“Yes, I did. I told her what she did was wrong, and she agreed. She wishes to apologize to you.”
“She agreed what she did was wrong and wants to apologize?” I am finding it hard that Mrs. Sullivan accepted what she did was wrong and wants to apologize.
“Yes, she does. She asked me if you would like to have lunch with her tomorrow so she can do that.”
“You are joking.”
“I am not; she feels bad for the way she treated you.”
“Are you sure we are talking about the same woman who called me a peasant”
“Yes, we are. I know it seems unbelievable, but I told her how important it is to me for both of you to get along.”
“Oh, you should have started with that” I am 100% sure she is not sorry for what she did. She must have only told Jason that to make him stop worrying about it. She is brilliant; I will give her that.
“So, are you available for lunch tomorrow?”
“Hmmm………….” I want to lie and say no, but the way Jason is looking at me makes it hard to lie to him. I hate it when he looks at me like that. I always end up agreeing to what he wants.
“Please, it would mean the world to me if both of you get along. You both are the most important women to me. It would really make me happy if you guys get along.”
This is what I feared, and it’s already happening.
“If it means that much to you, fine, I will have lunch with her tomorrow” I know I am going to kill her in my head a million times tomorrow. I even have this feeling she has a motive for asking me to lunch. Whatever her reason is, I will be prepared to face her tomorrow. I won’t let her come between Jason and I. I am even surprised she did not bad mouth me in front of him and said she would apologize. It just proves she is up to something.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” He says, pecking my forehead.