Tiffany:
“You’re very fidgety,” Erik pointed out.
I was fidgety. Harry was five minutes late, and it felt like fifty.
“That’s because Captain Jack is coming, and she knows he needs my approval before they can seal the deal.” Brit raised her right brow in a perfect arch.
I didn’t need her approval, but it would be great if I got it. Life was easier when your friends liked your boyfriend. Not that he was my boyfriend. But he was a boy… who was my friend. “Stop being a freak, and you promised you wouldn’t call him that.” My words came out like a growl.
“Captain Jack?” Erik asked, confused, as he took a drink of his beer.
“See?” I tossed my napkin on the table in frustration and crossed my arms. “Now he’s saying it.”
“It’s not my fault.” Brit laughed. “You’ve been referring to him as that forever. I don’t even remember his real name.”
“It’s Harry. And I swear if you call him Captain Jack in front of him, I will die. Please promise, please?” My voice was shrill. I didn’t even want to listen to it.
“We’ll behave, don’t worry,” Erik said and wound his arm around Brit, his palm resting comfortably on her shoulder.
“You’re no fun,” Brit grumbled, swirling the straw in her Pina Colada.
Erik pressed his forehead against the side of her head. “I’m a little fun,” he said softly, and from the way Brit smiled, I was already regretting this double date.
I searched the room for the millionth time and exhaled in relief when I spotted Harry talking to the hostess. It must have started to rain because his hair was wet, and his shirt was splattered with drops. The hostess started walking over to us, but I gave a wave, and he showed her he knew where to go. Turning to Brit and Erik, who were locked in a lover’s gaze, I hissed, “He’s here! Remember you promised to behave!” I stood and walked over to Harry, meeting him half way, and was surprised when Harry greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, considering he had never done that before. “You made it!” I said a tad too overzealous.
“Yeah, sorry I’m late, the rain slowed everyone down.” He looked very nervous, something I had never seen on him prior.
Before I could change my mind, I took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “I want you to meet my friends.”
He gave a slight nod, and rather than let go, he interlaced his fingers with mine, holding on tight. I practically skipped back to the table. “Brit, Erik…” I turned to face Harry, who had a stoic expression on his face. “This is Harry.”
Brit and Erik just stared back, their expressions blank. They didn’t say a word. I didn’t even think Brit was blinking, which made me feel like an ass. Here I had found the courage to invite him out with us and actually introduce him to my best friend, and they were gawking like he was a rainbow python at the zoo.
“Brit…” I said, trying to sound light and casual when I wanted to shake some sense into her. It was Erik who woke up first. He stood and offered Harry his hand across the table, which was disappointing because it meant Harry had to let go of mine to shake his.
“How have you been, man?” Erik said in a way that implied they had met before.
“Good.” Harry nodded. “Good,” he said again.
“I’m sorry,” Brit said, finally shaking off whatever spell she was momentarily under. She remained in her seat, which I found to be slightly rude. “You were just the last person I expected to see here.”
“It’s nice to see you again, Brit.” Harry smiled, and it was genuine. “Still got the purple hair, I see.”
“Yeah. It’s sort of my band image,” she said, although I don’t know how she got the words out with her mouth in such a straight line. When Brit was quiet, she was deep in thought, and right now I desperately wanted to pick her brain. Harry knew them! But how?
Erik sat back down, and Harry and I did as well. “So, Erik, are you still in Pennsylvania?” Harry asked as he unfolded his napkin. “I know you had your heart set on New York after graduation.”
“Yeah, I went to New York.”
“Wow. To be honest, I didn’t think you’d be able to leave her.” Harry forced a laugh but kept his eyes on Erik, almost afraid to look at Brit.
“Um, can we please stop and rewind?” They were all talking, and I still had no idea how they knew each other.
Harry turned to me. “Sorry, Tiff. As you can guess, we’ve already met.” He smiled at me, but it seemed forced. “I haven’t seen Brit or Erik in about… what? Two years?”
“Sounds right to me,” Brit said and drank her water. She hated him. She couldn’t even hide it. And Erik, who was usually warm and outgoing, seemed rather reserved.
“And how do you know each other?” Harry never went to Penn, he just lived in the area. And just how well did they know each other?
“Through my cousin,” Harry said, his voice cracking. He reached for a glass of water and drank it.
My face fell. Maybe his cousin was a sister. Maybe he had dated a Delta Sig he’d met through her and it hadn’t ended well. “Your cousin?” I really wished someone would jump up and just give me the details. “Who’s your cousin?”
“David Archer,” Brit spoke the words through gritted teeth.
I felt lightheaded. David Archer was a legend in this town. He was British and in a local band, got discovered, and became a famous rock star. He was currently engaged to Kristen Forte, aka, Brit’s big sister. I guess in a weird sorority way, I was related to him, too. Not really. But it’s fun to pretend. “Wait. You never told me—”
“You never asked.” Harry was quick to cut me off.
“But you’re not British,” I said stupidly.
“Uh, I am, technically. My dad is from London. But my mom is from New York.”
“So you must know Kristen, then?” I was super excited, but everyone at the table remained somber.
“Yes,” Harry said clearing his throat. “Yes, I know Kristen.”
The rest of dinner seemed to drag on. The conversation was mundane, and it was like there was this big secret hanging over our table that everyone was in on but me. The topic of David and Kristen was dropped immediately, so I couldn’t dig any deeper. It made me wonder if Kristen and Harry had a history. I knew she had been with David for years, so I wondered if she had cheated on him with Harry. Realizing this notion was probably absurd, I shrugged it off and told myself that Kristen and David were too strong for the things my wild imagination was proposing. I mean, they were getting married in August. The more I thought about the idea of Harry and Kristen together, the more I told myself I was being ridiculous. It’s like saying Brit had hooked up with Harry. That would never happen.