something that is not ‘Izzy-like.' Such a good girl.” She topped off her smart remark by patting me on the head like a good ole puppy.
Rhys nodded his head in agreement. “You’re right, Tara, ‘cause Izzy damn sure don’t know the meaning of ‘spontaneity’.”
I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t about to say anything, though, because they were right. I never take many risks, but last night, I took a big one.
Tiffany looked a little perplexed by her husband’s last comment.
“I don’t get it, baby. You’re always talking about how goofy and loud Izzy is. Why wouldn’t she do something bold?”
I cut my eyes to Rhys and folded my arms. I knew he saw me looking at him, but he opted to play dumb and answer Tiff’s question instead.
“She is goofy and loud with people she knows, people she’s comfortable with. Around anyone else, she’s kind of like a bookworm or corny schoolmarm, or some boring shit like that.”
“Well, more like a nerd,” Tara added.
“That's it. She's a nerd.” Rhys agreed. “Izzy has to warm up to you. Otherwise, you may never really see ole girl in action.”
I listened as all three of them started laughing at my expense. Normally, I would’ve tried to turn the heat onto someone else and get the attention off of me, but today it didn’t matter. I was still in the clouds from my time with Richie Reyes the day before, and nothing was going to get me down. Not even my mother, who had called me this morning, and for once, didn't manage to successfully upset me. That said a lot.
“You guys can make jokes and laugh all you want. I’m not gonna get all goofy and loud like some people think I am.” I got up and punched Rhys lightly on his shoulder as I walked by him on my way to the kitchen to get a drink. I noticed as Tiffany stopped laughing and cut her eyes at me as I walked by. If I didn’t know any better, I swear she thought I was one of Rhys’ former part-time girlfriends. How little she must know about her husband.
As I came back into the living room, drink in hand, I made it a point to walk the long way around the coffee table and not directly in front of Rhys. I didn’t need Tiffany suspecting anything, especially when there was nothing to suspect. Rhys and I had been friends for years and as much as she may have hated it, I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.
Tara was oblivious to Tiffany, as usual. She turned to me and asked excitedly, “So, when’s the big date? You can’t have had such a good time last night without a follow up date.”
“Did you completely forget about Kyle?” I asked. “We can't date. I won't allow that, but we are supposed to get together on Friday, hang out and what not.”
“Um, honey,” Tara said in a sweet voice, “that's a date.”
I smiled inwardly as I thought about how nervous Richie was when he asked if he could see me again this weekend. I had told him about Kyle almost as soon as he had come back to the table with a plate full of cookies. I didn't want him to get the wrong idea, despite the fact that I was openly flirting with him. But as much as I had tried to dial it back, I couldn't; Richie was gorgeous, charming and interesting. I couldn't help but open up to him. But to keep myself grounded, I talked about Kyle. Not about our communication problems, though. Just that he and I were in love and committed.
Richie seemed to be a little crestfallen at first, until he mentioned that Rhys had already spilled the beans about me and Kyle. It didn't matter, though. He still wanted to get to know me, and I was okay with that. Besides, no one is so rich as to throw away a friend, right?
“Tara, it's totally not a date. Like I said, we're just hanging out.”
"At his house again?" Rhys asked.
"No. Some restaurant in Virginia Beach."
Tara smirked. "Uh huh! It's a date."
"It's not a date!" I protested.
“What about your fiancé, Izzy? Don’t you think it’s kind of messed up for you to be going out with another
Rhys nodded his head in agreement. “You’re right, Tara, ‘cause Izzy damn sure don’t know the meaning of ‘spontaneity’.”
I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t about to say anything, though, because they were right. I never take many risks, but last night, I took a big one.
Tiffany looked a little perplexed by her husband’s last comment.
“I don’t get it, baby. You’re always talking about how goofy and loud Izzy is. Why wouldn’t she do something bold?”
I cut my eyes to Rhys and folded my arms. I knew he saw me looking at him, but he opted to play dumb and answer Tiff’s question instead.
“She is goofy and loud with people she knows, people she’s comfortable with. Around anyone else, she’s kind of like a bookworm or corny schoolmarm, or some boring shit like that.”
“Well, more like a nerd,” Tara added.
“That's it. She's a nerd.” Rhys agreed. “Izzy has to warm up to you. Otherwise, you may never really see ole girl in action.”
I listened as all three of them started laughing at my expense. Normally, I would’ve tried to turn the heat onto someone else and get the attention off of me, but today it didn’t matter. I was still in the clouds from my time with Richie Reyes the day before, and nothing was going to get me down. Not even my mother, who had called me this morning, and for once, didn't manage to successfully upset me. That said a lot.
“You guys can make jokes and laugh all you want. I’m not gonna get all goofy and loud like some people think I am.” I got up and punched Rhys lightly on his shoulder as I walked by him on my way to the kitchen to get a drink. I noticed as Tiffany stopped laughing and cut her eyes at me as I walked by. If I didn’t know any better, I swear she thought I was one of Rhys’ former part-time girlfriends. How little she must know about her husband.
As I came back into the living room, drink in hand, I made it a point to walk the long way around the coffee table and not directly in front of Rhys. I didn’t need Tiffany suspecting anything, especially when there was nothing to suspect. Rhys and I had been friends for years and as much as she may have hated it, I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.
Tara was oblivious to Tiffany, as usual. She turned to me and asked excitedly, “So, when’s the big date? You can’t have had such a good time last night without a follow up date.”
“Did you completely forget about Kyle?” I asked. “We can't date. I won't allow that, but we are supposed to get together on Friday, hang out and what not.”
“Um, honey,” Tara said in a sweet voice, “that's a date.”
I smiled inwardly as I thought about how nervous Richie was when he asked if he could see me again this weekend. I had told him about Kyle almost as soon as he had come back to the table with a plate full of cookies. I didn't want him to get the wrong idea, despite the fact that I was openly flirting with him. But as much as I had tried to dial it back, I couldn't; Richie was gorgeous, charming and interesting. I couldn't help but open up to him. But to keep myself grounded, I talked about Kyle. Not about our communication problems, though. Just that he and I were in love and committed.
Richie seemed to be a little crestfallen at first, until he mentioned that Rhys had already spilled the beans about me and Kyle. It didn't matter, though. He still wanted to get to know me, and I was okay with that. Besides, no one is so rich as to throw away a friend, right?
“Tara, it's totally not a date. Like I said, we're just hanging out.”
"At his house again?" Rhys asked.
"No. Some restaurant in Virginia Beach."
Tara smirked. "Uh huh! It's a date."
"It's not a date!" I protested.
“What about your fiancé, Izzy? Don’t you think it’s kind of messed up for you to be going out with another
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