Under the Grit

Dont Speak

The girls were clustered around the coffee table, surrounded by half-full glasses of wine, assorted snacks, and an endless supply of laughter. Tilly was mid-story, waving her hands as she animatedly described a mishap at work, and the rest of them leaned in, eyes bright with amusement. Evangeline managed a small smile, but a weight lingered at the edge of her expression, tethering her thoughts to everything she was trying not to feel.

She took a sip of wine, letting its warmth soothe her. As her friends laughed, she glanced down at her glass, studying the rich color as if it held answers to the questions tumbling through her mind. For a moment, her gaze drifted, unfocused, and her thoughts slipped back to Ben. How had it come to this? How had they drifted so far apart without her even realizing? She wanted to shake it off, to force herself back into the present, but the sadness clung to her, unwelcome and stubborn.

Karen nudged her, breaking her out of her thoughts. "Hey, Evie! You okay? You're awfully quiet over there."

Evangeline put on a quick smile, nodding. "Yeah, yeah. Just listening."

She attempted to brush off Karen's concern, but the effort felt like a flimsy mask she wore to hide the turmoil inside.

"Good! Because Tilly is about to share her most embarrassing moment, and you don't want to miss that," Mary-Beth chimed in, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Evangeline forced a laugh, hoping it sounded genuine. The girls turned their attention back to Tilly, who was animatedly recounting a story that involved an accidental wardrobe malfunction during last year's company party. As she gestured wildly, Evangeline found herself caught between the laughter of her friends and the heaviness that lingered just below the surface.

Her friends' jokes and antics swirled around her, yet she felt like she was on the outside looking in, nodding along and offering half-hearted chuckles. The truth was, she was still grappling with the lingering sadness from her conversation with Ben. Every laugh from the group felt like a reminder of the joy she was trying to hold onto, and she fought to maintain her composure, suppressing the storm of emotions brewing within.

Tilly's story ended with a crescendo of laughter, and Evangeline clinked her glass with hers, putting on her best fake face for her friends. They were all so wrapped up in their own worlds, and she didn't want to drag them down with her worries, not tonight. For now, she'd be the supportive friend, even if it meant hiding her own heartache behind a facade.

The laughter eventually subsided, and the conversation naturally shifted toward relationships, a topic that Evangeline had been dreading but knew was inevitable. She took a sip of her wine, hoping it would help her blend into the background.

Karen was the first to speak up, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "So, let's talk about the boys! Sean has been so sweet lately. Just the other night, he surprised me with dinner at that little Italian place we love. I swear, he knows how to make a girl feel special." She leaned back, her expression dreamy. "It's like he just gets me, you know? We shared a bottle of wine, and then we went back to his place—"

"Okay, okay! We don't need the details!" Sadie interrupted, chuckling as she waved her hand dismissively. "We're not trying to get a visual here."

"Oh, come on! You know you all want to hear about it!" Karen laughed, but the girls groaned in unison.

"Seriously, Karen, we're trying to eat!" Mary-Beth added, rolling her eyes, but there was a playful smile on her face. "You can save the details for your journal or something."

Karen just shrugged, her grin widening. "Fine, fine! Just know he's amazing. And don't even get me started on how he looks in those tight jeans. It's like he knows what he's doing."