Ghost of You

The Ghost of You - Chapter 6

Brian, after having rescheduled the week prior, suggested we all meet up the day after Christmas for dinner. There was much discussion as to where we'd go, Andy suggesting classy while Allison suggested something exotic, Brian wanted Italian and Bender was hell bent on burgers so I suggest pizza. Unorthodox? Yes, but it was the one thing we could all decide on and so we all met up at Santorelli's on the main drag in town. Allison and Andy arrived around the same time Bender and I did so we got a table for the five of us and waited. About 10 minutes passed before we saw this really beautiful woman walk through the door followed immediately by Brian. She waited for him to come in before grabbing his hand nervously. She looked really shy as she walked to the table and we all looked up to greet them. "Hey guys," Brian said, "This is Jennifer. Jen, these are the guys."

"And girls," she said. Her voice was small and cute and she smiled as Brian went down the line of introducing us and we all shook hands before they took a seat. We ordered a pizza and a couple of beers and Brian talked about the drive down from Chicago. Brian asked about the show and Allison gushed about how much fun she had and how nice Robert Smith was and so on and so on and I simply nodded along to back up everything she was saying. Brian got up from the table to go speak to someone as we all sat around and wondered what he was up to. When he came back, he was followed by a waiter who was holding a bottle of champagne. "Guys, I just wanna say that, well, Jennifer and I are engaged," and as Allison and I seemed to squeal in delight, Andy playfully punched Brian before pulling him in for a hug. Bender, to my surprise, got up and went to shake his hand. When he can back to sit beside me, he grabbed my hand under the table and squeezed it. I went to look at him but his focus was on Brian and Jennifer.

The rest of the night went by beautifully. The ring was gorgeous, they had met at work, and she was ridiculously smart. The two of them had actually been together for about five years, but none of us had any idea. They looked blissfully happy and it made me smile knowing my friends, Allison and Andy included really, had all found happiness. Before we knew it, it was 10-10:30 and we all decided to head out. We waved to Brian and Jennifer, told Andy and Allison we'd see 'em for New Years, and headed back to the Quattro. Bender pulled out a cigarette and went to open the door but I stopped him. I gave him a look and he nodded, choosing to lean against the car door. I stood beside him and lit one of my own.

"So, that's cool about Brian and Jennifer," he said. I laughed. "What?"

"It's just, weird, you know?" I said rubbing my hands together. "Everyone's growing up and having babies."

"Babies having babies," Bender shouted and I laughed while trying to "shh" him at the same time.

"What is it with you shouting late at night! That's seemingly the only time you do it."

"I shout other times too," He said leaning in but I poked him in the stomach and he backed away.

"You weren't really the one screaming, were you."

"Nope," and he added an extra emphasis on the "P" making a popping sound before taking another drag and I sighed just thinking about it. He chuckled, "We could do that again, you know."

"As nice as that would be, I kinda just wanna sleep. How are you never tired?"

"Babe, I'm always tired but I'm never too tired for sex," he said as he took a final drag and flicked his cigarette. "Ready," he asked and I flicked mine as well before we got in the car.

"Berta's family left, do you wanna sleep over?"

"Well, as nice as that would be, I kinda just wanna sleep," he grinned and I rolled my eyes.