Year of the Chick (book 1 in the "Year of the Chick" series)

Chapter Sixteen

“So El...do you think he’s jerking me around?”

It had now been over a week since James’s dickhead response to arranged marriages. We’d been e-mailing just fine about writing, but nothing else. Worst of all, I’d asked him again about his trip and it was still unconfirmed.

Eleanor and Amy were my only sounding boards, with Laura so lucky in love by now. I CANNOT handle hearing how happy she is. Without our office chats I’d be hopeless.

“So he still wouldn’t give you a date?” asked Eleanor. I shook my head. “But October’s only two weeks away,” she continued. “Is he waiting for a last-minute deal?”

“Maybe he’s cheap,” offered Amy.

I dropped my forehead onto my keyboard. Maybe he’s cheap? There had to be another reason for James’s aloof behaviour.

The three of us continued to discuss it at my cubicle, eating through my stash of emergency M&M’s on a quiet Friday afternoon.

Was he really going to keep me in the dark until October arrived?

Why would he ever do such a thing?

So he can chuck you if he needs to in the next four weeks. No non-refundable flight, no irreversible commitment.

“But that’s crazy!” I cried.

Eleanor eyed me quizzically. “You think it’s crazy for me to get highlights?”

Ah, a new and exciting topic was afoot.

“No. Sorry. I was thinking of something else.”

“Thinking of James?” said Amy. “You are SO obsessed with him!” Amy pointed and laughed.

The “point and laugh?” About my serious dilemma?

I cleared my throat. “I am not obsessed with him. But for all our pleasant contact, wouldn’t he WANT to meet me? Just to see if this is worth hanging on to?”

“Does he even know you like him?” said Eleanor.

My eyes widened. “Uhh hello, do we e-mail? Yes! Do we talk on the phone? Yes! That counts for something, right?”

“Depends on what you talk about,” she said.

“Whose side are you on anyway?” I felt defeated.

“Or...” Eleanor began.

“Or what?” I asked.

“Or maybe he’s a little gun-shy? I don’t know. Sometimes the fantasy is easier than...a reality that might not measure up.”

Yeah, I used to think that too. BEFORE I discovered that we’re soul mates!

“But why would he be disappointed? I’m freakin’ awesome!”

“Yes, I know that. And YOU know that...clearly. But he might not know it yet. Maybe you’re funny on the phone and in e-mails, but what are you really like?”

“Awesome!”

“Right.” Eleanor looked around at nothing in particular. Suddenly her eyes lit up. “You know what you need to do? You need to forget about all this. Just focus on tomorrow night. Booze and dancing all night long, with no parents here to stop you!”

It was true. With my parents on their way up north to visit a friend, my siblings and I would have the house to ourselves ‘til Sunday. My sister had agreed to watch the house and answer calls (since I’d played the part myself too many times), and my brother was a virtual unknown (maybe he’ll chill with his greasy loser-friends). I, on the other hand, with alcohol seeping from my pores, would watch the sun rise with Eleanor and Amy.