The Rebound Game

Twenty Six

This is desperate alright. Even for me. But if I disconnect right now, he would not buy my excuse that it was a butt dial. Okay, how about I just wait and see what happens. I mean that was master plan all along.

 Twenty seconds...twenty five...twenty nine...

 Why in God's name would anyone just stare at their fucking phone ring and not pick at all? This is rude and seriously unacceptable.

 Thirty three...thirty six...thirty eight...

  The call ends and I dont bother to wait for his text. I somehow need to accept that anonymity  is part of the package and move on.

***
  I show up at Annie's at exactly two thirty. I am probably the last guest to arrive. I had not anticipated too much traffic at Mombasa Road being a weekend but much to my chagrin, the president was sort of attending a launch in the area and his motorcade was responsible for the crazy line up. 
    
"Oh my God! Look who finally graces us with her presence," Annie says as she holds the gate open and takes in my outfit. "Wow, don't you look so fabulous. Where did you get this dress? Makes me feel so underdressed."

  "Nonsense, those floral pants look good on you," I say admiring the pearl earrings. Annie is clad in floral pants and a white crop top that shows off her abs. Her long hair is gathered in a complicated up do that surprisingly makes her look younger than the twenty seven year old she is.       
      
"So are you gonna give me a hug at some point or what? Im famished. Please tell me you have left over food in your fridge because soda and cookies wont do."  As if to prove a point, my stomach growls.

 "Haha. This is why I love having you around. Bossing me around in my own home. Come here, silly," she laughs and gives me a hug.

 "Technically, this is Justin's house," I retort and untie my sandals. Now that I inspect my toenails more closely, the nail polish looks worse than it was this morning when I applied. It's a dull shade of green.

 "So how many of your guests showed up?" Judging from the fleet of cars parked at their driveway, they have to be more than seven. I suddenly feel self-conscious, a clear indication that I should go out with Jess more and get used to making small talk with strangers. I wonder if my lack of confidence is to do with the recent events in my life.

 "They are mostly men and two ladies who accompanied their husbands. They are all under thirty three, your type of crowd," she reassures. "Move your tiny feet, I need to introduce my hot sister to the eligible bachelors in my living room.”