Every Girl Does It(10)

The cinnamon roll is like glue to my tongue, so I nod my head and smile with my mouth closed.

Brad laughs. “Well isn’t that something? Wow, did you guys ever date or anything?”

And that’s when the food flew out of my mouth onto Brad’s nice Armani shirt. I gasp and quickly grab napkins, while Brad keeps telling me not to worry and to “remember, I do have two kids under the age of three”. But still, I feel awful. Well, that and just angry that Preston seems to be enjoying himself so much at my expense.

“So,” Brad says as he puts the napkin down. “I guess that’s a touchy subject, I’m just glad you guys know each other so well, especially for what I have to tell you next.”

I look at them with genuine happiness that maybe Kristin is pregnant again. Maybe they want me to babysit. Oh no, no babysitting! In anticipation, I look between the two of them waiting for their secret to be revealed.

Preston looks equally pleased and sticks his tongue out at me while we wait. I stick mine out, too, then am ratted out by one of Kristin’s kids, the little traitor. Preston laughs lifting his hand in a thumbs-up sign as if to say, “good job getting caught by a three year old, genius”. The temptation to slap the smile off his face nearly overwhelms me.

“We won a trip to Hawaii!” Kristin squeals with delight as Brad kisses her on the mouth.

I couldn’t be more thrilled, except what does it have to do with me and Preston? No! They are going to ask us to babysit! Kristin knows how I feel about babysitting. I saw a shrink for two weeks after that incident. Oh no, then the thought occurs. I’m going to be an awful mother, and this solidifies that statement. I’ll be stuck with them for a week, and then I’ll rule out children forever. But I want kids. Life is so unfair.

Preston gives Brad a high five. Since when did they become best friends

“I’m so happy for you guys. How great is that?”

“Sorry to interrupt, but Brad, how do you and Preston even know each other?”

Preston blushes for the first time I can remember, rendering me, yet again, speechless and confused.

Brad answers, noticing Preston’s sudden embarrassment “Well, the church has a series of meetings and counseling that each new member has to go through. It’s all kept private, so I couldn’t share it with Kristin. Preston was paired with me, and we hit it off. It might sound weird and maybe too feminine, but I’m glad to have a good guy friend.”

“Aw shucks, mate.” Preston replies, punching him playfully in the arm.

This is too much to swallow. I cannot handle them being best friends. Kristin is going to have to fix this. I look at her sternly and communicate with my eyes, via giving her the stare of death, “Fix this now!” And I think she heard me, because she nods her head and leans in as if to say something to the entire group.

“The reason we wanted to tell you both together is because we actually won two extra tickets.” She looks between us and winks. “Brad and I thought it would be fun to take two of our closest friends. Isn’t that great? Can you believe it? A free trip to Hawaii over Thanksgiving break! We leave the day after, on black Friday.”

Air. I need air. Where is air? Is it hot in here? Why am I seeing black spots? I blink my eyes several times before the rest of the room regains its natural state.

“Swell.” Sorry but that’s all I have in my repertoire of words to say at the moment. That, and a word that shouldn’t be repeated at church, which happens to start with the same letter.

“Guys, that is so generous of you, really.” Preston gives Brad a high five and Kristin a hug. “But who’s going to watch the kids while you’re gone?”

“Oh, Brad’s parents said they would love to! It’s all working out so perfectly!” Kristin beams.

“Isn’t it though?” I say through clenched teeth. “So, I guess we don’t have much time to prepare. Isn’t Thanksgiving next week?” I ask.

“Yes, we would’ve told you guys sooner, but we just found out this morning. We entered one of those trip sweepstakes you get in the mail never thinking we’d actually win. But, surprise!” Kristin laughs again and throws her hands up in the air in a “surprised” manner.

Looking at Preston, I issue a challenge. There is no way I’ll allow him to ruin a fantastic vacation. He’s staying home. What’s ironic is, he understands my unspoken challenge and grins. What I need is a game plan to get Mr. December to back out. Then I’ll have the most perfect vacation of all. Insert menacing laugh here.

Preston meets my challenge with one of his own. His cocky face turns defiant. He bites his lip and nods his head as if trying to communicate, “It’s on”. He doesn’t want me joining the trip either. Well you know what, Mr. I-can-have-any-girl-I-want? I’ll destroy you from the inside out.

My eyes squint harder and harder until Kristin has to clap her hands in front of me to break the trance. Of course, I jump and spill my latte. As I got up to leave, I saw Preston pointing both fingers from his eyes to mine as if to say, “I’m watching you”. If that’s not creepy, nothing is. All I need to do is get through work this week. Then, before Friday, I’ll plead my case to Preston, making him feel the need to stay home while I go vacation in Aloha land.



Chapter Four



I skipped Bible Study. It was wrong and I will accept punishment later. I had to escape, to get away and think, or more accurate, I left so I could plot. Preston does bring out the worst. However, I don’t seem to bring out the worst in him. Wondering why, I begin to think of ways to make this vacation fireman-less.