Page 187 of Don't Leave Me
“Oh, it’s so lovely to finally meet you, darling. My daughter in law!” she beamed, her English accent strong, then took me in her arms and gave me a soft hug.
“Alright, mum, don’t smother her,” Jack teased as she let me go. “And Hana, this is Jeremy,” he went on, putting his hand on his brother’s shoulder.
I was taken aback at just how alike they looked. I knew Jack was a few years older, but they could have been twins. He had darker, longer hair, and his eyes and nose were just slightly different, but he still bore those Maynor lips and dimples.
“Pleasure meeting you, Hana,” he said kindly.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Jeremy,” I smiled, then felt Jack take my hand again.
I could see Jessica pouting off to the side - Jack hadn’t even acknowledged her yet, even after all she had done for him. I almost felt sorry for her. Why was he being so cold to her?
Jack began to introduce everyone else to each other then ordered himself a whiskey and me a glass of white wine.
“Let’s enjoy tonight, sweetheart,” Jack said to me quietly as we waited for our drinks.
I wondered if Jack’s family didn’t want him to drink because of his past substance abuse. I knew mine was wary of me drinking - my parents, anyway - but they never really said anything. The old Miller passive aggressiveness.
“Is there a particular reason you’re ignoring me, brother?” Jessica appeared beside us, a drink already in her hand.
Jack looked annoyed as he looked over at her.
“I’m not ignoring you. I wanted Hana to meet the rest of the family, that’s all,” he muttered to her quietly, annoyance still apparent in his voice.
Jess scoffed. “I think I understand. You’re trying to make me seem like the villain in all of this, aren’t you?” she widened her eyes at Jack, then turned to me. “I only did what he told me to, Hana.”
Jack was clearly annoyed. “Let’s not talk about this now, can we? It’s supposed to be a joyous occasion. We’ll talk later,” he spit out, then took my hand after the bartender handed us our drinks and whisked me away again.
I felt sorry for her again. She really did just do what Jack told her to, and now he was shunning her. Maybe because she knew our secret, therealsecret, Jack didn’t want her around. Maybe he didn’t want to think about that as we all gathered to celebrate our love.
“Oh my god, Hana! Jack’s brother is like, his twin,” Emily whispered to me as Jack greeted a friend that had just walked in.
“I know. Weird, isn’t it?” I smiled, looking over at Jeremy as he ordered himself a drink and stood next to Jess.
“Imagine that threesome,” she laughed, always going a step too far with her humor, but I loved it.
“Em!” I laughed, rolling my eyes and pushing her away.
Jack introduced me to a few of his friends that had arrived - old NYU friends that he hadn’t seen in months. He seemed proud to show me off, like I was a prize that he had won and made sure everyone gawked at me. I was relieved when I saw my parents walk through the door, their familiar faces seeming odd in a place where I had spent many nights blackout drunk at.
“Mom, Dad,” I went up to them immediately and gave them both a hug.
I could see Laura making her way towards us, I’m sure eager to meet her new family, and Jack wasn’t too far behind.
“Hello Dan, Jemma,” Jack greeted them, all of them now on a first name basis.
We introduced our parents to each other, then Jeremy and Jess to my parents, and it finally seemed like the party was in full force. There was only one person missing. I kept eyeing the door, waiting for her to walk in, nervous but excited to see her.
“Isn’t Billie coming?” Emily asked, checking the time on her phone: it was almost 7:30.
“She said she was,” I shrugged, trying to play it cool.
“Are you nervous? I mean, since she still isn’t convinced of you and Jack?” she prodded quietly as we watched Jack and Jeremy tell a story to one of Jack’s NYU friends.
And then there she was: my best friend had walked in, her cool and casual demeanor making a few people turn to look at her, and she immediately locked eyes with me. I smiled as I set my drink on the bar and walked over to her, wanting to give her a big hug. She met me halfway and opened her arms for me eagerly with a smile, giving me a tight hug and squeezing.
“You look great,” she said after she let me go, eyeing me up and down.
“So do you,” I observed her as well: she was always so effortlessly cool and had the classiest, simplest style without even trying.
