Abigail explains how her professor has them read a classical myth and then watch a contemporary film that explores similar themes.
“Oh, thatdoessound interesting. What films are you watching this semester?”
“Raging Bull,The Godfather,Nosferatu,and—”
“Really old fucking movies,” Ezra says as he flags down our waitress. “Can we order already?”
Jesus, he’s rude. Billy told me he’s a dick, but I’ve never seen him like this before.Maybe that’s because he never took you anywhere public. You were his dirty little secret and you didn’t even know it.
Embarrassed that Ezra’s dismissing her again, Abigail flushes and looks down at her lap. The urge to stab Ezra in the leg with my fork is strong.
A long awkward silence ensues after we give the waitress our order.
Abigail clears her throat. “I hope this isn’t too personal a question, but did I hear you guys were having a baby?”
Oh, Jesus. Here we go. “Yeah, I’m having a little girl.”
“That’s so cool! We want lots of kids, don’t we, E?” When he doesn’t say anything, she continues. “Roxy, how far along are you? Because you don’t look pregnant at all.”
“I’m due August first. I just passed sixteen weeks.”
I feel Ezra watching me, and I finally look at him. I can almost see the moment when a light bulb goes off over his head.
With eyes narrowed, he motions between me and Billy. “I had no idea you two were a thing last fall.”
That’s what he’s going with?“Funny, because I didn’t know you had a girlfriend back then either.” I give him a big, fake smile before I break out my phone and open the notes app. “Abigail, what’s that course number? Maybe I can fit it in my schedule next spring. I love old films.”
After I jot down the info, I catch sight of Billy’s face. He and Ezra are doing some weird staredown. Under the table, I grab his hand to let him know I’m okay.
Once the waitress drops off our appetizers, Billy tilts his head. “So, Ezra, how did you and Abigail meet?”
“High school.” Scanning the crowd, Ezra chugs a Heineken.
Abigail gives him an undeserved sweet smile that he doesn’t notice. “E was having trouble writing an essay, so I helped him. And one essay turned into two and then three. He finally admitted he didn’t need help, but just wanted an excuse to see me.”
I smile at her. “That’s really sweet.” Unless he just fed her that line so she would write his assignments.
Billy nods slowly, still staring at Ezra. “When did you know you’d…forsake all othersfor Abigail because she wasthe one?”
I’m taking a sip of water and almost choke.
Ezra’s jaw tightens. “I guess when you know, you know.”
Abigail sets down her iced tea. “E told me it was because I always drop everything to help him with his papers. I mean, when are we not video-chatting about his course work?”
I’m wildly curious how much help she gives him.
Ezra shrugs. “Abigail and I started dating when I was a third-string quarterback on a sub-par team, back when I was a nobody. At least I know she’s not with me for the NFL paycheck.”
“That’s super romantic, dude,” Billy says sarcastically.
“It’s the truth. You can’t trust anyone these days,” Ezra says as he stares at me with a hard look in his eyes. “At least I know I can trust my fiancée.”
He has the balls to talk about trust?
I have to bite my tongue to keep myself from saying anything. Because this is not how I want to unleash the truth on Abigail.
She fiddles with her napkin, and I can see how disappointed she is in Ezra’s answer. That he didn’t say he was head over heels in love with her or something heartfelt.
