“Marley, it’s important you understand that I’m okay. I told you Saturday, I got through it. And I really found myself after high school. I went away to college, near enough to keep close with my family, but far enough for it to feel like a fresh start. I was wary there at first, but eventually I found my tribe. Made friends, had fun, discovered myself. My acne cleared up, and I realized I was destined to be a long-hair guy.”
She finally released my waist, and I missed the soothing contact immediately. But then I felt her warm fingers against my hip, urging me to turn around.
I peered down at her beautiful face. “I’m so glad things got better for you,” Marley said, moving to hug me from the front. “You’re one of the best people I know, and you didn’t deserve that.”
I wrapped my arms around her tightly. It felt amazing. “Thank you.”
“You have nothing to prove to those dummies. If they were so ignorant back then that they couldn’t see how great you are, they’re obviously idiots. I’d like to think that people can change. That those teenagers who were horrible to you feel some remorse and are now old enough to know how wrong they were. But if we go to that reunion and they are anything less than completely welcoming to you, we’re outta there.” I felt her speaking into my chest as she followed up with. “Right after I give them a piece of my mind, and maybe poison the punch bowl.”
I laughed and released her, both of us turning back to the counter.
We prepared the rest of our dinner in silence, and I reveled in the sensation of relief. I’d finally opened a window to my past for Marley. She still didn’t know about Cindy, or Oliver and the business, but it was a start. Plenty for one night.
Her phone buzzed a few more times while we worked, and she sighed as she contemplated the device. After a third text came through, she asked, “Can I talk to you about something over dinner?”
“Of course. Everything okay?”
“Yeah. It’s no big deal. Let’s get all this stuff on the table first. I’m starving.”
We sat down at the corner of her large dining set. Bambi and Oscar stayed conked out in the living room, satisfied by the eggnog bones.
“Do you remember I pointed out a person named Kasen in the Christmas albums?” Marley asked.
“Uh huh.” I tensed as my conversation with Travis came back to me.
“Well, Kasen and I have known each other our whole lives. Dated for a long time. Part of high school, throughout college. We lived together for a while after that.”
Hmm. While I’d assumed he was Marley’s ex, I hadn’t realized they’d had such a lengthy relationship. “So you guys were together for…”
“Eight years,” she stated flatly.
I slouched in my chair. “That’s a long time. Do you mind if I ask why you split up?”
“No. It’s actually not that complicated. We hit an impasse. When my mom got sick, I knew I needed to move home, that I wanted to be the one to care for her. He refused to return with me. I’d hated living in Portland anyway. I’d never really settled in. But Kasen was different. He’d made friends and had a good job, a gym membership, a favorite taco truck. When it came down to it, he liked living in a big city more than he liked being with me.” She shrugged her shoulders.
Her words may have signaled acceptance, but I sensed the hurt behind the casual movement. “That sounds rough.”
“It’s okay. He’s allowed to make that choice. Just like I made mine to stay here and take care of my mom.”
Her features remained placid. Not the expression of someone feeling conflicted about the past or needing to make a confession.
Somewhat confused, I asked, “Why are you telling me this now?” I hoped Marley didn’t want to go into detail about our love lives. After giving her the story of my high school days, I doubted I had it in me to talk about Cindy.
“Because he’s been texting me. Since Thanksgiving. I’d blocked his number after we split up, but he’s always wanted to be friends. I’m in a different place now, so I’m willing to consider it.” She squirmed in her seat a little. “He’s back in town for the holidays. He wants to meet up in person.”
“And you haven’t seen him in five years?”
“No. And I’m still not sure I want to.”
I huffed. “You sound like me with my reunion.”
She gave me a half smile. “Sort of. Except Kasen isn’t a dragon I need to slay. He’s more like another door I thought I’d shut for good. And some doorsshouldstay shut. I just don’t know if this one should.” She exhaled. “The only thing I’m sure of is that it didn’t feel right to even consider opening it again without letting you know. Because things between us are so…in flux. I don’t want to add in any complications.”
I considered her words. “Marley, if you want to hang out with Kasen and see if there’s a chance to be friends, or even just to figure out where he fits in your life, it’s fine with me. I get it.”
“Really?”
“Of course. You were with this guy for eight years.” I forced myself to tamp down the stab of jealousy I had no right to feel. This wasn’t like with Cindy. My ex had cheated on me and gleefully told me all about it, twisting the knife when she finally left. Marley’s breakup didn’t sound vindictive. Merely sad. “If you’ve known Kasen most of your life, it makes sense there might still be a place for him in it.”
