Will seemed to have had his fun. “Fine, Jonas. Call Nancy next week and I’ll make sure you get in.” To me and Marley, he mouthedhe won’t get in.
Satisfied with that resolution, Jonas turned to me and stuck out a shaky hand, “Jonas.”
I unfolded my arms and watched his eyes grow big as he saw my badge. “James,” I said, reaching out my palm.
But Jonas left me hanging as his mouth gaped. “Oh my God! Jubbs?! Jesus, man. I never would have pegged you for a glow-up.” He leaned back and shouted over to his original table. “Hey, Connor, guys, check it out. The dude we were wondering about is Jubbs!”
His shout attracted the attention of not only his friends, but also the rest of the room as I felt all eyes turn to me. Marley stepped closer and wrapped her arm around my elbow as a low murmuring began around the room.Oh my God, it’s James? Is that really Jubbs? Seriously, James Wymack?
I waited to feel uncomfortable, but the epiphany I’d had earlier, along with the presence of Marley on one side and Will on the other, fortified me.
Leaning to Marley’s ear, I whispered, “Jubbs was the nickname Jonas gave me in ninth. It’s a mix of James and Chubby. He thought of that himself. He’s very clever.”
If Marley had been concerned about my reaction to Jonas’s rudeness, my words reassured her, although her hold on me remained close and firm.
A few of the folks from Jonas’s table started drifting to ours.
“Oh, man, Jubbs. I can’t believe it’s you,” Connor said. “You look great!” His words rang with sincerity, and I realized he’d approached out of curiosity, not to inflict any damage. “Is this beautiful lady your wife?” He reached his hand to Marley. “Connor.”
Before I could reply, Marley did. Unmoved by his flattery. “I’m Marley. Not his wife. But I am here with him. And you should call him James.”
Connor blinked at the feisty woman at my side.
“Oh, shit. Of course.” He turned back to me. “Didn’t mean anything by it, dude. Uh, James. Sorry.”
“It’s cool,” I said.
I sensed Connor was about to launch into small talk when Jonas interjected himself into the conversation. “For fuck’s sake, do we need to have apologies overthat?”He slurred his words as he slapped his thigh. “It’s just a stupid nickname. Who cares about a stupid nickname?”
“Jonas—” Connor tried to cut off his former teammate.
“No, seriously, bro,” Jonas pushed Connor away and stumbled into the table. “We’re not allowed to mention how insane it is that fuckin’ Jubbs turned out to be all—” He waved his arm up and down in my direction. “This.”
Will directed an icy glare in Jonas’s direction. “What’s your point? Are you mad James is better looking than you now? Or is it just the reminder that the rest of us would like to move on from high school that has you drunk and making absolutely no sense at all?”
“I’m saying it’s just a nickname,” Jonas sneered.
Darby came over, leaving her companion to his phone.
“It’s a horrible nickname,” she said. “One that we should be ashamed of ever having used. The only excuse is that we were teenagers. There’s no excuse now.” Looking over at me, she continued. “I’m very glad you came tonight, James. And it’s fantastic to see you looking so well.”
“Jesus!” Jonas said. “We’re kissing Jubbs’s ass now?”
“Don’t call him that,” Connor said.
“It’s just a nickname!”
Marley and I stood silently, becoming a popcorn-eating meme as we watched my former classmates argue about whether it was a big deal for them to still call me by an insulting nickname. Code for how much they did or did not regret the past. Even though it was me being discussed, I had no place in this conversation. The teenager inside me thrilled at this further confirmation that their behavior a decade ago was athemproblem, not ameproblem.
Will got the final word in with Jonas. “You’re just mad because you have a failing business and a fresh divorce. You only came here tonight to remind yourself of being a superstar in high school. To feel big and important again. That’s why you’re pissed that the kids you picked on can’t be kicked around anymore. Grow up.”
As a divorced, first-year high school teacher living in a run-down apartment with my dog, I wasn’t necessarily someone to inspire envy. But as I saw Jonas cowering under the judgement of his former friend group, I reveled in my little, authentic life.
Jonas held his hands up. “Okay. Geesh. I won’t use the nickname.”
“It’s fine,” I piped in. “You don’t need to worry about what to call me because Marley and I actually have to leave.” I turned to Will. “I’ll be in touch. So glad we re-connected.”
“Likewise.”
