Zoey’s mousy voice cut through the room. “Well, since we’re being honest here, when did you and Marty hook up?” Zoey shoved the digestive in her mouth.
Marty widened her eyes at Zoey, and Aoife covered her mouth to hide her laugh. I narrowed my eyes at Marty. “What? Marty, you’re dating Scott?” I played dumb to save Zoey’s confidentiality. Owen and Jaime continued eating, awkwardly shoveling food into their mouths and staring at their plates.
“Uh, not dating.”
“Just screwing?” Zoey’s voice carried a flame and I sensed a forest fire building.
Marty looked at Scott for guidance, but he stared at his beer can.
“That’s none of your business,” she said. She stood from the table and tried to walk away, but our apartment didn’t provide privacy. She awkwardly paced the room, gathering her sweatshirt and throwing it over her top. “At least I’m not sleeping with my roommate.” She looked from Zoey to Jaime, and Jaime covered his eyes.
“What’s it matter to you? I’m in love and not afraid to show it.” Zoey crossed her arms over her chest, daring Marty to question her further.
I looked at Marissa, whose pale face and stiff movements told me this was news to her.
Scott looked at Marty, throwing her a quizzical look. “Zoey’s sleeping with Jaime,” Marty summarized.
I slammed my glass down and looked at Zoey. Her face turned white, and she dropped her biscuit, racing down the long hallway.
Jaime shook his head before marching over to Marty. “This is fecking shite,” he yelled. Marty’s steely eyes didn’t break.
Marissa stood from the table and dashed down the hall to her bedroom. I stumbled from my stool and followed her. “Marissa, wait,” I called.
We found Zoey in their bedroom, out of breath and struggling to form her words. “Marissa, it’s not true. Rory, I swear. It was a misunderstanding.”
Marissa pulled her legs into her chest and held them close like a protective bubble. She raised her eyes, and wetness coated her cheeks.
“I swear, Marissa, I was talking about you. I love you. I told Marty last night in the pub that I hooked up with my roommate because she confided that she was sleeping with Scott. I had to build her trust, so I told her about us. She assumed it was Jaime, I swear!” She looked at both of us, her face honest but concerned.
Something inside me snapped and I couldn’t allow them to ruin our Thanksgiving. I marched back into the living room and found Marty and Scott huddled in the corner with Jaime cleaning the kitchen, watching them like a hawk. Owen and Aoife sat at the table speaking quietly to themselves. Jaime’s eyes reminded me to be careful, and I nodded my head in strength. Marty and Scott’s invisible bubble was no longer protected from the wrath of Rory.
“What the fuck, Marty. I knew he was a loser, but I didn’t expect that from you.” She stood from the couch and my eyes focused on the bridge of her nose.
“You broke up with him.”
“Why’d you invite him here? You’re a manipulative, calculating bitch. I can’t believe I called you my best friend.”
“You needed me and I needed you. It was a mutually beneficial friendship. Sure, Scott and I are dating, but it’s not like we’re getting married. We’re just having fun. You two never had a real relationship, anyway.”
Shocked at her dismissal of the previous year, I picked up her coat and threw it at her. “Because he never returned any of my emails!” Surprised, the sleeve hit her in the face and fell to the floor. “Get out, you crazy bitch. You’re not welcome here. And you, you piece of shit, were never welcome in the first place.”
I stormed out of the room and attended to Zoey, whose tears had dried. “Zoey,” I huffed. “You’re beautiful, and brave, and amazing. Seeing your honesty inspired me. I refuse to let people walk all over me, anymore. It’s bullshit, and I’m sick of it.” I pulled her against me and whispered, “Thank you.”
The front door slammed shut, and heavy footsteps traveled down the hall. A gentle knock sounded on the other side of the door before it opened. “Everyone’s gone.” Jaime sat on the edge of Zoey’s bed. “Are you guys okay?”
I nodded. “Where’d they go?”
“Owen and Aoife went home. They said they’d check in with us later. They didn’t know what they were walking into today.”
A giggle erupted out of me and transitioned into a laugh, and then a belly guffaw. “What a ridiculous day.” A small smile spread across my lips, and I leaned against his shoulder. “Where did Scott and Marty go?”
“They left. I told them the main office could call them a cab, and there was a youth hostel in the city center.”
Guilt mixed with satisfaction. “Jaime, I don’t know how you do it, but you saved me again.”
His soft lips met mine and I blushed under the public display in front of our roommates. “You did it Rory. I was just following your lead.”
Chapter 33
