Take a Breath(21)

“Ana, is that you?”

A sob escapes me, I can’t help it.

“Ana, what’s wrong? Do you want me to come over? Ana, are you hurt? Talk to me?”

“Sorry to trouble you, Jessie, I didn’t know what else to do.”

Jessie sighed. “Ana, you’re my best friend. If there is something bothering you I want it to be me that you come to for help. I know I can be a bit of a handful and joke around and shit, but if you need me I’m here. That’s what friends are for, right?”

I let out another sob as her words settle in. “Thanks, Jessie.”

She takes a deep breath. “Now tell me, Missy. How can Auntie Jessie help you today?”

I laugh down the phone already feeling a little better.

“I’m in love Jessie.”

The sudden words flying out my mouth feel a huge weight off my shoulders.

“So what has this asshole done? He’s obviously done something to you as you wouldn’t be ringing me in tears. Give me his address and I’ll go round and rip his throat out. Do I know him? Who is he, and why have you not told me about him before?”

Oh no, of course she was going to ask me that.

“It’s complicated, Jessie. I can’t say.”

She sighs again, “He’s married isn’t he? Ana, don’t get mixed up with married men, you’ll only get heartache at the end of it and there are so many single men out there you can pick—”

I have to stop her. “Jessie, it’s okay. He’s not married exactly, it’s just complicated. Please just trust me enough that I can’t tell you who it is, but that I need your help. Please.”

I hear her clear her throat, “Okay, Ana. I don’t like it but I won’t push you. Can I ask at least what happened?”

My head spins, where do I start?

“I have liked this person for a while and I have just recently found out he likes me, too—well at least I think he does—but every time I think we are getting somewhere he pushes me away. I’m exhausted with it and don’t know what else to do.”

I feel a bit better knowing I have at least shared some of the burden now.

“Can I at least ask if this person will be at the party tomorrow?”

I forgot all about that. Jake is having a barbecue tomorrow afternoon and has invited a lot of the gang over. My stomach ties in knots with the thought of it now.

“I believe he is coming, yes.”

I hate lying to her about this but I can’t tell her the truth. It’s just too much.

“Well then, Missy, I know exactly what you need to do. Tomorrow morning you are going to go out and pamper yourself silly, get a facial, get your hair done, nails, the lot. Then I want you to buy yourself a knockout dress. Afterwards you will go to this party, knock everyone's socks off—including this asshole—and you will flirt with every man except him, until he realises what he’s missing. You got that?”

I can’t help but laugh. “You said all that without taking a breath, Jessie.”

She snorts, “Well, he’s an asshole, whoever he is.”

“You said that three times already,” I chuckle, feeling much better.

“Well, he is,” she says, defiantly.

I feel sad and thinking out loud I say, “I wish you were coming tomorrow.”

“Me too,” she sighs. “I can’t get out of this. My mom will kill me if I miss my cousin's wedding. I’m sure you will be fine. Are you going to take Auntie Jessie’s advice?”

I’m thinking that I will. I feel suddenly pissed off with Jake and I would like to teach him a bit of a lesson. I just hope it works.

“I think I will, Jessie, thanks for that. I feel a lot better. I’ll text you either Saturday night or Sunday morning and let you know how I got on.”

I can hear movement in the background.

“Okay, Ana, as long as it’s not too early Sunday. Look I got to go now; I have to start packing so I can get to Williamsburg by tonight. Speak soon okay and keep your chin up girl.”

I know what’s coming next so we say in unison, “And don’t let the bastards get you down.”

We both laugh together, “See, that’s better. Now take care of yourself, Ana, you hear me?”

I roll my eyes, “Yes, Auntie Jessie. Now go have fun and be careful on the roads.”

Traffic can be terrible on the 495.

We say our goodbyes and I think of Jessie’s plan. I have been saving money for a while now so I can get my own place. I would like to own my own home rather than renting, so I have been trying like mad to get a deposit gathered. On the other hand, I haven’t treated myself for a while and it has been a long time since I got a hair cut or went shopping. I look across to the floor at my ripped bikini bottoms. I suppose I will need to get a new swimsuit now, too. My heart sinks again.