Of Friends and Lovers

Obviously things with Chloe didn't work out as I had hoped.  I was feeling pretty shitty about it too. I had eaten a whole pint of Ben & Jerry's and didn't feel any happier. (Of course, I would run about five miles tomorrow to make up for it.) On top of the heartache from my cheating ex-girlfriend, I had received an invitation for Kerry's wedding.

While Kerry hadn't exactly been a girlfriend, she had been something and I apparently still had feelings for her.  I contemplated ripping the green and white ivy invitation into little, itty, bitty pieces, but I knew that wouldn't make me feel any better. The candle across the room seemed like a better idea...or maybe the subway tracks.

The phone rang. It was Kerry. "Hey Ruby, I just wanted to make sure you got the invitation to our wedding," she said cheerfully.

"Uh, yeah. Congrats!" I said as cheerfully as I could. "I like the...er...Ivy."

"Hey, Rubes. I really need you there," Kerry said. "I know we haven't been close these past few months, but I really miss you and you are like my best girlfriend. Please come."

"Of course I'll be there for you," I said and regretted it instantly. It was like Kerry plunged an imaginary knife right through the phone and into my heart.

"You know, it wouldn't have worked out for us, if we had tried," Kerry said softly. "I'm sorry about, you know, what happened. I'm not a lesbian, but you know I did have feeling for you."

"Kerry, let's put that behind us," I said. "You are getting married and ...my other line is ringing. I'll call you back later, OK?"

"OK. Bye babe," she said.

Then I picked up the other line without checking. BIG MISTAKE. I instantly wished I had an emergency chute like that Jet Blue steward. "Hello?"

"Ruby, hey," said Chloe. "I'm sorry. I want to be friendssss...."

I hung up the phone, put away the ice cream and went to the gym. -Ruby