"No, no..that's not me," Tristan cracked up when Jade showed him the pic on her phone.
Funny or was it peculiar they were here at Mel's waiting for pizza at the same time. He looked back at the snow falling ever so gentle. God, he hated driving in the first snows of the season. That truck of his just didn't know how to react. Well, maybe it was Tristan behind the wheel.
"What?" She was adamant that was him in that goofy picture.
"That's your husband Ari," Tristan looked at her as if she had to snap out of it. It wasn't like he saw Jade often. Maybe he did his best not to see her. He didn't want to think about her.
"It can't be."
She looked at him and then the pic on her phone.
"I know why you fell in love with him," Tristan beamed as if he would always be an arse you couldn't forget. "It's because he looks like me. But we're nothing alike. And you know that. And I am very happy we are nothing alike."
He knew he was smiling too much. He checked his receipt, wishing the pizza would arrive, but Dale ordered a veggie. He had to have his Italian sausage.
Thankfully, Jade snapped out of it. He wasn't going to ask if she was just getting mellow.
"Things are good, right, with you two?" Tristan managed to ask. Jade nodded as she stood there looking at her phone and the picture as if she was trying to figure out the memory of it.
"My sister is having a baby."
Jade didn't sound herself.
"She and James are finally gonna do it?" Tristan remembered their dog more than he did the couple.
"No. It's not with James." She swelled a frown as if she might miss him more than she would ever admit.
Tristan nodded, thinking he could say nothing worse. He looked out the store window. God, he wished the snow would stop. He felt a little frozen already, but he was kind of in a tizzy or just in a hurry.
"Well, you're gonna be an Aunt," Tristan smiled like a fool. He told her. "I'm going to be an uncle."
"Yeah, Liv will be so surprised that I talked to you," Jade looked up at him with almost a smirk.
"Really?" Tristan squinted with a laugh. He didn't even know Jade knew his sister Liv.
This is a fantastic scene Ellie !
ReplyDeleteYou've captured the tension and
awkwardness between Tristan and Jade perfectly.
The subtle humor and underlying sadness create a really compelling dynamic.
I can't wait to see how this story unfolds🧡🌲⛄