“Ha-ha,” my buddy chortles before rolling her eyes. “I have food at my own house too, don’t you forget. I just thought it’d be nice to pay a visit to my best friend, but I had no idea I was going to have to watch you scarf up peanut butter with pizza while I was here,” she cringes, wrinkling her nose. “That’s so weird. And gross. Very gross.”
“Don’t knock it until you try it,” I smile sassily, pushing the jar of peanut butter over to her. “I thought it’d be disgusting too, but for some reason, the craving struck and it’s really good. Greasy pepperoni with creamy, salty PB? Perfect,” I say with an exaggerated smack of my lips.
Vanessa just stares at the jar of Jif with horror.
“Gross,” is all she states again. “Totally putrid and disgusting.”
I giggle.
“Just try it,” I enthuse. “I swear, you’ll like it!”
My friend rolls her eyes, but then turns to me with a smile.
“Okay, PB aside, how’s it going with Mr. McDreamy? Give me all the deets.”
I giggle again before taking another big bite of PB-slathered pizza.
“Good,” I say. “Jeremiah’s amazing in the sack, and I swear, I walk away wobbly every time. He likes giving it to me in the ass you know,” I confide with a wink.
My friend merely points her finger at her mouth.
“Ugh, so gross again. Why are you telling me this? I know, I know. It’s because you’re dating the most gorgeous guy in Sugar. Hell, the most gorgeous guy in Texas!”
I giggle again because it’s true. Jeremiah gets looks everywhere he goes, and sometimes I have to pinch myself because I’m the lucky woman who gets to be with him. But then I grow serious.
“Yeah, and he’s really amazing, and not just in bed either. Honestly, Jeremiah’s smart and I feel like I learn something new from every conversation that we have. But he’s not like one of those people who shoves how smart they are in your face with a holier-than-thou attitude. He’s humble and never tries to force it, even though I’m not exactly the most educated girl out there. A lot of guys in his position probably wouldn’t even date a woman without a college degree, but it’s never even come up for us.”
Vanessa’s brown eyes go wide as she nods.
“OMG, that’s so important. I hate those guys who always have their noses stuck in the air. Plus, you’re right, it’s important because he makes you feel like an equal, which you are, of course.”
I nod.
“And Jeremiah’s incredibly successful too. I still can’t believe that I’m talking to a guy who has his own law practice, and who’s running for mayor! It’s insane! But he’d make a great mayor, definitely. I’m fully confident in his ability to do a good job.”
“Yeah, I believe you,” Vanessa sighs while popping a slice of pepperoni in her mouth. “I mean, you really hit it out of the park, Gins, dating this guy. But how did you guys meet again?” she asks curiously. “I feel like you guys knew each other before the fundraiser. It’s just a feeling, nothing more.”
This is my opportunity to come clean, but I avoid it like all hell.
“No, no, it was during that campaign event,” I say quickly. “That’s when we first laid eyes on each other.”
“Hmm,” Vanessa says, shooting me a speculative look. Oh shit, my friend knows me too well, and if she grills me, I know I’m going to have to tell the truth. But before she can speak, suddenly nausea strikes and I’m flinging myself out of my chair and taking off toward the bathroom with my hand covering my mouth. I don’t know why, but all of a sudden, the pizza with peanut butter is coming up the wrong way.
“Rauuuugh,” I barf into the toilet as tears sting my eyes. “Uuuugggh!”
My stomach churns revoltingly, and then another stream of brown and green gunk hits the porcelain bowl.
“Ginny, are you okay?” my friend gasps, running in behind me. When she sees me crouched over with my head halfway in the toilet, the curvy brunette gasps and grabs my hair, holding it back as she rubs my back. “Just relax,” she soothes. “Let it all out and it’ll be over soon.”
It feels like an hour, but after a few minutes, I’m able to sit back as Vanessa fills a cup with mouthwash and hands it to me. I silently thank her before gargling and spitting it out.
“I’m sorry,” I croak, my throat burning and causing me to let out another groan. “I don’t know what happened. I just started feeling sick all of a sudden and then I had to puke.”
Vanessa nods, her brown eyes wide as she bites her lip.
“I know, but are you…well, you know…?”
It takes a few moments for me to comprehend what she’s asking, but once I do, my eyes become saucers.