Ben Stewart

Molly stood, watching her fiancé’s animated retelling of how he proposed. Cameron smiled and laughed, waving his hands, and looking each person in the eye. No doubt delivering keen wit along with the good-natured self-deprecation of a master storyteller. Maria looked especially drawn in as she stood at his side, smiling, and nodding along. 

Her fiancé. Just thinking the words filled her with warmth from her toes to the roots of her hair. Molly would have liked to join him and soak up her share of the congratulations. But she’d never been much of a conversationalist and decided to admire from afar, saving them both the embarrassment of whatever nonsensical blather she might spit out.

She wondered what her parents would think about their future son-in-law. Speechless, maybe? How could they not be impressed? Was there anything that Cameron didn’t do well? She wouldn’t have been surprised to find out he’d never missed plugging in a USB on the first try. 

“Not joining in on the fun?” It was Liam with a smile that showed nearly every tooth but managed to make him look more crazed than happy. 

“Talking to people is his thing.”  

 “Oh, I’m well aware.” Liam said, “When we were kids, he could talk himself out of anything. It’s truly amazing the stuff he got away with.” He took a pull from his cup, “But I guess trouble just rolls off some people, eh?”

“I guess so.” Molly said into her cup, not interested in taking a conversation with Liam further than was necessary. 

Liam motioned to those gathered around Cameron, “Maria seems happy about your engagement. I’m honestly surprised there isn’t more… tension between the two of them given their history.”

Molly felt a coldness wash over, all warmth suddenly snuffed out. “What?”

“Oh, it’s just rumor mostly, but they used to be quite close and,” Liam leaned in, “They were together.” He smiled and took another drink, “I’m sure Cameron told you all about that. A previous relationship with a coworker is hardly something you want to keep hidden from your future wife.” 

The room seemed to tilt under Molly’s feet. Why hadn’t Cameron mentioned he was involved with Maria? Not that she cared, not at all of course, but it would have been good to know. When they discussed wedding plans, he’d even jokingly mentioned having Maria in the wedding party. The joke didn’t seem so funny now. 

She felt a surge of anger and barely stopped herself from biting Liam’s face as she leaned toward him. Molly hissed the words through a fixed smile. “If I find out that you’re spreading lies, I’ll put you on your fat ass.”

He only smiled wider, looking rather pleased with himself. Liam was the type of person who considered anything but being ignored as a win. “I don’t know why you’re mad at me. I’m not the one that fucked your fiancé.”

He left her standing there, drink in hand, watching Cameron add the final flourishes to whatever story he was telling, one hand chopping down while the other sloshed beer over the rim of his cup. Maria stood next to him and nodded along, a big dumb smile on her face. The sight didn’t fill her with the same warmth as a moment before.