Status Update

“Lynn! Kadie!”

A shrill came from the distance. We looked up to find Sarah and Henry standing in the doorway of Kadie's apartment.

The last week had flown by. I missed a couple of group sessions in order to ensure everything was ready for Kadie's engagement party, which was only days away.

In the midst of losing our hair over party planning and decorating Kadie's new office, we pulled an afternoon out of our schedule to hang out with Sarah and Henry, who had just flown back into town after spending the summer visiting their family back home in London.

“Sarah! Henry!” Kadie and I both shouted back in unison.

We jumped off the couch and raced over to immerse ourselves in hugs.

“Oh my God! Your hair!” Kadie shrieked as she tousled Sarah's brown hair, which was normally blonde, in her hands. “I love it!”

“Thank you!” Sarah chirped “I thought it'd be a nice little change.”

Henry giggled to himself, “Yeah, nice little change for Oliver, who just so happens to love brunettes.”

“Ohhh” Kadie and I sang teasingly.

“Oh, shut up” Sarah pushed Henry away and walked into Kadie's living room.

The three of us made ourselves comfortable on the couches while Kadie grabbed some drinks and snacks from the kitchen. She set the tray of goodies onto the coffee table and joined us.

“So who's this Oliver?” I asked poking Sarah on the side of her ribs.

“Nobody” She leaned forward to grab her drink off the table. “Just the most gorgeous guy who lives and works at his own company in London, whom I'll never see again.” She took a sip before she continued. “He also just happens to be the guy I had a romantic affair with all summer.”

“What!” Kadie and I straightened our posture and snapped our heads towards Sarah. “Come on! You have to give us details!”

“There really isn't much to tell”, she said calmly. “I met him at a gala a week or so after we'd gotten to London. Henry approved of him, which is rare...”

“True” Henry shook his head in realization.

“...We “hooked up” as you Americans say. But, neither one of us is in a situation to have a serious long distance relationship, so we agreed to keep it light for the summer.” She shrugged as if it were no big deal. But it was. It was a huge deal. For as long as we'd known Sarah she never even paid any mind to the guys who would try to even flirt with her. “But enough about me! I want to know about the proposal!” She reached over me, grabbing at Kadie's hand, to admire her ring.

Kadie told them the whole story. Sarah and Henry gasped and awed throughout. We filled them in on the party status and everything that went on in between.

“I just knew you and Adam would be perfect for each other!” Sarah clapped her hands together excitedly.

“I remember being so jealous, in a good way, of what Lynn and Jonah had. The way he'd look at her..” She sighed heavily “I wanted it so badly, but I'd always have my guards up. I'm so glad you guys pushed me. I would have missed out on the perfect guys if I didn't stop being so stubborn.” I caught Kadie looking at me. She quickly glanced away. I knew she was trying to send an underlying message to me.

“Speaking of, are you two back together? Or did you go crawling back to Doctor Steamy?” Henry asked me. I guess I wasn't the only one to catch Kadie's hint.

“No, I'm giving myself a break. Honestly, it's been a nice stress-free summer without having to deal with any relationship drama.” I folded my arms, one over the other.

“When you're done with those whole act, can you please just give Jonah a chance?” Kadie's voice was harsh, almost as if she were demanding it rather than asking.

“Oh, come on, Lynn. Throw the guy a bone.” Sarah chimed in. “He's coming to the engagement party, right? Why don't you ask him to come with you. Maybe the night will end in a nice steamy little affair.” She shimmied her shoulders as she winked at me.

“See” Kadie whispered to me. “I told you engagement party hookups is a thing!”

“You know, I'm really glad to know none of you cared about Connor.”

Henry held up his hand “For the record, I still think you should be with Doctor McHotterson. He's the bad boy a snooze like you needs in her life.”

“Thanks...I think?” I squinted my eyes in confusion. “You two are nagging at me. What about Henry” I pointed to him. “What's your deal with Jebrone?”

“Yeah Henry, what's your deal with Jebrone?” Kadie folder her arms and arched her eyebrows.

“Things were rocky before we left, I'll admit. But,” He gave me a sharp look before he continued, “The distance away from each other gave us some time to think. And as of last night, we are officially back together.”

The four of us continued to catch up with each others summer vacation until Adam had gotten home. We went out to dinner, were Jebrone had met us, and finally called it a night.

The next morning I figured I skipped enough group sessions to make me feel guilty and decided to go.

I got to the Park a little early. So far Jonah was the only one there. He always came early to take a few extra laps around the park.

I wanted to continue living my carefree single life, but the things Sarah and Kadie said the night before kept me tossing and turning,

He saw me in the distance and came my way, stopping a few feet away. “You're here!” he exclaimed.

“Why wouldn't I be?”

“I don't know” Jonah shrugged his shoulders. “There was this nasty rumor going around that you can't handle the heat.”

“Was that nasty rumor started by you?” I asked with one eye brow raised.

“Maybe” Jonah sang teasingly.

“Can I just remind you I was doing these sessions a whole month before you even got here.” I said, matter-of-factly.

“Oh, wow, a whole month?” Jonah smiled, jokingly.

We walked over to the main field and sat at a bench that was close by. Jonah told me everything that had been going on in the group sessions that I missed. I asked him about Kylie, but he avoided answering the question.

“So, there was actually something I wanted to ask you.” I fumbled with my fingers as I stared down in my lap. We saw Jeff entering the park, so we both stood up.

I had given it a lot of thought. I didn't want to jump into anything, but I knew where I wanted to end up. So, I took Kadie and Sarah's advice. “Since, we're both going to the engagement party, I was uh...” Jonah's eyes looked over my shoulder. I turned around to see Kylie approaching us. I knew I had to hurry up and ask. “If, uh, you'd like to go together? Maybe?”

“Oh, um...” Jonah hesitated to answer immediately. I furrowed my brows, unsure why he wasn't quick to accept the invite. “There's something I need to tell you.”

Before he could say anything else Kylie walked up to us. “Lynn! You're back!” She hugged me and then proceeded to Jonah. It looked like she was about to hug him when suddenly she began to tippy toe.

I watched in confusion as she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.