Playing Favorites

“Which tie do you like?”

Jonah stood with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist and a tie in each hand.

It was Saturday night and we were getting ready to go out to dinner with Adam and Kadie. The four of us would always go out on double dates, but since Adam became partner of his law firm, Kadie started her own PR company, and Jonah became the new host of the Late Night show, we couldn't really find the time. That is until Kadie forced an outing in hopes to get things with her and Adam back on track.

“The checkered one. It makes your eyes pop.” I stood leaning my head out of the bathroom. I was in the middle of doing my makeup when he called for my attention.

“Really?” Jonah examined the tie. He shrugged his shoulder and put the argyle tie back into his closet.

I layered my eyelashes with one last coat of mascara and threw my makeup into my bag. By the time I walked back into Jonah's room he was already wearing a pair of black skinny slacks with an untucked button up shirt. He stood staring down at himself as he tied his tie.

“Do you need help?” I laughed at how childish he looked.

“No” He bit his lip as he looped his tie around. “I almost...” He pulled at it until it formed into a perfect knot “...got it!” He held out his hands and smiled as if he'd done a magic trick.

I rolled my eyes and smiled. “Hurry up Harvard, we're gonna be late!” I picked up his sweater and threw it at him as he tucked his shirt into his slacks.

The sun had just set over the Hudson river when we made it to dinner. Jonah and I waited in the restaurant's lobby since Adam and Kadie hadn't made it yet.

“See” Jonah whispered to me, “I told you we wouldn't be late.”

Just then Kadie and Adam came walking in.

“Sorry to keep y'all waiting” Kadie said as she leaned in to hug me then Jonah. “Adam's been busy with a case all day today.”

“No worries” I smiled. “We just barely got here.”

The hostess took us around to a more intimate part of the restaurant and sat us down.

“I'm so sorry to bother you, but I'm such a huge fan!” Our hostess, who managed to keep her cool the entire time, finally cracked. “Your even more handsome in person!”

“Oh!” Kadie smiled and nudged Jonah as she dusted her napkin onto her lap.

Jonah blushed. “Thank you.” He paused for a second. “Are you liking the show?”

“Like it? I love it!” She cupped her hand around her fist excitedly. The grin on her face was from ear to ear. “You're doing a great job! You're so funny!”

“You're not gonna need a restraining order, are you Jonah?” Kadie laughed as she audibly whispered to Jonah.

He gave her disapprovingly look.

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have...” The girl felt flustered. She pushed her hair behind her ear and began walking away.

“Wait” Jonah stopped her. “What's your name?”

“Stephanie” she fiddled with her fingers as she spoke.

Jonah stood up from his chair. “It was nice meeting you, Stephanie.” He held out his hand for her to shake. She looked up at him and her eyes filled with excitement once again.

She took his hand and pulled out her phone with the other. “Can I take a selfie?”

“Sure, bud!” Jonah crouched down until they were at the same height and she snapped a picture. She thanked him profusely before she turned around and disappeared.

Jonah came back to our table and sat down. His smile vanished as he spoke to Kadie “That wasn't nice.”

“Oh, come on” She laughed. “It was hardly a joke.”

“She's just a kid. You didn't need to be so harsh.” Jonah said without looking at her.

Kadie put her menu down and looked at me like Jonah was crazy. “A kid? She looks well over 18!”

“Kadie!” Adam's voice cut across the table. “What's gotten into you?”

Normally, I wouldn't have said anything. It wasn't a big enough issue to cause problems over, but I knew things between Adam and Kadie had been a bit rocky lately, so I tried to defend her. I didn't want them to have more reasons to argue.

“It was just a joke. Let's try to move past it.”

“Thank you!” Kadie huffed as she picked her menu back up.

After a few seconds of silent menu reading Adam and Jonah started having their own conversation.

I leaned over to Kadie and quietly asked her how things were going between her and Adam.

“It's fine, I guess” She shrugged her shoulders as she whispered. “He said trust is something that needs to be built back up when it's torn down. So, that's where we're at...” She leaned her chin on her hand.

Most of the night was spent talking over one another until Adam and I decided to switch seats, so he and Jonah could talk while Kadie and I talked. It wasn't exactly what either one of us had planned, but the boys seemed to have enjoyed their time together.

The night was cut short when Adam had gotten a call from one of his clients.

Jonah and I headed home in hopes to spend the rest of the night in bed with a Netflix movie.

I sat on Jonah's bed as I took my heels off. Jonah stood in the doorway tugging his sweater off over his head. “Jon, you really didn't need to be so rough with Kadie tonight.”

He pulled his sweater off and looked at me with disbelief. “You're kidding right?”

“No, Jonah, I'm not. She's going through something major right now. You should have just let it slide” I stood up and gestured for Jonah to unzip my dress.

He stood behind me as he slowly pulled the zipper down. “Lynn, she acted rude in front of someone who supports me. Regardless if it was a joke she hurt someone's feelings for no apparent reason. And what she's going through is solely her doing.”

“What?” Jonah wasn't done unzipping my dress before I turned around and looked at him. I hadn't completely filled him in on the situation between Kadie and Adam, so I was surprised when I heard him taking sides. “Yes, what she did was wrong, but she's trying to make it right. What has Adam been telling you?”

“Nothing!” Jonah ignored the question. He tried to step behind me to finish unzipping my dress, but I turned around and faced him again. “I mean, she's pretty much getting her way isn't she? She has no respect for others.”

“What is that suppose to mean?” I folded my arms.

He realized I didn't need his help any longer and continued on with undressing himself. “Let's see....” He unbuttoned his shirt with every point he made. “She disrespected Poppy by using her, which I know doesn't matter, she disrespected Adam by going behind his back and against his wishes, she disrespected you by not listening to her “best friend”” He said, using air quotations. “...and then tonight. She does this to everyone and then she apologizes so she can continue on saying outrageous things without having any consequences.”

“I can't believe you think that of her.” I shook my head. I instinctually felt angry that someone was talking about my best friend. But, more upset that it was Jonah.  “Sure she's made a few mistakes, but she's a good person, Jonah. She's my friend since childhood. We're practically the same person.”

“Ha!” Jonah laughed out loud as he stripped down to his boxers. He walked into his closet to grab a t-shirt and pulled it on over his head. “I would think twice before comparing myself to her if I were you, Lynn.”