Jason

I meet up with Krys after work for drinks. Her boyfriend Luke joins us, which is good because I’m in no mood to talk about the office.

“Jason, how’s it goin?” Luke leans in to give me a bro hug, and Krys sighs dramatically. Her patience with Luke and me runs thin when we get together and talk about cycling, which happens often since we’re on a team that trains almost every Saturday morning. “How’s the hamstring?”

“It’s getting there. I should make the ride this weekend.”

“Nice,” he offers me a fist to bump, but I decline with a quick headshake when Krys kicks me under the table. She’s trying to break him of the habit.

We talk for almost an hour about bikes, friends, and Luke’s crazy sister, and I’ve got a nice gin and tonic buzz going until Krys puts her margarita glass down with a decisive thud and turns her full attention to me.

“So, Jase, you need to give us the dirt on you and Knox.”

The drink in my mouth turns sour. “What do you mean?”

“C’mon, Jesse saw you slam your office door in his face this morning. I thought you said you were gonna cool it with the hostility?”

“I didn’t slam the door in his face, I just…shut it firmly. And he was the one who started in on me.”

“About what? Seriously, what am I missing here?” She leans across the table, trapping me with her suspicious gaze. Krys isn’t dumb, and she knows when I’m keeping something from her. But I’m not sure I want to share the story of my past with Knox.

“Babe, lighten up a bit,” Luke says gently. “Remember what we said about boundaries?”

“But that doesn’t apply to Jason,” she says, shoving his shoulder with a grin. “He tells me everything.”

“Well, maybe not everything. I loosen my tie and undo my top shirt button. They definitely need to keep it cooler in this place.

“What, then? What are you keeping from me?” I look down and start to trace the wet ring of condensation my drink has left on the table.

“Ohmygod,” she gasps. “You two didn’t hook up or anything, did you? Is he gay? Did you guys do it? Tell me you didn’t do it.”

“Krysten,” Luke scolds, but he’s looking at me with raised eyebrows. Why the hell do I hang out with such nosy people?

“No, we didn’t hook up. We’re not in an episode of Degrassi. We just kind of have a history.”

“I knew it,” Krys squeals as she slaps the table in triumph. Luke shoots me an apologetic grimace. “What kind of history?” She demands.

“We dated in college, okay?” I slam back the last of my drink and look over my shoulder for the waiter. I think drink time is over. “It was no big deal.”

“So, he’s a college ex, huh? I can see how that could get awkward,” Luke says, trying to interrupt Kry’s line of questioning. “But I’m sure you guys will work it out.”

“But wait,” Krys says, and now she’s slurring her words a little, which means I’m not getting out of this conversation in one piece. “You said you only dated one guy in college. But Knox can’t be…”

She stops, a look of horror slowing spreading over her face. “Oh shit. No. Jason, no!”

“What?” Luke asks, his gaze bouncing between us. I just close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose.

“Group text guy?!” The couple at the next table stops to stare. God, I want out of here. “Knox is group text guy?!”

“Yes, Knox is group text guy, okay? Let’s not tell the entire bar just yet.”

“Wait, who’s group text guy?” Poor Luke is lost, but Krys is too busy humiliating me to care.

“Nobody, it’s nothing,” I murmur, waving my credit card in the air until our waiter finally arrives to deliver me from this fresh hell.

“How can you say that?” Krys demands, then turns to Luke and grabs his shoulders, staring deep into his eyes as she explains. “Group text guy is the guy who dated Jason for two years in college and then broke up with him in a group text! And now he’s Jason’s new boss!”

Luke looks at me, as if to verify Krys’ insane story. All I can do is nod mournfully.

“Jesus. What a dick.”

I nod in agreement, but Krys looks confused. “I just don’t get it. Knox seems so nice. I just can’t imagine him doing something like that.”

“Look, it was 8 years ago, guys. And there was a lot going on back then, so, you know, whatever. I just want to do my job and keep things professional.” The waiter has returned with my card, so I sign the receipt and start to leave.

“I’m sorry Jase,” Krys says, looking genuinely remorseful. “You know I don’t mean to be so nosy. And I promise I won’t give you any more grief about Knox. I didn’t know the whole story.”

“It’s okay,” I say, leaning in for a hug. “You’d better get some food in her,” I whisper to Luke over her shoulder. He nods knowingly and we say our goodbyes.

I decide I’ve had one too many drinks to drive home, so I call a car and scroll through my phone as I wait on the sidewalk. It’s not until I close my email app that I notice two texts from Knox.

I delete both without reading them before jumping in my Uber to go home.