I Held My Own Umbrella and Walked Away

"Ah... so good to see you, so good to see you. Sit, sit down."

"That's all right. I have somewhere to be."

Summer stood up.

"Bonnie, take my seat."

Justin glanced at the chair and lowered his voice.

"That spot's for the faculty advisor. Don't go switching things around."

Then he turned and gave me a smile.

"Bonnie, you sit here for now."

Summer sat back down in her place.

"I really do have to go. Enjoy your dinner."

I turned and walked out of the private room.

The hallway was quiet.

I hadn't gone far when I heard quick footsteps behind me, and Justin grabbed my arm and stopped me.

"Bonnie, are you still upset?"

He kept his voice low, irritation in it.

"The advisor set up this dinner tonight, and Summer's on the project team too. Can't you be a little more sensible? Could you save some face for me in front of people like this?"

I looked at him, calm.

"Justin, I wasn't being difficult, was I?"

"Did I lose my temper, or make a scene?"

"I'm not even allowed to leave when I don't want to be there?"

He froze for a second, and his words came out a little stumbling.

"That's not..."

"Not what? Weren't you in there to keep an eye on Summer? So why did you come out?"

"That was just talk, for show. My friend was joking and I went along with it. Stuff said at the table doesn't mean anything."

"Is that so." I smiled. "Then do you remember sophomore year, when I had acute appendicitis? What did you say to me?"

Justin's face went white.

I said it for him.

"You said, Bonnie, you're not a toddler, I'm really busy today."

His mouth opened.

"That time I was studying for finals... I really was."

"Mm. You were very busy." I cut him off softly and brushed his hand off my arm. "Go back inside. Don't keep your childhood friend waiting."

"Bonnie, it's all just talk. Can't you tell the difference?"

Justin's face darkened.

"When did you get so petty."

I looked at his angry face and said nothing.

I just turned and walked out of the restaurant.

For the next few days, Justin didn't contact me.

Not until Friday.

It was our fourth year together.

Justin called after me.

"Seven o'clock tonight. The riverside restaurant."

He sighed, pinched my cheek, all indulgence.

"I know you've been in a bad mood these past few days. Let me take you somewhere nice."

I paused. It was as good a time as any to say goodbye.

"All right."

Six thirty in the evening.

Justin was already sitting at the table by the window.

I had just sat down when a familiar voice came from the doorway.

"Justin!"

Summer came trotting over in a dress, and her steps stuttered when she saw me.

"Bonnie's here too? Justin, didn't you say it was just dinner and we'd go over my second-round exam materials while we were at it?"

Justin stiffened for an instant.

But he recovered quickly and pulled out a chair.

"You're already here. Just eat with us."

Summer looked at the roses on the table.

"Bad timing on my part. Justin, why didn't you say something sooner?"

"Sit down. It's not some big occasion, just a meal."

In the end, she sat.

When the food came, Justin smoothly ordered several of the dishes Summer liked.

Halfway through the meal he took out a box and set it on the table.

I recognized that box. The Bulgari bracelet.

The one Summer liked too.

He opened it, then pushed it across to me.

"Fourth-anniversary gift."

Summer saw it too, and broke into a smile.

"I just mentioned once in passing that this one was pretty, and Justin remembered. The style goes with everything. Bonnie, you'll look great in it."