Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It(90)

“I’m not being shy.” His hand is slightly clammy in mine. Something’s going on.

We walk in silence the rest of the way, until Jonathan stops short on the sidewalk in front of Jeffery’s.

“Dude,” he grunts as he collides with a blurry figure speeding out the front door. “I told you we were on our way!”

“I needed air,” a male voice protests, hidden behind Jonathan. I can’t see him, but I don’t need to. I’d know his voice anywhere.

“Ethan?” I take a few steps forward and feast my eyes on my very flushed, very sweaty brother-in-law.

“Surprise?” He shrugs, looking at Jonathan apologetically.

A woman in a cream-colored maxi dress bursts through the door before I have time to process his presence.

“Mom?”

She raises her hands in the air admonishingly toward Ethan. “What did I tell you?”

“I was suffocating in there,” he explains. “It’s so hot. And stuffy.” He turns toward me. “Phoebe, I don’t know how you spend hours in there. I was about to pass out.”

Mom shakes her head in disapproval before turning her attention toward Jonathan. “There he is.” Her eyes soften as she opens her arms. “Get over here, you.”

Jonathan scoops her into a bear hug. “It’s great to see you, Jodi. Sorry we’re a little late.” He shoots daggers at me and Matthew.

“Don’t apologize,” she responds. “I could never be upset with you.” Ethan rolls his eyes.

“And you!” She strides over to Matthew and places her hands on his shoulders. “Jonathan told me you’d be here. I’m just thrilled to see you again.”

“I’m very happy to be here.” Matthew smiles nervously.

I clear my throat.

Mom finally turns in my direction. “There’s my birthday girl!” She kisses me on the head. “Happy thirtieth, sweetheart.”

“Let’s go inside,” Jonathan suggests, opening the front door to the bar and motioning everyone in. Ethan groans as he leads the charge. I follow, disoriented.

“Surprise!”

There are balloons everywhere. At least thirty of them. Alex and Meg are standing on top of a table holding a handmade Happy Birthday sign in between them. Jamie is standing next to a table full of food. My dad is already eating from it. Everyone from work is here: Cheryl, Teacher Rob, Jane, Sue, Shannon. Finn. There’s an iPad propped up by Meg’s feet with Nora on it. A handful of other friends from college and Alex’s gay poker league fill up the rest of the room, including but not limited to Hot Craig and Regular Craig.

“Oh!” I don’t know where to look first. I find myself running toward Jamie and throwing my arms around her. “What are you all doing here?” I move to hug my dad next. And then my friends. The iPad. My coworkers. I don’t stop until I’ve hugged everyone in the room. I’ve never had a surprise party before, and I am totally and completely dumbfounded and overflowing with gratitude.

“I feel so loved,” I announce to the room. “Thank you all for coming out at five o’clock on a Wednesday.”

“Did you do this?” I ask Jonathan when I find my way back to him and Matthew.

“It was a team effort.” He nods, and then nudges Matthew. “He helped me set up.” I hug them both.

“You’re being thrown into the deep end,” I tell Matthew, apologetically.

He shrugs. “I’m a strong swimmer.”

I reach out for him but stop short when I feel a hand ruffle my hair. “Hi, Dad.” I lean into his arm. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Do you really think I would miss your thirtieth?” He raises his eyes and looks at Matthew inquisitively.

“Dad, you know Matthew.” I clear my throat. “He was the photographer at Jamie’s wedding, remember?”

“You came all this way to take pictures?” he asks.

“I—Uh—” Matthew stammers. I hide my eyes.

“I’m just teasing,” Dad says. Matthew and I exhale at the same time. “It’s good to see you again, Matthew.”

When he thinks Matthew and I aren’t listening, Dad turns to Jonathan. “You waited too long,” he says in a hushed voice. “We were rooting for you two. What happened?”

“Umm,” Jonathan starts. Matthew and I back away slowly.

“Hey, who’s that?” Matthew points to the clump of my coworkers. His gaze is directed right at Finn.

“That’s Finn. From work.”

“That’s Finn?” Matthew’s jaw goes slack. “Phoebe. He looks like he just walked out of a Men’s Health magazine.”

I chuckle. “I told you, you have nothing to worry about.” Thankfully, Jonathan chooses this exact moment to go say hello to Finn. He reaches out to touch him on the arm, and I can practically see the sparks fly from across the room. I don’t know how I could have missed the sexual tension between them the first time we were all together. It’s suffocating. And now they both keep finding an excuse to touch each other’s arms.

“Oh.” Matthew exhales. “Wow.”

“Yup.” I smirk. “Now let me introduce you to everyone else as my exclusive crossword partner.” I take his hand and begin dragging him across the room.