C: I doubt that very much.
J: Really, Chris? Can you make an effort with this one? I like him.
C: Okay.
J: Gee, thanks for the enthusiasm.
I skim down for a while.
J:So that’s it? You’re not going to talk to me?
Chris’s reply text comes a full day later. He’s wrong for you, Jessa. I won’t apologize for being honest. I think it’s a mistake that you accepted his proposal. The guy is a douchebag.
J: You’re being a douchebag right now.
C: I’m being your friend. I’m trying to stop you from making a horrible mistake with your life.
J: That’s right, Chris. It's MY life. My freaking life. So how about you let me live it as I see fit?
C: Fine. Just don’t ask me to be a part of it then.
J:You can’t be serious.
C: And yet here we are.
J: Why are you doing this?
C: Because I love you. It's obvious to me what this means. But it's not obvious to Jessa.
J: And I love you. You’re my best friend, Chris. I want you to be my best man.
C: That’s not a thing.
J:It’s my wedding day. It’ll be a thing if I decide to make it a thing.
C: I’m not gonna be your best man, Jess.
J: Can’t you just support me?
C: Not when I know this is gonna end badly.
J: Guess this conversation is over then.
C: Guess it is.
After that, there’s months and months of silence. The next text comes about three months later, from Jessa. It’s weird not talking to you. I miss you. Can we talk?
Are you still getting married?
Yes.
Then there’s nothing to say.
Two days later, Chris writes another text. For the record, I miss you too.
I close the conversation thread and tuck the phone away. It’s a strange feeling, to be threatened by someone else’s relationship with Jessa. I’ve never experienced anything remotely similar before.
Then again, I’ve never cared this much about a woman before.