Fall from Love

this.
    “Crazy, nice house, huh?” Jenna asks, taking the words right out of my mouth.
    “Yeah, really nice. Is this one of their parents’ house or something?” I peer out the window and take in the two story house that’s covered in river rock and redwood. There’s a flag stone path leading up to the expansive front porch.
    “Yeah, it’s Josh’s parents’ place... one of many. They have like five houses spread out over the country. Why couldn’t I have been blessed with rich parents that gave me their big, badass house to spend my college years in?”
    “Hey, I like our apartment,” I argue and glare over at her, pretending to be offended.
    She smiles. “You’re right. The house may be super badass, but it doesn’t come with you, so I’d give it back in a heartbeat.”
    I return her smile and then shift my eyes back to the house in front of me. Nerves are swimming around in my stomach and I try to tell myself to calm down. This is not a big deal. It’s just a small get together at my best friend’s boyfriend’s house. It’s not a big deal .
    “You okay?” Jenna asks when she turns the car off.
    “Yeah, I’m good.”
    “You sure? You kinda look like you’re gonna puke.”
    I turn to glare at her again, this time not pretending. “Thanks. Real confidence booster.”
    “Kidding.” She smiles. “You look beautiful as always. Now, let’s go have some fun.”
    We get out of the car, walk up the flagstone path, and directly into the house, not even bothering to knock. I find it odd, but then, I have to remind myself that Jenna and this guy, Josh, have been dating for a few months now. I’m sure it is totally comfortable for her to just walk into his house. We enter into a foyer that’s covered with slate tile where I can hear voices and laughter floating down the hall. My whole body feels warm and my hands are clammy, something that happens to me when I get really nervous. Running my hands down the front of my jeans, I try to get a grip on myself. It’s crazy to think that I’m this nervous. They are just people—normal human beings—not aliens from another planet.
    Jenna loops her arm through mine and tows me down the hall and into the living room. She introduces me to a few people as we make our way to the kitchen. They are mostly guys—guys that I’ve never met before and yet, a few of them look familiar. I must have seen them around campus or something , I tell myself.
    The guy I had seen Jenna hanging all over at Sterling’s is leaning against the kitchen counter with his arms crossed, talking with another guy. “Hey, there you are, babe,” he says when he spots Jenna. A huge smile appears on his face, but the moment his eyes meet mine, his expression changes. Shock and pity cross his face.
    Great.
    “Josh, this is Holly. Holly, Josh,” she says when we approach him. Her smile is growing larger by the second as she glances between the two of us.
    “Hey, it’s good to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Josh sets down his can of Red Bull and holds out his right hand.
    “Yeah, I’ve heard a lot about you, too.” I return his smile and we shake hands.
    There’s an awkward silence and I search my mind for something to say. Luckily, Josh speaks up and bails me out.
    “Well, why don’t you two ladies go grab a drink and head out back? I’ve fired up the grill and I’m about to put the steaks on.” He winks at Jenna and she blushes, biting her lip. I can’t help being shocked at her reaction. I’ve just never seen her act like this around a guy before.
    “That sounds like a great idea,” Jenna says, grabbing my hand. She tugs me down a long hallway that eventually dead ends into the garage.
    “He’s cute and he seems really nice,” I say when we’re finally alone.
    “Yeah, he’s pretty great. I keep trying to find something wrong with him, but he’s just too perfect.” She sighs and pulls open the refrigerator, which is stocked full of every beer known to man. I look around the garage and take in the dart board on the far back wall, the pool table that’s centered in the room and a brown leather couch against the back wall. I quickly realize that this isn’t a garage—this is a man cave. I also can’t help noticing how Jenna looks so at home; walking into Josh’s house, knowing all of his friends, and making a bee line to where he keeps his beer. It makes me wonder how many times she has been here since they’ve been seeing each other.
    It