Page 1 of Hitched at Randy’s (Diner Days)
One
Cameron
T he chair screeches as I pull it out from the table to sit. I glance around the diner, sure someone should have noticed, but it’s the same as always. Randy’s diner perpetually lives in the 50’s, from the pastel blue and pink vinyl upholstery to the jukebox in the corner. I take my seat and look around the table at the familiar faces of my friends.
You’d think after coming here every week for the past year or so, it’d get easier.
“Hey Cam,” Aria waves in my direction as I sit down. She has her collection of mini figs in front of her, cluttering the table. “What’s new?”
“Not much,” I answer. My phone chimes with a message, but I ignore it. Right now, my focus is on the group, watching as Zach sets up his things. He pulls out manual books, his notebook, dice and mini figs. He takes his role as our dungeon master very seriously. Our group takes up two pushed together tables at the diner. We’re gathered around our dinners every Thursday night. Most weeks I look forward to this, but tonight I need it more than usual. I need to take my mind off the invite I received earlier today. An invite to my best friend Evan’s wedding.
I know I should be happy for him, but something about the whole thing feels off to me. I’ve never even met the girl he’s marrying. To top things off, I’d always thought if Evan got married, he would at least ask me to be his best man. Even though I’m not entirely sure I’d want to be, he’s my best friend, and I’d like to be asked. I guess there’s still time, but the wedding is supposed to happen in June. It’s already March. That doesn’t leave a ton of time to plan a bachelor party for him or a bunch of other things I’d hope to do as his best man. I knew he was going to ask Viola to marry him, but now that I’ve gotten the invite, it all seems so final.
I shake off the thought and focus on Zach as he runs through a list of names, calling out which characters we have assembled for today’s quest. I pull out my dice and mini figure, setting it on his map. There’s only six of us today, but Zach launches into a speech about how our missing characters are too drunk to go on the quest and stuck in the tavern, nursing themselves back to full health. “The rest of you are headed to a cave near town. Word from the bar last night is that a monster inhabits this cave. It’s been terrorizing the locals, stealing sheep, and leaving nothing but the bones behind.”
“What do the bones look like?” Aria interrupts. “Are they gnawed on and showing signs of sharp teeth?”
“The bones left behind are clean white, no marks at all. It’s almost like they’ve been boiled clean,” Zach answers with a glare at Aria. Their banter relaxes me, and it helps take the edge off my anxious thoughts. I can deal with Evan getting married. Even if it means I’ll have to buy a plane ticket to get to his wedding. I still don’t get why he didn’t come home after college. I guess he just fell in love with California and didn’t want to leave. I couldn’t do that. Boston is my home. I stayed local for art school, and now I mostly work from home.
“Are those new?” Aria asks, grabbing the mini fig from my hand.
“Aria,” I protest. “Give it back, I haven’t sealed that one yet.”
She turns the dragon figure, looking at it and taking in the details. “Damn, Cam. You need to sell these things. People would pay some serious money for your figurines.” With that, she hands back the dragon.
“It’s just a hobby,” I answer. I get enough money from doing my digital art, selling branding designs to companies, and making illustrations for books. It’s not what I thought I’d be doing with my art degree, but it pays the bills. I make my own mini figurines and paintings on the side because it’s something I enjoy. Selling the occasional painting is nice, though I don’t fit what most people are looking for. Epic battle scenes between humans, elves, dragons, and other mythical creatures are a rather niche subject matter.
“You just need to find the right audience,” Aria tells me. “Try posting them on Etsy or something.”
“Can I continue?” Zach asks.
Aria rolls her eyes but motions with her hand for him to continue.
“Right, well, as I was saying. The group is gathered around the entrance of the cave. What do you do next?”
“I search for signs of the monster or possible traps,” I answer, taking out my dice to roll. “Seventeen.”
“You find large footprints nearby that seem to be leading out of the cave,” Zach says.
“I use my magic to cast light into the cave,” Aria says. She rolls her d20, but it’s not as successful. “Four.”
“Your light spell flashes a large spark of light, illuminating the surrounding area for approximately five seconds before it goes out.”
Other characters debate the merits of rushing in or if we should wait the monster out. That’s when the waiter walks over. “Anything I can get for you?” he asks.
Everyone talks at once, ordering drinks and appetizers. I ask for a water and an order of onion rings. I’ll have a real dinner when I get home later, but I could use something to snack on. The rest of the game session continues as it should. Aria leads the way into the cave, lighting up our path with a potion. I spot a trap, and we’re confronted by a group of trolls hiding in the cavern.
“Got plans for the weekend?” Aria asks as we’re wrapping things up.
“Just the usual,” I answer. “Painting with a bottle of Merlot.” I’ll need the escape to take my mind off what it means that Evan is getting married before me. We always joked that I’d be the first to tie the knot, but here I am at thirty-one without even a boyfriend. Jeez, how long has it been since I went on a date? I guess maybe a year. I’ll admit I don’t get out much. Other than my weekly meeting at Randy’s to play DnD, I’m pretty much a homebody.
I climb into my car, going over my grocery list in my head and trying to figure out if I need to stop and get something for dinner or if what I have on hand will work. It should be fine to put off the shopping another day. When I pull into my spot, I grab my things and head into my apartment, dropping my keys on the table near the door and propping my bag nearby. Donnie scratches at the glass of his cage, and I take the hint, moving closer to get him his food.
I head to the kitchen. It’s a wine with dinner kind of day. I pop open a bottle of pink zinfandel and pour a glass. With a sip of the fruity wine, I turn my attention to dinner. I’ve got enough ingredients on hand to make chicken with some pasta-roni. My hands get to work on autopilot, cooking the chicken and reading the directions on the box to ready the noodles. That along with some frozen broccoli steamed in the microwave will have to do. I freshen up my glass of wine when dinner’s ready and sit down on the couch. That’s when I see the invitation I opened this morning. It’s still sitting on the coffee table where I left it.
You’re cordially invited to the wedding of Evan Moore and Viola Davis.
It’s printed on thick white stationery with flowers along the borders. The inside detailing the time and location. I grab my phone and open it to the text message thread I have going with Evan.
Evan
Congratulations man, I guess you finally popped the question.
I don’t expect an immediate answer, so I’m a little surprised when my phone chimes.
Evan
Thanks, can’t wait to see you again. We need to catch up.
Ain’t that the truth of it. With a sigh, I grab the remote and turn on my TV. I prop up my feet on the coffee table, getting comfy as I settle in for binge watching some medical drama. Eating my simple dinner with a glass of wine alone in my apartment, no boyfriend, no kids. I try to shake the thoughts from my head. I’m only thirty-one years old. I’ve got plenty of time to meet someone and settle down. With another sip of my wine, I look at the TV. Plenty of the on-screen characters are finding love and marriage later in life. It’s a little reassuring, even if it is fictional.
My phone rings, and, seeing who it is, I sigh. I’m guessing she got the invite too. “Hey Ash,” I say as I pick up the call.
“You saw it, right?” she asks, skipping over a hello.
“Saw what?” I ask back.
“The wedding invite from Evan. I thought we’d get a little more warning. I didn’t know it was that serious. They aren’t even doing the wedding here; he’s expecting us to travel out to California for the wedding.” Leave it to Ash to make her brother’s wedding about her and complain about the distance.
“Could be fun taking a trip,” I answer, trying not to be too mad at Evan. “You have to admit it makes sense. It’s where they live and where her family is.”
“Yeah, I guess. Did he at least ask you to be his best man?” Ash changes the subject.
I take a drink of my wine, delaying the inevitable. “Not yet,” I mutter. “But there’s still time.” My phone chimes, letting me know someone else is calling. “Hey Ash, gimme a second.” I pull the phone back and look at the screen. “Speak of the devil, Evan’s calling me. I’ll talk to you later.” I press the button on the phone, switching over to talk to Evan even as Ash calls out a goodbye. “Hey, to what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask.
“Hey Cam, how’s it going?” His voice is fast and higher pitched as he rushes through the greeting.
“It’s going fine, but I don’t think you called just to ask about me.” I push my food around with my fork, waiting for Evan to continue.
“Always right to the chase with you,” Evan says with a laugh. “Actually, I wanted to ask you a question. Viola has been pushing me to pick my groomsmen, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to be my best man. Cam, what do you say?”
“I, um, of course Evan. I’d be honored.” What else could I possibly say? Leave it to Evan to put me on the spot like that.
“Thank you! Seriously, Cam, you’re a lifesaver. We’ll have to plan everything out, but it’s gonna be great.” He’s doing that talking too fast thing again.
“You sure everything is okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, just you know, wedding stress,” he shrugs off my concern.
“Sure.” It’s probably just my own single life worries, rubbing off on my mind. Evan is getting married. He isn’t lonely and wondering what he’ll do with his life. That’s just me.