The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 8

The Dress-up DinnerRonnie fin each(prenominal)y comes to vi rally me in my root cellar and says, Im on my way home, so I completely have a few minutes.As I finish my set of bench presses, I smirk because I inhabit what that statement means. Veronica does not sleep together he has come to see me, and Ronnie needs to keep it quick if he does not want to get caught doing something with come forward Veronicas permission something bid saying hello to his best friend, whom he has not seen for a long time.When I sit up, he says, What happened to your face?I touch my forehead. My bargains slipped yesterday, and I dropped the hold back on myself.And it made your cheek all puffy like that?I shrug because I do not really want to submit him my father punched me.Man, you really have trimmed down and bulked up. I like your gym, he says, eyeballing my weight bench and Stomach Master 6000, and then he sticks out his hand. Think I could come over and work out with you?I stand, shake his han d, and say, Sure, knowing the question is only yet some other one of Ronnies false promises.Listen, Im sorry I never came to see you when you were in Baltimore, but we had Emily, and well, you know how it is. But I felt like the letter kept us close. And now that youre home, we can hang out all the time, right?As if , I start to say, but then morsel my tongue.As if what?Nothing.You still think Veronica hates you?I keep my let the cat out of the bag shut.He smiles and says, Well, if she hated you, would she be inviting you over for dinner tomorrow wickedness?I look at Ronnie, trying to gauge whether he is solemn or not.Veronicas making a big meal to welcome you home. So are you coming, or what?Sure, I say, still not believing my ears, because Ronnies promises normally do not come with specific words like tomorrow attached.Great. Be at my house at seven oclock for drinks. Dinners at eight, and its issue to be one of the wifes formal candlelit three-course meals, so wear somethi ng nice, okay? You know how Veronica is about her dress-up dinners, he says, and then hugs sweaty me, which I tolerate only because I am so shocked by Veronicas invitation. With a hand on my shoulder, Ronnie looks me in the eye and says, Man, its good to have you home, Pat.As I watch him jog up the stairs, I think about how a good deal trash Nikki and I would talk about Ronnie and Veronica if apart time were over and Nikki was going to the dress-up dinner with me.Dress-up dinner, Nikki would say. Are we in elementary tame?God, Nikki hates Veronica.