Xavier: I want you to see it. Get here as soon as you can.
Google Maps tells me this place is about forty-five minutes from Brookline. While in the car, I call Marley to let her know about this development.
"Mansfield? That's so far away. I'm never going to see you again."
While forty-five minutes is certainly more than our current distance of approximately eleven minutes, it's not like it's the end of the world.
"I know, but it's close to the stadium. Like 495 can keep us apart. Xavier's going to be on the road a lot, so I'll just crash on your couch. Jamal will grow to love having me as a sometimes roommate."
"I know, it's just I feel like things are changing. Like I'm losing you forever."
I signal and change lanes approaching my exit. "Things are changing, but that doesn't mean we're going to grow apart. You'll always be my ride or die."
"Yeah, except you met the man of your dreams and fell in love without me. I didn't get to ride."
I can hear her sadness through the phone, and it breaks my heart a little. I want to tell her why. That this wasn't my real wedding, and that when it is, she'll be there.
She continues. "It all happened so quickly, and I had no idea that my best friend had all this going on. I know everything about you. I mean, I thought I did, but I didn't even know you were in love."
The guilt of the lies and the secrets presses down on me like a Mack truck, making it hard to breathe. A bed to sleep in might be the priority for Xavier, but for me, it's getting the NDAs or whatever we need from Tony so I can fess up to Marley.
She's going to be pissed.
"I know. But trust me, things will work out for the best. Xavier's good for me. He's even got my creative juices flowing."
"I bet that's not the only juices," Marley mutters.
"Marley! No, seriously, I'm writing again. And I think, this time around, it's good."
"It was good last time. I wish you'd believe me over some stupid troll on Wattpad. When do I get to read it? And don't think you can distract me from the real issue. We are going to have a long talk about all of this soon."
My exit is coming up in two miles. "Mar, I'm going to have to go, but trust me, there's more than you know. I'm fine and it's all good, but this will all make sense soon."
"What cryptic bullshit is that? Ophelia June Finnegan, tell me what's going on."
"It's actually Ophelia June Henry now."
Her silence speaks volumes.
I am a shit friend.
I want to call Xavier and tell him what's going on, but I don't want to bother him. I'll see him in about fifteen minutes anyway, and maybe he can light a fire under Tony so my life can get back to normal.
Chapter 32: Xavier
She's going to love this place, and with the loft, we can even keep her minging couch. It'll be the perfect office for her.
Outside the balcony, there's a large tree—maple, I think—which is home to a bird feeder. It's a terrible place for a feeder as the squirrels probably dine there more than the birds, but to me, it's a sign that this is home.
For the first time since that night with Phaedra, I'm feeling optimistic about my life. It's all coming together. The Buzzards want me. I'm going to be playing again, and regularly too. This apartment even feels like home, already.
And it's all because of Ophelia.
This sprite of a woman with the heart of a romantic has given me my life back.
When my phone dings with a text from Ophelia that she's out front, I'm more than excited to see her.
I jog down the hall and take the stairs to the ground floor two at a time.
