“I want this Tara,” Britney said firmly. “I’m going to take the chance at my happily ever after. It might not work out, but I’ll always have a piece of him through his child and that alone will make me happy. Please understand.”
Torn, Tara looked at her friend in sympathy. “You know I’ll always support you.”
“Thank you,” a relieved Britney hugged Tara. “I want you to be my maid of honor.”
“I will be happy to be your maid of honor,” said Tara as she squeezed Britney back.
“Great. I need all the help I can get with the wedding in nineteen days,” grateful, Britney gave Tara smile.
“We’re going to have to make some serious lists,” Tara mentioned with a grin. “Maybe we can laminate them.”
Britney rolled her eyes. “Don’t remind me.”
“What? It was a cute phase of yours,” teased Tara.
“I still make lists,” shrugged Britney. “It’s a good way to stay organized.”
“Don’t ever change, Brit,” advised Tara. “Not for anyone. Not even Gabe.”
Britney knew it wasn’t likely. She would do what she had to in order to keep Gabe as hers. “I moved in with him.”
“What?” Tara asked in surprise. “Is that why the movers are here? Does Gabe know?”
“He gave me a pass card,” smiled Britney. “I’m moving into his spare room.”
“Promise me before you make any other big moves, you’ll run them past me,” appealed Tara in concern. “We don’t want another talent show exposition. Or a prom fiasco.”
“We do not talk about prom,” warned Britney.
“That’s why I’m trying to prevent another prom-like occurrence,” appealed Tara. “If you have any ideas which might be even the tiniest bit like prom, tell me so I can talk you down.”
“I have grown up Tara. I’m not the same starstruck girl I was before,” insisted Britney. “Gabe has faults and so do I. I’m just trying to compromise a little with the end goal of keeping him in mind.”
“Just as long as you don’t lose yourself in the process,” advised Tara.
“How can anyone lose themselves?” wondered Britney. “It seems silly.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be here to help you if it happens again,” sighed Tara. She looked at the boxes. “How much are we moving?”
“Just enough to make me comfortable in the guest room,” replied Britney. “Oh, I would like to take some of my kitchen items as well. Do you know he has no food in his condo? Nothing. Gabe has a meal service. They bring him everything and even take the dirty dishes. I called them to cancel. I’m going to be the one cooking.”
“Did you ask Gabe if it was what he wanted?” questioned Tara. “Both of you are in a relationship now. You have to take his wants into consideration as well as yours.”
“I know I go overboard,” admitted Britney as she stood, grabbing the box and putting it in the hall. “I get overly enthusiastic and I forget to be reasonable. However, Gabe said I could.”
“Okay,” Tara capitulated. It was obvious this was what Britney wanted. “I’m happy for you. Let’s get everything you want moved over. I have always wanted to snoop in a Ramesly condo.”
Britney laughed and the two friends chatted wedding ideas as they sorted through what would stay for now versus what needed to go to Gabe’s condo today.
∞∞∞
It was awkward, Gabe decided.
He had come home from work, the usual time to find Britney had kept dinner waiting. She had insisted on eating together at the small dining table which he never used. Gabe had decided to compromise and indulger her in this, but the small talk was just awkward. They had gone through how his meeting had went. They had discussed the rest of his day. Britney had been delighted to meet his secretary which Gabe didn’t quite believe somehow but he also didn’t want to delve further into whatever had really happened between the pair. Jessica had been in a snit all day after her encounter with Britney and Gabe had simply decided not to react. Sometimes it was better to play a dumb man and pretend he didn’t realize anything was wrong.
They had conversed ad nauseum about Britney’s moving into the spare bedroom and her experience with the movers who were apparently the most patient and helpful men she had met. Gabe neglected to say it was what she was paying them for since he didn’t think he wanted the fallout from such a comment.
Finally, dinner was over. Gabe couldn’t complain about the cooking. Britney was exceptionally good at putting a meal together. She was even going to clean it up without any expectation of help. He had even offered although he had no idea how to do dishes. Gabe had never done any amount of household chores in his life.
