* * *
As Bill and I waited for our realtor’s call, things became increasingly stressful. The harder I tried to forget David in that house, the clearer I saw him. Each night after Bill had fallen asleep, I found myself somewhere in the apartment, staring straight ahead.
In our bathroom, I had sat against the tub, tormenting myself with the meaningless details of my new life. Like what time I would wake up to catch the train to work. And was there a coffee shop on the way? Would being a mom mean that I’d have to cut my hair shorter? I wondered how to change a diaper, what types of friends I would have in the suburbs, whether or not there was an animal shelter nearby.
A different night, on the couch with the TV muted, I worried about the bigger things. I wondered if Bill expected me to quit my job, and how had we never discussed that? Or how often Gretchen and Lucy would make the trip to see us, or at what point we should start saving for a college fund . . . or this, or that.
And David. David.David. There was no night to think of him, because he was always there, telling me there were other options when I just didn’t want to admit that there could be.
10
Ablue-eyed, blond-haired prince stood in the lobby ofChicago Metropolitan Magazine. A mischievous smile kinked one corner of his mouth, complementing the gleam in his eye. My mouth, on the other hand, hung open as I blinked in disbelief at my ex-best friend and legendary breaker of Gretchen’s heart.
“Greg?” I asked.
“The one and only,” Greg said. “How are ya, Olivia?”
I shook my head as a smile forced its way onto my face. I took a tentative step forward, and his arms opened for me. “What are you doing here?” I asked as we hugged.
He pulled me back by my shoulders and held me at arm’s length. “It’s so good to see you. You look fantastic, even better than I remember.”
“Greg Theo,” I said as my shock wore off. Though I was happy to see my friend, he had a lot of explaining to do for the way he’d dumped Gretchen years ago. After college graduation, he’d picked up and left for Japan with practically no notice and hadn’t reached out to any of us since. “Whatare you doing here?”
He slid his hands down my biceps. His eyes, though equally as captivating, were not the same blue as Gretchen’s. They were carefree pools, the color of the sky. “A position with my company opened up in Chicago, and I jumped at the chance to come here,” he explained. “I arrived a few months ago.”
“Shit,” I muttered, rubbing my forehead. Gretchen had mentioned that he’d recently left her a voicemail, but she hadn’t brought it up since. “Gretchen is going toflip.”
“She already knows.”
“What?” I asked, and he stepped back. “She knows? She hasn’t said anything to me.”
He nodded once. “She doesn’t know I came to see you, either.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“We’ve started things up again—”
I sucked in a sharp breath and grimaced. “Oh my God.”
“I missed you guys like crazy, Liv. Gretchen—I was stupid to give her up. I want to make things right. I came to Chicago for her.”
I shook my head rapidly and moved us farther away from reception, where I suspected Jenny might be eavesdropping. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“She doesn’t think we’re ready. But I just couldn’t wait to see you and Lucy.”
“A few months, you said?” I asked. When he nodded, I added, “Well that explains why she was dateless to Lucy’s wedding.”
He nodded. “We fought over that. I wanted to be there, but she wouldn’t let me come. She’s worried I won’t stick around.”
“Oh, Greg,” I said, steepling my hands over my mouth. “Please be careful. If you hurt her again . . .”
“Was it bad?”
“Awful.” I frowned. “I don’t think she could take it if it happened again.”
“I can tell. She’s different—harder or something. But I’m not going anywhere this time. I still love her.”
“You do?” I asked, dropping a palm to my heart.
