“Who knows. I wonder though, if maybe she’s looking for the fairytale. She had it pretty rough growing up. Her dad was never in the picture. She told me that until her mom met Mark, she’d never seen her mom date anyone. I think she’d say she’s just trying to manifest Mr. Right.”
“Pretty sure Mike is a manifestation of Mr. Wrong,” Nicole quipped.
“Dang, Nic, tell me how you really feel.” Zaina plopped into the seat next to Devin.
“Oh my God, I’m an asshole,” Nicole said smacking herself on the forehead.
Zaina slumped down in her seat and crossed her arms. “No, no, it’s alright. It turns out you were right, that was him on the phone.”
Devin scooted her chair over and wrapped an arm around Zaina. “What happened, Z?”
Zaina sighed shakily, tears filling her eyes. “He said,” she paused and took a breath and then sobbed quietly, “He said…”
“Go on Hon, you can tell us,” Devin said in the voice she used to try to calm the twins down.
Nicole pushed a mimosa flute in front of her friend.
Zaina took her napkin, unrolled it, and used it to blot her eyes. She pursed her lips, “He said,” she swallowed, “that he fell out of love. That he’d met someone else.”
“That fucker.” Nicole mumbled. “What a dick.”
Zaina started nodding her head, “Yes, yes, what a dick.” She hit the table with her fist. “I wasted two years with that, that putz!”
“Let it out, Z,” Devin continued rubbing her back.
“Do you have any idea how much I gave up for him?”
They both shook their heads no.
“Let me tell you, he didn’t like me running, said it made me too lean. Who does that? So, I stopped running. He said he loved my hair, and I shouldn’t change it. So, I haven’t done anything different with my hair in years. He said his phone calls should always come first, so I’ve stayed home nights instead of going to networking events, or local witch meet-ups, or just hanging out with you girls. All for what?”
"Bupkis.” Nicole said.
"Bupkis?” Zaina asked.
“Yes, my grandpa used to say that all the time. Bupkis, it means like nothing. If you have bupkis, you have like less than a crumb.”
“Got it, yes exactly! I got bupkis for all the time I spent trying to fit in Mike’s tiny box of acceptable behaviors.”
“Not anymore.” Devin held up her glass.
Zaina sniffed the last of her tears and raised her glass. “Not anymore,” she nodded.
Nicole smiled, "Here’s to not anymore."
They clinked their glasses, and all took a long drink.
Zaina set down her glass and looked at Nicole. “You look ridiculously happy. I’m sorry to come in and be a big old bummer when we should be celebrating you.”
Nicole waved her hand. “No problem. I feel so happy, I’m almost bulletproof.” Zaina gave Nicole’s hand a big squeeze.
“You know what’s going to happen now?” Devin asked dryly.
“No, what?” Zaina's eyes widened.
“Nicole and her new man are going to try and get you coupled up so they can double date with you and your future man.”
“Hey!” Nicole crossed her arms, “I’m not in the match-making business.”
