“Not me,” Tiffany inserted.“I just moved here, so I’ve only known him for a short time.”
“Lucky ladies, but maybe if he stays on, I’ll be able to be lucky enough to say he’s my friend, too.”She waited for them to take their seats around the small square table that was just to the left of the stage.Then, she distributed the menus and some napkin-wrapped utensils.“What can I have Andrew bring you to drink?He’ll be your server tonight.”
“Oh, I’ll have diet cola – whichever one you have,” Tiffany said.“And could you add a wedge of lime?”
“Sure thing.”Shannon looked expectantly at the rest of them.
Mandy ordered a fancy fizzy water, while both Rosalie and Esther got ginger ale.
Esther watched Fred.His head was bowed, and his eyes were closed as he played.A small smile curved his lips.He looked so peaceful.He and music were one at times.It was as if there wasn’t anything else in the world to be concerned about.But then, he often seemed peaceful.He was the tranquility to her rolling waves.He was the cool breeze that refreshed her on a day when things were jumbled and twisted.
She bit her lip.And he would never be hers.She had thrown away her chance for that.She blinked against tears.
“Are you okay?”Rosalie whispered as Fred’s song finished.
Esther shook her head and then nodded while trying to smile.“I love that song.”
“Just the song?”her friend asked.
“That’s all I’m allowed,” she replied.
Fred looked up just then and saw her.He smiled and gave her a two-fingered wave.Then, he nodded to the rest of her table before putting his guitar to the side and stepping down to sayhi.
“Is this why you’ve switched around worship team?”Esther asked.
He shook his head.“Nah, but this is a result of that change.One that I didn’t expect but holds potential.”He looked at Tiffany.“So what brings you out tonight?”
“Just a girls’ night,” she replied.“How are the renos coming along?Have you seen the paint on the walls yet?”
“Yeah, yeah.It looks good.Although to be honest, it’s a lot of green right now.”
“The cabinets and countertops will break that up.”
He chuckled.“I know.You told me it would, and I believe you.I just haven’t seen it yet.”
“Is this about your new house?”Mandy asked.
He nodded.“Tiff is helping with some design choices, since I’ve been told by Cari that car parts and guitar strings are not appropriate décor.”He laughed.
“But we do have some automotive and musical nods in the design,” Tiffany inserted.
“Yeah, she’s good at what she does,” Fred said.“She gets me.”
Esther’s heart pinched, and she pretended to need to check her phone so that she could, once again, blink away the tears that had unexpectedly gathered.She had always been the one who “got him.”She had always been the one whom he would go to for advice.She was losing him.More and more each day, their wonderfully close friendship was fading.
First, it was a new worship team schedule.Now, he was getting design advice from Tiffany and playing with people she didn’t even know.She drew a silent breath and then re-entered the conversation at her table just as Fred waved to someone.
“Can I introduce you guys to Sean from my work?”he asked.“He’s shown some interest in getting to know God, so it might be easier to get him to come to an activity or something if he knows more than just me.”He leaned forward with a teasing smile.“And it won’t hurt anything to have those other people be three good-looking and available ladies.”
All her friends laughed, but Esther didn’t.In that moment, she felt like she didn’t fit.
Because she didn’t.
And it hurt.
Andrew arrived at the same time as the guy she assumed was Sean.She sipped her ginger ale as Fred introduced Sean to Tiffany, Mandy, and Rosalie.
“I know you,” Sean said when Fred had finally gotten around to introducing her.“You’re the former best friend.”
