“Yup, picked it up last week and the alterations were perfect, but I told you this already!”
“Man, all these wedding details are overwhelming. They’re starting to blur together.”
“Don’t worry, one more month and it’ll be all over, then you can celebrate with Rick in Hawaii! I’m so jealous. I wish I could hide in your luggage.”
“Ha! I’m not sure if Rick would enjoy that surprise once we got to the hotel room. But let’s take a road trip or something soon! We can go away somewhere for the weekend. Maybe the Poconos? Do you think Gage would want to come? I mean, I’d love it if he didn’t, but I guess he’s invited. You totally deserve a vacation.” She shot Hailey a wink.
As Hailey and Bridget sat down on the mats in front of the rock climbing walls filled with multi-colored holds, Hailey couldn’t hold back the deep sigh that escaped her.
“Orwe can celebrate you getting rid of him. Yes, let’s do that. Are we doing that yet?”
“Dammit, Bridge, I don’t know anymore. He’smaking it hard to want to stay though, that’s for sure.”
As each of them hopped on the walls and tried to solve the different problems that were thrown at them, Hailey caught up Bridget on everything that happened since they last saw each other, including the sex dream about Avery.
“YES! THAT! MOVE ON TO THAT!”
“Bridget! You’re hurting my ears shouting so loud.”
“Sorry, I’m just excited. I want you to be happy and I know you’re not.”
“Yeah, I’m trying. Even my therapist is on your side! I just don’t know if I can do it.”
Bridget gave Hailey a hard look before jumping up to make a climb.
“I need to process that by probably falling off the top of this wall, so give me a minute.”
Hailey watched Bridget climb a challenging route that they’d both been working on for two weeks. That last hold was just out of their reach, but they got a little bit closer every time they tried.
Bridget made it up to where they were both stuck and she paused before going for the long reach. Oh, what it would be like to be tall and reach things so much more easily. A six-foot-two man had jumped on the climb between their many attempts and reached the final hold with ease just by sticking his hand out. Cheater.
Hailey wasn’t sure if he heard her say “Rub it in whydon’t ya?” as he walked away.
“C’mon Bridget, you got this! Make that wall your bitch!”
With a grunt, Bridget made a little jump to reach the top and managed to get a hold of it with both hands, the goal of the climb.
“Fuck yes! Bridget, you did it! Did everyone see that?” Hailey leapt to her feet, applauding and bringing plenty of attention toward Bridget.
Bridget jumped down to the mats and rolled onto her back. “Geez, Hails, and you’re talking about me shouting.”
“You nailed it! I knew you could do it.”
“Yeah, yeah, now it’s your turn, but first let’s talk about leaving your useless boyfriend.”
She was relentless, Hailey had to give her that. She took a deep breath before meeting her gaze.
“I don’t know, Bridge. What if…” she trailed off. She looked around to make sure no one else could hear her, before moving closer to Bridget.
“What if he’s the best I can do?”
“Son of a bitch, he’s really done a number on you. You had so much more confidence before you started going out with that toolbag. Wait, no. He’s not a toolbag. Toolbags are at least useful since they hold your tools. He’s a … rotten lemon.”
Hailey just sighed, then rested her elbows on herknees and dropped her head in her hands.
“Not helpful. What if a rotten lemon is all I’ll ever get?”
“Hailey. I cannot stress this enough. You can do better and you will. You’re fucking hot, smart, funny and athletic. You’ll have no trouble moving on once you’re free of that dead weight.”
