Drew nodded her head, seeming to take in the information.
“So what makes you prefer being single?”
Had anyone else asked her that Brooke may have bristled. But Drew was clearly just curious. Brooke took a deep sigh.
“I’ve just been in the front row for a lot of relationship disasters. I don’t know that I want to give anyone quite that much power over me and my life.”
Drew seemed to take her words in.
“So you’ve never been in love?” Drew asked.
“I’ve never even had a real relationship,” Brooke laughed.
“And that’s the way you like it? Your life I mean. You truly enjoy being single and have no desire to be in a relationship?”
“Sometimes I think about it. But for the most part I’m happy being single. How about you? Do you have a girlfriend?” Brooke was desperate to change the subject off of herself.
“No, I’m single.”
“Do you prefer being single?”
“Not really. I love being in love.”
Drew and Brooke both laughed.
“Why are you single if you like being in a relationship?”
“I’m taking a dating hiatus while I work on myself.” Drew insisted.
“That sounds healthy.” Brooke felt a knot form deep in her gut. A pang of unexpected and unappreciated sadness. She wasn’t trying to date Drew, so why should it matter if Drew took a hiatus from dating?
Drew pinned her with a suspicious look. Brooke found herself wishing they weren’t stuck in the car for another thirty minutes together.
“What?” Brooke finally quipped.
“Nothing. It’s just that was the most sarcastic way you could have said that.”
“I wasn’t being sarcastic. Dating hiatuses can be beneficial. Obviously, I’ve been taking one too. No judgments.”
“Yeah, but yours isn’t so much a hiatus as it is a failure to start,” Drew said the words without an ounce of judgment, it was clearly meant more as an observation than anything else. So why did the statement hurt so much?
They both sat in silence for several moments. Brooke appreciated silence. She saw the quiet as an old friend. She got much of her best work done in the quiet. Drew seemed to enjoy the quiet much less. Brooke observed the woman as she shifted nervously in her seat and fiddled with the temperature control knobs. Brooke couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. Drew finally broke.
“So have you and Emily known each other long?” Brooke supposed she could make Drew wait longer for her answer but decided to be merciful.
“Yeah, we’ve been friends for years.”
Brooke pointed to the next street, an indication for Drew to turn.
“That’s cool. My friend Tatumn and I are opening the shop together. It can be good to have a close friend around.”
Brooke smiled and glanced out the window.
“Yes, it can.”
Spot on the Map came into view and Brooke watched as Drew visibly calmed.
“What are these get-togethers like?” Drew asked.
