I focused back on Carly, who was staring at me with a hint of desperation in her eyes.
“What were you going to ask me?”
I exhaled and secured the ring back in my pocket. “Carly, I think we need to break up.”
I watched as her face fell, and then quickly fill with anger. “What?” She screeched, drawing the attention of a couple at the table next to us. “You brought me here to dump me?”
“No, Carly, that wasn’t my intention...”
“Then what exactly was yourintention, Collin? To lead me on for a year and a half and then talk about this being aspecial nightand make me believe that you were going topropose when actually you just wanted to break up all along and smash my heart into a million pieces?”
I opened my mouth, then closed it. When she said it that way, it really did sound awful. And unfortunately, nothing I said could make it better.
“You are a jerk, Collin Finlay!” She yelled, continuing her rant. “I can’t believe I gave up cheese for you?”
“Cheese? Why would you give up cheese?” I asked, bewildered.
“Because I love you!” She screamed, standing up. “I hope no one else ever loves you for the rest of your life!”
She stood there seething for a second, then picked up her plate and threw her chicken cacciatore squarely at my chest. She yanked her purse off of her chair, causing it to topple over, and stormed out of the restaurant.
It seemed everyone in the room was staring at me. The band, who had apparently stopped playing to watch the spectacle, conspicuously started up with another song. The waiter was thankfully right there, ready with the check, which I promptly paid. After scraping chicken and pasta off my suit as best as I could, I left with everyone’s eyes on my back.
*****
I rolled over and snoozed my alarm for the third time that morning. I had band practice in 30 minutes, but I was in no mood to go. I felt like I’d been hit by a bus.
After the disaster at the restaurant the night before I had come home to shower and change, then I went to the gym for three hours to try and exercise out my frustration. My body was sore, my brain was foggy, and I still smelled faintly of tomato sauce. But at least I had one clear task to complete.
I dragged myself out of bed and pulled out the bottom drawer of my dresser. I lifted out a small box that contained all of Glory Parker’s letters, letters that I couldn’t quite explain why I had kept with me all these years. I walked out into our small kitchen and tossed them in the trash. I couldn’t erase her that easily, but I figured it was at least a step in the right direction. I didn’t want to be held back anymore by a childhood pen pal.
I leaned on the counter and groaned, thinking through the events of the non proposal for the hundredth time. I was a little surprised at how Carly had lashed out. I had never seen her lose her temper like that, but she had every right to be angry. I had hurt her because I was still harboring feelings for Glory, and that needed to change.
I peered into Logan’s room. He had already left, probably to get an egg sandwich from the cart up the street. I took a quick shower, got dressed, and and made my way to the subway station. I walked into the studio 15 minutes late and expected Jeremy to yell at me, but instead he smiled and raised his hands in welcome.
“Hey! Here he is!” He exclaimed. “You must had had a very late night,” he said suggestively.
I attempted a smile. “You have no idea.”
Jeremy plowed on. “So, should we congratulate you on the engagement?”
I sighed. “Actually, we broke up.”
Marco whistled, Logan nodded, and Jeremy stared at me for a full three seconds before speaking again.
“Even better! No baggage!”
I shook my head, a little annoyed that Jeremy always tried to put a positive spin on things.
“No, really!” Jeremy continued, “Statistics show that fans are more dedicated when all members of the band are single! Especially you, Collin, you’re our poster boy.”
I buried my head in my hands while Marco and Logan groaned.
“Okay, Jeremy, let’s move on,” Logan said. “What was it that you wanted to tell us?”
Jeremy rubbed his hands together. “We’re going on a last minute tour to the western states! I’ve spent the last few days getting all the shows together. We leave next week!” The rest of us nodded, but we were clearly not as excited as Jeremy was. “We’re starting in Phoenix, then we’ll go to Las Vegas, jump up to Portland, then go down to San Fransisco and end in LA.”
“How long are we going to be in Phoenix?” I asked, trying to convince myself that it didn’t matter that we were going there.
