Darlene is all about the universe and its magical powers in our lives. She takes screenshots of my daily horoscope and sends them to me every day. I’m more of a realist though, even if they are creepily accurate.
“Are you saying the universe detoured me from marrying the man I am in love with so that I’d be in forced proximity with a man who has driven me crazy for the majority of my life?” I ask.
“Driven you crazy in what way?” she asks, and I can almost hear her eyebrows wiggling through the phone.
“Not like that,” I emphasize. “Apparently, he and my brother just can’t stand Daniel and have an immature little grudge, and decided that I can’t marry him. But fuck that. As soon as we get home, Daniel and I will just go to the courthouse and–”
“Okay, don’t hate me,” my friend says. “But do you ever wonder if maybe, just maybe, you and Daniel are rushing things?”
“How do you figure?” I ask with narrowed eyes.
“Well, I mean one day we are sitting at a bar and you are going on about your crush on your boss who barely notices you, and I’m talking about my recent break-up, which, in itself, should have scared you off from making a commitment to a love bomber, and the next thing you know there’s Daniel. Like a bright penny in a street-side fountain, suddenly paying attention to you. Buying you drinks, flirting, asking you out.”
“He said himself that he had been interested in me since he hired me, but wasn’t sure if it was appropriate,” I argue.
Darlene snorts. “Sorry, but I don’t really think Daniel is the kind of guy who cares about what’s appropriate.”
“Wow, Dar. Thanks.”
“All I’m saying is it all happened very fast. The dating, the proposal, the elopement. And now, he’s ghosting you.”
I stand up abruptly. “He is not ghosting me!” I say a little too loudly. “He’s just…I mean, I’m sure he…it’s probably…” I stutter before shaking my head, veering myself back on track. “Look, I know you’ve never really been a fan of Daniel,”
“He’s sus,” she adds.
“But either way, this is an emergency. I am being held hostage by my brother’s best friend. There’s no way out except for the car, which he has the keys to, and he won’t let me leave!” I tell her.
“Of course not. You’re in the middle of a tropical storm. He’s looking out for you. The same way he was looking out for you when he slowed your vows down a little.”
“Remind me again why you’re my best friend,” I say.
“Because I always tell you the truth. And the truth is that you are in a beautiful villa in a beautiful country. And you should enjoy it, even if it is raining. There’s always a silver lining in the clouds, Harp.”
“Not these clouds,” I mutter as we end the call.
Well, I’ve thrown my last safety line and nothing. I take a deep breath and reroute my thoughts.
So maybe my wedding didn’t go as planned. Or…at all, for that matter. I’ve known since day one that my friend was skeptical about mine and Daniel’s relationship. She’s made that abundantly clear, as she makes all of her opinions abundantly clear.
But at the end of the day, it’s not up to her. It’s up to me.
And while I know most people in my life don’t believe Daniel is good for me, he’s the first man to really see me. To want me. To pursue me to the extent of sliding a rock of a diamond on my finger.
And that has to count for something, right?
With my head held high, I make my way back into the living area. The moment I open the door, I smell food.
“You ever tried Costa Rican tamales?” Asher asks. “They use banana leaves instead of corn husks. And the flavor is out of this world, especially with the fried plantains.”
“Do you always cook this much?” I ask, though I’d be lying if I said it didn’t look good. Really good.
“Only when I realize the only remedy for hunger is eating,” he answers, sliding me a colorful plate of local food. “Do you always bitch this much when a man cooks for you?”
“Only when I’m being held against my will and worried that I’m going to be poisoned,” I shoot back, knowing full well I’m being overly dramatic.
But hey, if he can dish it, he can eat it.
Literally.
