“I’m sorry but it is an obvious question. What was the wedding like?”
“Quick. Nothing crazy. The judge and courthouse kind of thing.” But it was still somehow oddly special. I don’t regret it. Sure, I was missing a lot of elements that I had imagined for my wedding one day, but it was also… perfect.
And that’s why I’m on the crazy train.
“Kind of is a bummer we missed that. You’re going to have to plan a redo for your anniversary.”
I have no clue what life will look like a year from now. Hopefully, I have my new school, and I do picture Oliver in the dream, not entirely sure in what way. We skipped the middle part from dating to official to engaged to married.
“Perhaps,” I reply nimbly. “Anyhow, it’s Liam or Carter that we probably have the issue with.”
Esme begins to howl with laugh and a few others in the coffee shop throw us unusual looks.
“What’s so funny?”
She even snorts a little as she tries to control herself. When she finally does gain composure, I swear I see a tear. “You. You’re hilarious. Liam will be fine. Carter, on the other hand? He’s hurting from unresolved issues. I mean, what is he going to do? Hire his divorce lawyer for you? I mean, using him as an excuse is just obvious. If you think he is the obstacle, then you are hiding under a rock.”
“How so?”
“Because your challenge is deciding whether you stay in a marriage that would’ve come to be one day anyhow, or you scratch that legality into history and begin from square one.”
“And? Point being?”
“For a teacher, you have a brain cell missing. You are completely in love with him and have every intention of wearing that ring around your finger for eternity.”
My mouth opens and words get blocked in my throat. Instead, I reach protectively for my necklace that I’ve kept on from habit and acknowledge she is right, but I won’t say it out loud.
I am in love with Oliver.
Completely.
We just seem to dance around one another. I’m still not entirely convinced that we balance out, as in he loves me too.
“That is the reality we found ourselves in… yes.” I avoid her gaze because I don’t want to see her glee.
“You both have the answer. I mean, we all saw something coming. You two have been adorable together for the longest time. It’s on Liam for being a jackass and not speaking up that he doesn’t care… well, that was until the quickie-marriage part. I just mean that you both would have been together long ago and probably on your first kid by now. Then again, you both could have grown a backbone a long time ago and just gone for it without anyone’s permission.”
“Oh.” It’s the only syllable I manage to muster.
She pulls out a tube of lip gloss from her purse to spread a layer on her lips. “It’s probably why you guys never told anyone. You think you want to figure it out and it’s all on paper, but in reality, it’s a front for what you both don’t want to admit.”
“And this is why we entered our own little world. Our friends would just give their input as if they are world-renowned psychologists.”
She flashes me a stoic smile.
I hear the bell on the door, and over her shoulder, I see my brother enter. He gives me a nod and slowly approaches our table.
Esme notices. “I’ll give you two some time.” She stands and touches my back in passing for assurance.
“I guessed you would be here.”
I attempt a smile. “Fresh muffins tend to lift the day.”
Liam sits down across from me, almost deflated, and I watch him, waiting for him to begin.
Liam flicks his eyes up to meet mine. A few times until his shoulders relax. “The thing is, I’m aware that Oliver is husband material.”
“He is. Already, he’s taken care of me,” I say, quick to defend.
