“Sounds like classic John,” I chuckled. “But you have the date, so the hardest part’s done, right?”
“The hardest part is deciding who to invite and how to seat them,” Mady sighed. “John has a family that needs to be split among three tables to avoid a disaster.”
I made a mental note to write down the names later. I’d need them on the big day to help her navigate the minefield of seating arrangements without World War III breaking out over who had thebirthrightto sit closest to the bride and groom.
“How’s your dad?” Mady asked, catching me off guard with the sudden change in topic.
“Oh, you know. Still in San Francisco, working nonstop,” I sighed. My dad and I were on good terms. No fights or drama, but we’ve grown distant over the past few years.
“Are you sad about that?” she asked softly, as if I were a fragile vase. I wasn’t.
“No. Why would I be? That’s just how it is with us. I’m sure he’s fine with things as they are.”
“When’s the last time you talked?”
“Two months ago, maybe. We did the usual—he asked how I was, I asked about business, then we talked about the weather.”
Mady gave me that soft, knowing look, but didn’t press. Instead, she curled up next to me. I welcomed the warmth.
“And what about Jackson?”
I tensed. “What about him? We broke up.”
“Yeah, but how are you? Has he reached out?”
I lowered my eyes, avoiding her gaze. She was too good at reading me.
“It was the right call. It just wasn’t working. Nothing’s changed.” I carefully set my glass down, ensuring it landed on the coaster to avoid a wine ring on the floor.
“As for seeing him,” I paused. “We’ve run into each other—at the coffee shop, a few other places. That’s all.” I tried to make it sound casual. That wasn’t an actual lie, I tried to convince myself.
“Mhh,” she exhaled. “Have you found a new place?” she asked, quickly changing the subject again. Thankfully.
“Yes, I found a couple of options, not far from here, actually. Closer to my work.”
“Show me, show me!” Mady grinned, stumbling a bit as she grabbed my laptop and bumped into the couch on her way back, proving there was too much wine in her system. We sat cross-legged on the floor, scrolling through listings.
The rest of the night was spent reminiscing about our old college boyfriends, how we couldn’t wait for summer, and debating our next tattoos.
Only when the wine finally took over did we fall asleep on the pull-out couch, trying to hold onto these moments, to savor the ‘good old days’, feeling lucky to be in them right now.
6
Luke
On my way to Logan’s, my mind buzzed with the endless to-do list for our upcoming product launches. I loved my job, and I was damn good at it. I just needed to compartmentalize. The exercise helped, either by letting me forget for a moment or by giving me a fresh perspective. Exercise helped. Whether it gave me a brief escape or a fresh perspective, it did the trick.
I was leaving the gym, my mental checklist still vivid in my mind, when a ringtone interrupted my thoughts. I sighed at the caller ID: Mom. I pressed Ignore, choosing not to let it spoil my evening. Recently, her calls had become more persistent, and I wasn’t in the mood for it tonight. Just like I wasn’t in the mood for the gym receptionist’s constant attempts to hook up with me. Her desperation was palpable, and not in a good way.
I stopped by the store for a bottle of wine, and an hour later, I was standing at Logan’s door.
Ding dong!
The door swung open, and Norah greeted me with a warm smile.
“Hey, gorgeous, how are you?” I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Great! Come on in, it’s been a while. I missed you.”
