“This is all happening so fast,” I said. My stomach churned. “It feels like he’s railroading me or something.”
“It’s not that weird,” Kate assured me. “You’re being paranoid and crazy.”
“It’s the election,” Susie said. “After you win, you’re going to be glad Hunter wants to build a life with you.”
“Also,” Kate added, “you two have known each other for years and years. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry met each other at a bar, and then, like, three months later, they were engaged. You look rational and conservative by comparison.”
“Besides,” Susie said, “you’ve seen what Hunter is like; you’ve interacted with him in multiple scenarios. It’s not like he’s really going to pop up with any big reveals, like he has a secret family or something somewhere. I mean, yeah, you have nitpicky things you don’t like about him, but you have to accept people as they are.”
“Right.” Kate nodded. “You can’t have a laundry list of things that are deal breakers. You can have one or two items.”
I stuffed two of Susie’s doughnut holes in my mouth. The whole situation had me stress eating like crazy.
“Hunter’s issues don’t fall under the important deal breakers like abusive or crazy or chews with his mouth open or doesn’t shower,” Kate added. “Also, he’s good with money. Your entire life you’ve been fucked over by men who are bad with money—your great uncle and your dad screwed you over too. If you’re with Hunter, you won’t be homeless.”
“Seems like a very low bar,” I said, making a face.
“If you wait any longer to get married,” Susie reminded me, stealing her cup of doughnut holes back, “you’re going to be past the point where it’s cute to have a big wedding. You’re going to have to go down to the courthouse then out for brunch after.”
“There’s nothing wrong with brunch!” I protested.
“No, brunch is amazing, but don’t you want a big wedding?” Kate pleaded. “Do it for your friends! You know I love weddings!”
“He hasn’t even proposed.”
“He will,” Susie said. “He’s been waiting for this moment forever.”
“Don’t burn your bridges until after the election,” Kate coached.
* * *
It was latewhen my friends left. The doughnut holes had done little to help my stress levels. What was worse was that I had no food in my apartment. I contemplated the almost empty refrigerator.
Are you sure you are qualified to be a wife? Hunter would surely expect dinner at the end of the day. You only have half a bottle of cheap wine in your fridge.
My stomach rumbled, either because I was hungry or stressed. Same thing. I could not sleep hungry, and I needed my sleep.
“Kate’s right,” I told myself as I drank the rest of the wine and scrolled through the delivery app for something tasty. “You’re worried about the election. You’re not sleeping well. You obviously aren’t eating healthy. Once you win the election, all your anxieties will go away.”
But that didn’t help me now. What would, though? Corn dogs and onion rings.
“Fifteen dollars for the delivery fee?” I huffed as the app gave me the cost estimate. “I’m not spending that much; this place is right down the street.”
I was slightly too tipsy to walk, but I was not paying fifteen dollars, and now that I had decided I wanted a corn dog, I wasn’t going to be able to sleep without it.
“If you walk to pick up takeout,” I told myself as I put on my shoes, “you cancel out all the calories.”
The streets were fairly quiet as I slipped out of the front door of the apartment building. That was another thing I was stressed about—I only had a little over a week left until I had to move back out. Where was I going to live? My sister’s? Hazel had a small apartment over her bistro, but with Minnie and Rose already living there, it was packed.
Meg:Hazel, can I come move in with you next week???
Hazel:*Sigh* I mean, I guess. You’ll have to sleep on the floor.
Meg:Just until I detangle our finances.
Hazel:Archer said Hunter was doing that.
Meg:I’m not relying on men anymore when it comes to money.
