“I don’t love him. And I don’t want to marry him.”
“Then don’t.”
It can’t be that simple.
Can it?
In the silence that follows Willow’s words, I finally give in to what I’ve wanted to say and do for so long.
“I’m breaking up with Baron.”
“Thank fuck for that,” Willow says, leaning back in her chair and flinging her hands in the air dramatically.
I manage to laugh, even as I’m crying. They’re happy tears. Relieved tears. Nervous, but finally excited-for-the-future tears.
Sadie lifts her glass. “To making the right decision.”
I swipe away my tears, then with a tremulous smile that grows stronger with every second, I pick up my glass. “To making the right decision.Finally”
I drink, feeling completely at peace with my choice. It’s not going to be easy, ending a relationship that has defined me for so many years, but it has to happen. It will happen. For once, I’m standing up for what I need, instead of letting others decide what should happen.
And no matter what, I know I’ve got my friends to support me through it all.
As for Dan? Well, maybe what Willow said is true, and all that was stopping him was me being in a relationship. The thought of that is both exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. Especially since I know the only way to find out is to make the first move.
Chapter eight
Monty
“Hiiiii, Dan. You’re amazing, you know that, right? Like, super-cool-fantastic-awesome-amazing. And like, a great guy. And a great friend. And you have a great butt. Oh my God, pretend I didn’t just say that. Okay. Wow. So, um, anyway. I’m out with Willow and Sadie and they just bought a bottle of champagne to help me celebrate. Oh! Wait. I’m not celebrating getting married. I’m celebrating not getting married! Yeah. I have finally decided to stop being stupid. I’m ending it with Baron. Oh man, I think I gotta go drink champagne. Champaaaaaaaaaaagne. That’s a funny word to say. Okay, anyway, ummm, I don’t know what else to say, except you’re amazing! Okay. Bye!”
I listen to Lark’s drunken, giggly message for a third time as I drive through the city toward the restaurant Willow texted me they were at. The first time I listened, I almost dropped my phone. The second time, I paced around my apartment, alternating between shaking my head in disbelief and grinning. This time, I’m coaching myself not to get too excited.
Just because she’s ending it with the asshole doesn’t mean there’s anything there for me. She might say I’m amazing, and have a great butt, but she also said I’m a greatfriend. Goddamn friend zone. I hate it here. Can I give up my lifetime membership? Please?
At Grayson’s game last week, so many people were looking at the two of us. Probably taking notice of how Lark would lean against me or steal my water to take a drink. Things couples do.
Oh, how wrong they were to assume that.
I’m a great friend. So great, I’ll press pause right at my favourite scene inThe Empire Strikes Backto pick her up.
Luke’s freak-out over the identity of his father? Classic.
I pull up outside the restaurant and thankfully find a parking spot. It’s a fancy place from the looks of the people coming out the door. I glance down at my grey sweats and hoodie, complete with a pizza stain in the middle of my chest, briefly second-guessing my decision to not bother changing before coming. But Willow made it sound like Lark was too drunk to just take an Uber home. So here I am, dressed like a schlub, ready to make sure she gets home safe.
The second I get out of my car, I hear someone call my name. Looking over, I see Ronan Sinclair, the first baseman for the Tridents, walking up. “Hey Monty, you here for Lark? We could have driven her home.”
That makes me pause, because yeah, he could have. “Willow just said I should come and get Lark.”
Ronan does a terrible job of hiding his smirk. “She did, did she. I see.”
I pointedly ignore him. Just then, the door to the restaurant opens, and three women stumble out, holding onto each other and giggling.
We start toward them, Willow spotting us first. “There you are, our knights in shining” — her gaze drops down, then back up with a giggle — “sweatpants.” She waltzes over to Ronan, wrapping her arms around him and plastering a kiss on his face. “Hi.”
Turning my attention from them, I see Sadie, standing to the side, typing something on her phone, and Lark, looking at me.
“Why are you here?” she asks, then hiccups, slapping a hand over her mouth.
