“It was amazing,” Seth said. “I played him the opening of that song I told you about last week and he loved it. He wants to hear the rest.” He laughed. “I didn’t tell him I haven’t finished it, though. Or that I’m really stuck on the third verse.”
“Send it over,” Meghna said easily. “I’ll take a look tonight.”
“Really? You’re truly the best, you know that, right?”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. By the way, I heard ‘Angel in Red’ on the radio the other day. It was surreal. I had no idea you were going to go with those lines I sent.”
“Well, when they werethatgood, how could I not?”
Meghna’s chest warmed.
“How’s your work going?” he asked. “Wait, you sent me a text, I think. That they signed off on the play or something?”
“They did,” she said, touched that he’d remembered. She’d been fighting for her school to have a theater program since her first day on the job. When the school board had unexpectedly granted her request this semester, she’d been overjoyed, then immediately overwhelmed at the idea of teaching both English and theater and putting a full production together on such short notice.
“I have no idea how it’ll turn out. We barely had any surplus in our budget, so we’re really stretching to make ends meet, but I’m just happy they didn’t give the extra to athletics again this year.”
“Well, it’ll be nice for you to get back to your roots,” Seth said. “Just like old times. You basically played the starring role in every production in college.”
Meghna laughed at the exaggeration. “I remember it differently…”
“Well, theater was always where your heart was at.”
“It still is,” Meghna insisted. “Actually, I just sent you a revised version of my second act. I tightened up the part you mentioned, and I think it’s really coming along. Have you had a chance to look at it?”
He blew out a loud breath, awhooshing sound traveling through her car speakers. “No. I’m so sorry. I’ve been under a lot of stress. So much has been happening. That’s what I was calling about, really. I wanted to see if you’d gotten the invitation.”
Meghna’s smile slipped off her face. Her good mood was snuffed out immediately. “Yes. Yes, I did. Congratulations!” she said, forcing herself to sound happy. “I, umm, I had no idea you and Julie had gotten so serious.” Seth had barely even brought up Julie’s name around Meghna. And when he had, he’d always made it sound so casual. Seth flitted in and out of “situationships” all the time. She’d just assumed this was another one.
“I really meant to call you before the invitations went out,” he said apologetically. “But this all happened so much faster than we planned. Julie had her heart set on this particular venue and they had a surprise cancellation and things really snowballed from there. We’ve booked the caterers and she’s found the dress and there are only a few things left to do.”
He paused and took a deep breath. “You know, you’ve been my closest friend since college. You supported my songwriting dreams in those early days when no one else believed in me. And even though I have an entire team now, you’re still the first person I want to send every first bad draft to. Your feedback means more to me than anyone else’s. There’s no one I trust more. No one whose input matters more. You just…you mean the world to me, Meg.”
“Thanks, Seth,” she said. Even though his words were incredibly kind, a vague sense of dread started growing in the pit of her stomach. “You mean a lot to me too.”
“So, I guess what I’m trying to ask is…will you be my best man?”
Shock turned her blood to ice. She could barely process what she’d just heard.His best man? His bestman?
“Wow,” she said, a bit numbly. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes. Please. I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else. Plus, think how adorable you’ll look in a tux.”
Adorable?Like she was a baby or a small woodland animal.Ugh.
“And think about how much fun we’ll have at the bachelor party!” he said.
She would have to go to his bachelor party? No, she quickly realized. She would have toorganizethe bachelor party. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t stand next to him as he vowed to love and cherish someone else. She had to come up with some excuse. Anything.
“You know I’d love to and I’m so honored you asked me, but…” Her mind went blank. She couldn’t think of a single reason to say no.
“But nothing,” he said. “I get why you’re hesitating. I know it’snot exactly conventional and people might think we’re weird, but you’ve been there for me. For so many years. This is the most important day of my life and I need you. I need you to be there. Please?”
How could she refuse that? “Of course, Seth,” she found herself saying. “Of course, I’ll be there.”
“Thank you,” he said, his relief evident in his voice. “It’ll be fun, Meg. Really. We can talk about all of the details later, but I’m so excited.”
“Me too,” she said, trying to infuse her voice with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. “I can’t wait. Congratulations again, Seth. I really am happy for you.”
