Page 53 of Wedding or Not

“Why would I? We didn’t go to college together, and I didn’t know much about your life when you lived in DC. I know you haven’t dated much since you returned, but I assumed that was because there are limited options in town and you were focused on your career.”

“That was mostly it. I had a couple of girlfriends in college, but they were definitely college relationships. I was never all in. In DC, I dated someone for three years.”

“Three years? Wow, that’s a not-insignificant amount of time.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Who was she?” I’m immediately jealous of this mystery woman, who I visualize as sleek and successful and strikingly glamorous.

“Her name was Roslyn. She was in law school.”

Of course she was. Brilliant and professionally successful. “How did you meet her?”

“She lived down the hall in my apartment building. I liked her. We had a good time together. She was busy with law school, but I was busy too, so we were a decent fit. I really did try to make it work.”

“So why did you break up with her?”

“I didn’t.”

My heart sinks as I realize what he’s saying. “So she broke your heart?”

“No.” His eyes are focused on the road in front of him, illuminated by the glow of the headlights, but he huffs out a dry laugh. “Not at all.”

“So what happened?”

“She finished law school and did an internship, then got a full-time job at another branch office of the law firm. She said it was a good time to end things.”

“Oh. Well, it sounds like it was.” This doesn’t sound nearly as bad as I was fearing.

I don’t need to resent some innocent faceless woman for winning and then breaking Wes’s heart.

“It was. She was right. She said… She said she always felt like a placeholder with me.”

“What?”

“That’s what she said. That she felt like a placeholder. That I was going through the motions with her when I really wanted someone else.”

My throat tightens, and I have to speak around the block. “Who did you… Who did you want?”

“Oh, she didn’t mean anyone in particular. Just that she felt like I never really wanted her enough. I thought I was trying my best, but I realized she was right. I liked her. But did I really like her enough to date for three years? Probably not.”

“So why did you?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. She was there, and it was easy. Sounds kind of selfish, doesn’t it?”

“I… I don’t know. It’s probably pretty normal, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Doesn’t mean it’s not selfish.”

“So is that why you haven’t dated much lately?”

“Partly. I don’t want to go through the motions again like that. It made me feel… like the kind of guy I don’t like. So I guess I’ve just been waiting for someone who…”

I hold my breath, waiting for him to finish. “Who what?”

He glances at me and then back at the road. “Someone who’s right.”

We get home twenty minutes later.