“I’m really glad. Do you have a date in mind already?”
She shook her head. “Not yet. But Eve and I are going to figure that out when we shop for my dress on Friday.”
“Already?” I asked, trying to ignore the mention of Eve’s name.
“It’s very important,” she answered. “But so is the date. And we’ll have that soon enough. Stay tuned.”
I bobbed my head, her happiness a stark contrast to the sadness welling inside me.
“Well, I’m off. I have to get ready for my date with Theo tonight. I am going to be doing a bubble bath, and I would very much like not to be disturbed. So, if those papers come, I’ll just sign them tonight when I’m back.”
“Okay, no problem.”
“When do you see Eve next?” she asked.
Neither of us had expected Louise’s big announcement today when we’d made plans for tonight. “In a few hours.”
I desperately tried to stop the shake in my voice as I realized in the next few hours that I’d be single again.
“Well, I hope you have a lovely time.” She grinned at me, a sparkle in her eyes before she darted up the stairs.
“You’re not going to be singleagain, Spencer. You were always single,” I reminded myself in a murmur as I shuffled back to sit alone in my living room until our final date.
The hours ticked by slowly, each minute closer seeing my mood devolve further and further.
As the time crept closer, I reminded myself that this was for the best. I ran through all the heartbreaking scenarios where I ended up alone anyway.
“This is for the best,” I reminded myself as I stared in the mirror, adjusting my blazer. “You’ll see.”
With a final adjustment, I forced myself to leave the house behind and climb into my car, placing my sweaty palms against my wheel.
My heart thudded dully as I fired the engine and drove into town. Eve and I had planned to meet outside of a coffee shop before we selected a restaurant. We’d never make it there.
I parked and strolled to the spot, my knees wobbling as I went, especially when I spotted her standing on the corner as she waited.
My heart beat so hard I thought it may leap from my chest. It may have been better if it did–preferable to what I was about to do.
With a deep breath, I reminded myself of all the reasons that I had to do it.
I approached her, forcing a smile onto my face.
“Hi,” Eve said with a grin. “I assume you’ve heard the big news.”
“I have,” I answered. She brought up Louise’s engagement immediately. She was probably giddy with anticipation that we could stop dating. “Yes.”
“How are you feeling about it?”
“Umm, happy for Lou,” I answered as I studied the sidewalk beneath my sneakers.
“Me too,” she said with a nod. “She’s so happy.”
“She is. And soon we’ll be divorced, and she can move forward with what I assume will be a big wedding.”
“Sounds like it,” Eve answered. “I’ve never heard so many ideas as I did this afternoon.”
“I’ll bet,” I said, dancing around the subject I really wanted to talk about. “You’ll be busy.”
“Yeah,” she said with a nod. “But still, I’m happy for her.”