Page 18 of Something New

A little bird, made from diamonds, set on a platinum band.

She will say yes.

Of course, she will say yes.

I tuck the velvet box into my pocket and pull out into the road, driving towards the other side of the city where her little apartment is.

When she comes home, I will be waiting for her. Like I have been waiting so many times in the past - but this time I am going to say hello.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Nerissa

“How are you getting home?” Hayley asks, eyeing me up and down. “There is no way you are driving yourself.” She says.

“Don’t be silly. I got an Uber here. I will Uber home.” I laugh, pulling her towards me to hug her goodbye.

Tonight was magical. It wasalmostperfect.

Friends surrounded me, and they really made it special for me. I can’t believe how amazing they all were.

The only thing that dragged me down was the fact that Riley just didn’t show up. I don’t understand why he couldn’t message me or tell me what was going on. But whateverspecialthing he wanted to tell me - he chickened out. For a while now I have suspected that he likes Tabatha, the prettiest girl in the class. I mean, I don’t stand a chance against someone as beautiful as her. Any man would choose her over me. I wouldn’t blame them.

Hayley dodges my attempt to hug her goodbye and pouts out her bottom lip.

“Can’t you stay just a little longer. I’m having so much fun.” She grumbles.

“Hayley, you are so bad. Most of the people have left. It’s really late. Don’t you have work in the morning?” I ask, trying to reason with her. Hayley has a side job in the coffee shop near her apartment. She works most weekends because that is when people tip the most.

“Nope, I took the day off especially so I could party with youall night loooooong.” She says with a grin.

“Ok, but it’s almost three in the morning. We did party all night.” I’m tired.

“One more drink. Just you and me. Not all the other people. Just me and my best friend on her birthday and then you can go home and get into your cozy bed and go to sleep.” She is so drunk, and trying hard so I cave to the peer pressure. “Fine, one, that’s it.”

Hayley waves a waitress over to the VIP table and orders us each a glass of champagne. My head is already spinning less because I stopped drinking about an hour and a half ago. I don’t like hangovers. They are a waste of time, and I don’t see the point in ever getting that drunk. But this extra glass of champagne won’t affect me too much. I’ll still wake up fresh tomorrowif I get enough sleep. Sleep, and hydration — that’s the secret.

Hayley leans into me, tipsy and loving. “You really are my best friend. I don’t know where I would be without you.”

“I’d be on my way home to bed.” I laugh.

She punches me in the arm. “Hey, no jokes. I mean it, Nerissa. You are so inspiring. After everything you went through. Youstill push so hard to be the best person you can be. You are so beautiful, inside, and outside. I just want you to know that you mean the world to me.”

I wrap my arms around my drunk, emotional best friend and hug her tight.

“You are just as special to me, Hayley. This is a two-way street. You are the reason I found my feet and my confidence again. You are basically my sister.”

She grins. “If I’m your sister, you can never get rid of me.”

I laugh, agreeing with her.

We sit together and finish our last drink, reminiscing over the amusing things that happened during college and how our lives are really about to begin now that we are in the big wide world and getting proper office jobs and all those adult type things.

“I’m sorry Riley flaked on you.” Hayley says, pulling her mouth tight. “I’ll slap him next time I see him. He doesn’t deserve you. Douchecanoe.”

I shrug my shoulders, brushing off the pain of his rejection. “It’s ok. It just wasn’t meant to be.”

“We will find you a proper prince charming.” She teases.

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