Page 69 of Something New

I’m a wreck. A heartbroken mess. Living alone in an apartment I won’t be able to pay rent for when my savings run out in two months.

A tear rolls down my cheek and the lump in my throat forces me to swallow hard.

“Here’s your cappa - oh my goodness are you ok?” the waitress squats down next to my table and reaches up to touch my shoulder. “Honey, are you ok?” She asks.

I smile through my tears, nodding. “I’m fine. Just, um, just silly problems with silly boys.” I shrug, embarrassed that she is comforting me. I don’t want to draw any attention to myself.

“Oh babe, I know that hurt. They can be a real pain - but one day you’ll meet one who will sweep you off your feet.”

I laugh. “You’re a little young to let guys sweep you off your feet, aren’t you?”

She giggles and holds out her hand, showing me a gorgeous ring. “No, I’ve already met my prince charming. We’ve been in love since junior school. He asked me to marry him a month ago.”

Tears spill again. She is so much younger than me and somehow, she has her life together, a job, a man who wants to marry her and she looks thrilled.

“That’s amazing.” I say, wishing she would leave me alone to wallow in my self-pity.

I didn’t even ask to fall in love.

It wasn’t a choice I made. It just came out of nowhere - hijacking my life and creating chaos for me. But here I am - in love with a Vece - with no idea how to handle it.

“What’s going on?” Hayley’s voice makes the waitress jump.

“Boy trouble.” She says, standing and smiling at Hayley. “Can I bring you a coffee too?”

“Yes, thanks.” Hayley says, pulling out a chair and scooting it right next to mine.

She wraps her arms around my shoulders and hugs me.

“What did he do? I’ll kill him.”

I shake my head, taking a deep breath and trying to get myself under control. “No, it’s better that we break up. We shouldn’t have been together.”

“But I thought you really liked him.”

“I did - but I knew he wasn’t right for me. I don’t even want to talk about it now. Can we leave that conversation for another day? I just want to forget about it and have a pleasant afternoon with you.”

Hayley narrows her eyes at me for a moment then sighs. “Ok, yes, let’s cheer you up - but you are going to tell me what happened at some point right?”

“I will. I promise. Just not today.”

She nods. “Alright. We can have coffee - and then we can go to the little market in the park today. It’s a bunch of vintage and thrift stuff. It’ll be fun to shop around.”

“That sounds perfect.”

The young waitress returns with Hayley’s cappuccino and smiles at me. I glance down at her hand, at the pretty ring on her fingers. Is that what I want? Do I want to get married? What a crazy thought. All I have ever focused on was work and trying to make a good life for myself. Now suddenly I am crying over a guy and questioning everything because it all fell apart.

The waitress walks away, and I look back at Hayley.

“Now isn’t a good time to tell you - but you want a distraction, right?” she grins.

“I want a distraction. And you can tell me anything.”

“I got a job. A proper one. I’m working as a clerk in the office at that law firm in town - with the big blue statue outside their building.”

“I know which one that is. That’s amazing. Oh, my word I am so proud of you.”

“I wanted to tell you yesterday when they emailed me, but I decided to rather tell you in person.”

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