Page 93 of Picture Us

DREW

“Diana, open up!”Drew banged on her door for a full minute. Between police style knocks, Drew tapped their foot. Their camera bag was slung over their shoulder and in the crook of their arm, was a craft-paper wrapped rectangle.

After a moment, they could hear footsteps under the door. “Diana, dude come on. It’s Drew.”

Throwing the door open, Diana sleepily eyed Drew. “What in god’s name could be this urgent on a Saturday morning? Why are you in a suit?”

Drew, dressed in black trousers, a black button-down, with a black tie and shoes, pushed past her and took a deep breath. “I need your truck.”

“What?” She was still playing catch up as Drew paced around her living room.

“The wedding. I have to go.” Drew smiled.

Diana went to her kitchen, not bothering to fight the morning on being awake, and brewed a coffee. “I thought Rose told you not to go?”

Drew waved off the concern. “She did but I have to give her something.”

“The day of her best friend’s wedding, where she’s the photographer?” Shaking her head, Diana prepared to talk Drew down off the proverbial ledge.

Drew shrugged, “Trust me.”

“Drew, I don’t…” Diana trailed off, unsure how to handle this.

Looking around Diana’s apartment, Drew clung to the wrapped gift in their arm. “Diana, it’s so obvious now.”

Diana walked closer, her heart rate escalating. “Drew. Stop.”

It was a tone Drew had never heard from her. Serious. They stopped dead in their tracks and looked at her. “What? I’m gonna fix things. She doesn’t want to be my friend because she still loves me. So it’s not too late.”

Shaking her head, Diana met Drew’s gaze. “So you’re gonna pull up to the wedding and profess your love?”

“That’s kind of the idea.”

Diana leaned against her marble counters. “Have you thought about whether that’s something she would even want?”

With a shrug, Drew nodded. “I mean, I think so. She’s a hopeless romantic and loves a grand gesture. I’m not planning on interrupting the ceremony or anything like that. But we ended things so suddenly because I was defensive about my work stuff.”

Waving Drew onward, Diana prompted them to continue. “What else?”

“What do you mean?”

“Shannon.” Diana crossed her arms.

Drew nodded. “It was a factor.”

Scoffing, Diana took a sip of her coffee. Drew shrugged. “What?” All it took was an eyebrow raise and a head shake for Drew to be honest.

“I know, the jealousy is a problem. I’m trying to deal with it.” Drew’s gaze lowered, the pain coming back to them as the excitement took the back seat. Their eyes wandered around the apartment. Talking about it made it feel impossible for Drew to look at Diana.

Taking a deep breath, Diana reached her hand out to Drew. Once she held Drew’s hand in her own, Diana swallowed the lump in her throat. “You’re never going to be happy until you do. Just because you were right about me, doesn’t mean you’re right about everyone. And to be with her, you have to let it go.”

“I know that.” Drew nodded, sniffling.

Diana sat up straight. “So why did you accept the job without telling her?”

Drew tilted their head. “You’re really going to make me say it?”

Pulling her keys from her pocket, Diana dangled them in front of Drew. “You want the keys, you have to verbalize your feelings. Go on.” She waved for Drew to continue.

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