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I choke out a strangled cough. “Right. Um, I’m actually with someone.”
“You are?” Zack asks incredulously, as though he just can’t believe it.
“Yeah. We met a few months ago at a wedding, and then we got set up on a blind date together, and have been together ever since.” I wring my hands in front of me. I shouldn’t feel awkward right now, but I do. Why is it so hard to believe that I’ve found someone to love me?
“Is that the groomsman you were telling me about?” Tessa asks.
“Yes,” I say. “Andrew. He’s a woodworker.”
“Well… that’s great, Josie.”
“Thanks,” I reply.
This is so fucking awkward. What do you say to the person who you once considered your best friend after she gets engaged to your ex?
“We’ll have to hang out soon,” Tessa says half-heartedly. “Discuss wedding plans.”
Zack narrows his eyes, looking up and down my body as if gauging my size.
“Oh, for sure,” I say. I almost know she won’t be calling me, and to be honest, I don’t know that I want her to. I’m completely fine to close that chapter of my life, and move forward, with Andrew at my side.
We say goodbye, an awkward hug with empty promises from Tessa, and a pat on the shoulder from Zack. They walk away, hand in hand, and I feel a weird sense of finality. Those two might just be perfect for each other, and I’m glad I’m not in the middle of it.
I climb back into my car, fixing the music and queuing my audiobook, and head for home. To Andrew. He should be getting home from the hospital with Gramps, and I’m so excited to see him.
I pull into my driveway, and spot Travis in my front window. He’s perched right next to Velma, both of them looking at us. My brain has one of those record scratch moments as I realize something. Travis wasn’t here when I left this morning. He was with Andrew, who dropped him off at his house before going to sit with Gramps.
Is Andrew already here? I don’t see his car anywhere. He must be, if Travis is here. I get out of the car, and my suspicion is answered when the garage door opens, and Andrew strides out, a sly grin on his face. He’s in a pair of dark wash jeans, and a deep blue flannel, his curls mussed, hanging over his eyes. He definitely is in need of a haircut.
It’s then that I remember the surprise he mentioned. Seeing Tessa and Zack kind of threw my brain for a loop.
42
ANDREW
Josie steps out of her car, smiling when she sees the smile on my own face. It’s impossible to hide my excitement from her, and I did tell her that I had a surprise for her. She walks to me, and I reach out my hand for her.
I bend down, kissing her quickly. “How was the wedding?” When I pull back, I notice that she seems a little off.
She shrugs. “The wedding was great. Kenzy was incredible.” Josie takes a deep breath. “Apparently, the groom was friends with Zack in college, so I unexpectedly saw him and Tessa.”
My brows pinch together. “Did you talk to them?”
“Unfortunately. They’re engaged.”
“No fucking way,” I say. I search her eyes for any sort of hint as to how she feels about it.
“Yep. In itself it was fine, just very awkward. She wants to meet up and discuss the wedding, but I get the feeling she won’t call. Not that I really want her to.”
“Did they say anything else about…” I start to ask. I don’t want to say the words, because the thought of her feeling pressured to lose weight makes me sick. My girl is fucking gorgeous, and I wouldn’t change a thing about her.
“It was insinuated, but not said.”
I nod. Pulling her in close to me, I kiss her cheek. “I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself, petals.”
“Thanks,” she murmurs. “It sucks losing your best friend, but to be honest, I’m better off without them.”
“You are. You’ve got new people to stand by you.”
