I’m not saying that there is a right or wrong question to ask someone when they call off their engagement, but as soon as Tobias left the room earlier, she asked me if I was happy.
It was weird the way I didn’t even hesitate to say yes.
I was ready to marry Griffin, but the moment I picked Tobias over him, even before Griffin called me another woman's name, I knew it was over.
Grandma Betty had nodded as if that were the end of the conversation and then tried to get me to spill the beans on Tobias’s dating life.
No surprise there. He doesn't have one.
She then went on to say that she can feel like The One is close, but I shook my head. Tobias has never been a big relationship kind of guy, and I don't imagine he’s going to start now. He’s not old, but if he wanted to settle down, I think he would have by now. Still, I'd never say never. If he falls in love, I hope she likes me.
I stay pretty quiet on the walk to my car.
Griffin never fully believed the two of us were capable of being just friends. He never said anything negative—he never would—but I could hear it in his voice or see it in his eyes: he always worried about my relationship with Tobias. Now I’m starting to think it was all a facade he put up to distract me from whatever it was he was up to.
God, I feel so stupid.
Four years.
Four years that I will never get back.
Tobias looks back over his shoulder as we reach the parking lot. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I say and speed up to fall into step with him. “I’m just over here thinking about how excited I am to have you back in my life full-time.”
“Hmm,” he says, and his grandma makes a clicking noise with her tongue.
“Is this how it’s going to be with you two?”
“How what’s going to be?” Tobias asks.
“It’s like you’re new friends all over again and don’t know how to act.”
“Um, I don’t agree,” Tobias replies quickly.
“Neither do I.”
“Oh really? I remember a time when I couldn't get the two of you to stop talking.”
“Yeah, me too, but we’re older now. More mature.”
I swat Tobias’s bicep at his baloney answer and laugh.
“Yeah, older, which means you don't have much time left to make stupid decisions. If you ask me, this is the perfect time for you two to finally?—”
“And here’s the car!” Tobias cuts her off.
I open the back seat to put the bags away.
Tobias is kneeling in front of Grandma Betty, whispering as I close the door.
“Hey, no secrets,” I tease.
“Exactly.” Grandma Betty huffs.
“Let’s get home,” Tobias says with a shake of his head, then he helps her into the car.
The car ride isn’t much different: Tobias and his grandma bicker, lots of laughter, and I love every moment of it.
