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It was a casual thing, but now it’s serious.

The last thing I ever want to do is hurt you…

I’m sorry.

Why are you apologizing? You’re an amazing person. You deserve to be happy.

I’m happy for you.

Year Five

Staring at that neon sign, I was in utter disbelief. Having graduated barely a year ago, I was one of the youngest restaurant owners in the state of New York. I’d been meticulous about the place, overseeing every detail, right down to that neon blue sign above the door that read “Genie’s.” That morning, when they unveiled it, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t teared up seeing my name in lights—literally.

The front door opened, and Charlie poked her head out, blonde curls falling around her face. “Gene—you ready? Guests are starting to arrive.”

Car doors opened and shut, and murmuring voices started up behind me. I decided not to turn around to see who the voices belonged to. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

Nerves fluttered in my stomach, but it had nothing to do with it being opening night. No, those were reserved for the VIP section, and hoping the person whose name was on the card showed up.

Stepping over the threshold, I barely had time to accept the drink Charlie handed me before I needed to paste a smile on my face and begin greeting guests. Most faces I knew—classmates, instructors, and friends I’d made along the way. The ones I didn’t recognize belonged to journalists and food bloggers. With each new face that came through the door, my heart sank a little more.

I still had yet to see Ryan’s face in person. The timing was just never right.

I shook hands and accepted two more whiskeys before it seemed that no one else would walk through the door—including Ryan. He could have slipped past me, but I didn’t want to think that he would have done that without saying something.

I never stopped loving him, and that was no secret. It had been a year since he told me he’d been seeing someone. I’d given him a plus one on the invitation, so even if he did show up, there was no guarantee that he’d be alone.

The doors finally closed, banishing the bitter Manhattan cold. I was thankful for the warm rush of air that passed over me when the heat was finally allowed to fill the foyer. Charlie appeared next to me, a manicured hand swapping my empty glass for another drink. “No sign of him?” she asked.

I shook my head, shoulders slumping in defeat. “No… but it’s been so long. I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.”

Charlie brushed a curl away from her face. “Genie, don’t sell yourself short. You’re a catch. I’m sure there’s someone out there that would be willing to do that for you.”

I’d never seen Charlie dolled up before—not even for prom—but standing there, in that dark blue evening gown, even I had to admit that she looked gorgeous. “You look good tonight, Charlie,” I voiced, desperate for the attention to be off me for a moment.

“We do clean up nice, don’t we?”

“Babe, I found our table. You coming?”

I turned toward the voice coming from the French doors. There stood a person with short, cropped, black hair. They were dressed in slacks and a blazer, smiling towards Charlie like she hung the moon.

“‘Babe?’”

“That’s what girlfriends call each other.” When I said nothing, Charlie rolled her eyes. “Come on, Gene. You didn’t think Hazelbrush only had one of us, did you?”

Without another word, Charlie winked at me and rejoined her girlfriend. I shook my head to clear it. I didn’t have any mental capacity to worry about Charlie’s coming out—or lack thereof?

Chugging my drink, I closed my eyes and let the smooth, amber liquid warm me from the inside out.

“Ay bendito…”

I nearly dropped my glass. Over the years, I’d picked up quite a bit of Spanish, but I’d only ever heard that phrase once—that voice once. I spun, the glass slipping from my fingers and falling to the floor.

Damn it, Charlie.

“You’re here,” I stated, in complete disbelief.

“I promised, didn’t I?”