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He moved to the city after a senate campaign he worked on was successful. He and Greer met in the Capitol cafeteria.
They walked toward me hand-in hand.
“Hey, Emily” He leaned over to give me a side hug.
“Hey.” I faked a smile.
I noticed the guys behind us were ticked. They grumbled at each other once they realized Greer wasn’t available, and they were out at least forty dollars.
Preston sat across from me. His hands clasped on top of Greer’s dainty fingers.
She looked at him as if she could devour him on the spot. Her blue eyes sparked under the calming lights of the bar.
“What are you two drinking?” Preston glanced at our glasses.
“Cosmos.” She giggled. Her cheeks were pink.
“I think I’ll get a beer.” He raised his hand for our server, before placing it around her shoulders. She leaned in to him as he whispered something. Greer burst out laughing.
I wiggled in my seat. “I think I’m going to make a trip to the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.” I threw the straw bag over my shoulder and walked away in search of the restrooms.
I needed a second. Just one tiny moment to take a breath away from the suffocating reminder I was alone. I didn’t need what Greer had right now. I knew that. I didn’t want a guy like Preston. But something about being around them made me want more than what I had. It made me thirst for someone in my life to share all these changes with.
I didn’t have a person. There wasn’t someone at the end of the night to check in and tell them I made it to D.C. safely. There wasn’t someone to call to tell them I made it through my first day of paperwork. I didn’t have someone to tell me tomorrow would be better. That tomorrow I’d find my way.
There was a plush sofa in the sitting area before the ladies’ room. I sat down and leaned my head back on the cushions. One thing at a time. New city. New job. New apartment. That was plenty to focus on without getting involved with someone.
I hated self-pity. I wasn’t going to wallow. I had everything I wanted. I needed to march back to the table and finish the night the same way we started it—by celebrating.
I stood, inhaling fully. As I swerved through the tables I noticed Greer and Preston were standing next to their chairs. The waitress was taking Preston’s credit card. I felt a quick wave of relief that Greer didn’t pay for the first round of drinks.
“What’s going on? I wasn’t gone that long.” I looked at them.
Greer sighed. “I got a call. I have to get to work. There’s a meeting at seven in the morning and the file isn’t ready.”
“But it’s so late.” I had no idea what time it was but it had to be close to ten.
Preston squeezed Greer’s shoulder. “I’m going to make sure she gets to the capitol okay.”
“Oh, all right.” I wasn’t sure what to do. I didn’t know what part of Georgetown we were in, but I could get my own Uber home.
“I’m so sorry, Emily.” Greer hugged me. “Can you get home okay?”
I nodded. “Of course. Don’t worry about me. Go. The country needs you,” I teased.
She scoffed. “More like a bunch of assholes who don’t know how to make a decision need me.”
“I’ll see you later?”
Preston turned. “Better not wait up. This sounds like a long night for her. I’ll probably take her home after.” His voice sounded paternal.
“Oh, okay.” Is this how things were now? Preston answered for my best friend? I bit my tongue.
They waved as they walked out of the bar together. I stood next to the table. I had half a drink left. I could sit and finish it or brave the street for a ride home. Either option was nearly as lonely as the other. I slinked into the seat, sipping the rest of the Cosmo. I hated to let twenty dollars of vodka go to waste.
The tables around me turned over with new couples, or groups of friends. I told the waitress I was taking a moment to finish and then I’d leave. She seemed impatient for me to give up the table.
Trying to salvage the night didn’t matter. It was late. Greer was gone. I needed to get a good night’s sleep before tomorrow. I had clinic in the morning. I could head home and soak my feet in the tub before crawling into bed.
