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“Okay.” He nods. “Just think about it and text me. I can help you set something up with her.”
I tilt my head. “Yeah, I will. Thanks.”
“I’ll see you in class.” He smiles, the right corner of his mouth curving up, exposing a hint of a dimple pressing into his cheek.
“Bye,” I say shyly before he leaves the store.
A job opportunity. Even with my mom’s continued pressure to find a job, one that had a more promising future and quite possibly health benefits and a 401(k), I haven’t even begun to look. Instead, I brush her off and continue to come to the bookstore to work my shift every week. But an actual job opportunity for a publishing company. The idea stirs something in me that vaguely mirrors excitement. An expectation that this, the hours blending into days, doesn’t have to be the end-all, be-all. I can have a future, one that I’ll build for myself. One that I get to dictate, to make mistakes, to celebrate milestones. Pain doesn’t have to be the center of my life; heartbreak doesn’t have to control me.
The last hours before the store closes drag on. Once it finally hits nine p.m., I turn off the lights, empty the register, and turn the Open sign to Closed before arming the store and locking the doors.
I walk to my car located amongst the busy parking lot and watch the buzz of Friday night festivities between locals pass by me. People spill from the stores with their frivolous purchases and laugh as they pile into their cars, driving off with loud music blasting through their speakers. All while singing along off-key to their favorite pop songs.
I unlock my car and sit in the driver’s seat before starting the engine, and I lazily back out of the parking spot before driving home.
When I pull into my driveway, I’m surprised to see Claire’s sleek black Mercedes-Benz parked against the sidewalk. She’s standing on my front step, jumping and waving at me as I put my car in park.
“Claire, what are you doing here? Did you call me?” I ask as I look at my phone, worried that I may have missed a call from her.
“No! I wanted to surprise you.” Her usually bright smile is even brighter tonight. She’s here to tell me something, and she’s bursting at the seams with anticipation.
“Okay… What’s going on?” I look at her quizzically.
“Let’s go inside, El.” Her hands are bunched together in front of her mouth as if she’s physically trying to keep from spilling what she wants to tell me too soon.
We enter my house, which is not surprisingly empty, and settle into my room. Claire bounces on the edge of my bed, and I ask her again what is going on.
Instead of answering me, she holds out her left hand, palm side down. It’s then I notice a sparkling diamond on her ring finger. Wide-eyed at the realization, I pull her hand towards me, practically yanking her off the bed to examine it more closely.
“Wes proposed.” She smiles bashfully. “After our talk about moving to Australia, he realized that whatever future we had, he wanted it to be together.”
I’m speechless. Her diamond ring, beautiful and brilliantly bright, sparkles like a disco ball even in my dimly lit room.
“When did this happen?” I’m still shocked, overjoyed that such a momentous event occurred for my best friend. And a little sad that I hadn’t been there to witness it.
“Last night. Wes convinced me to skip my classes this morning for a little getaway. We drove to Joshua Tree and stayed in a little camping dome. Ellie, he literally proposed to me under the stars.”
“Claire!” I scream. She stands, and we both jump up and down as we cling to each other.
“Ellie!” she screeches back. We laugh uncontrollably. My best friend is getting married. The joy bursting from my heart can’t be contained.
“Where is he?” I ask as our jumping settles into small hops before we both sit back down on my bed.
“He’s at his place. I’m going over there right now. I told him that I needed to come and tell you in person.”
I hug her again, and we tumble backward as I’m unable to contain my joy for her.
“Oh my God, El. It was so magical. He said he wanted to wait until I graduated, but once he got the ring, he said he couldn’t wait any longer.”
“So does this mean you’re officially moving to Australia with him?” I ask, worried to hear that Claire won’t be by my side for much longer.
“No.” She shakes her head. “He decided that our lives are here. I mean, I would have gone with him if that’s what he wanted, but he knows how much it means for my career if I stayed here. He already told his boss he’s staying in LA.”
I hug her again, the realization of her staying in LA bringing me a fresh wave of relief. We continue to talk for a while, discussing plans for a possible spring wedding and the finer details of Wes’s well-planned proposal.
As the hour passes, I can feel Claire’s impatience to get back to her new fiancé.
“You should get back to Wes. You two need to celebrate,” I suggest after the third time she’s checked my clock for the time.
