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“Dane?” she asks, looking alarmed. “No, thank goodness. He’s finally stopped turning up at work. Maybe he’s finally accepting that it's over.”
I blow up my cheeks with air, hoping that is the case. Breaking up is a horrible business, not that I would know, I haven’t had much experience with relationships. “Good, I’m glad. He needs to leave you alone and let you move on.”
“If only it were that simple.” She sighs.
“Where are all the decent men in New York?” I moan, trying to change tact and get her mind off that asshole.
She laughs. “I can safely say I’ve had my fill of men in general. I’m finished.”
“Famous last words,” I reply as our salads arrive.
It’s sad to hear her say that because she’s always believed in love, as do I. Our parents were very much in love. But her hopes and dreams of finding true love have been shattered by Dane, who promised many things and failed to deliver.
“You are better off without him, you know that” I say softly when she meets my eye.
Rayne nods and gives me a tentative smile. “It’s just sad how things turned out, but it’s also given me some clarification on what I really want.”
“Ooh.” I wriggle in my seat, getting comfy. “And what’s that?”
“A new place.”
She has since moved out of the apartment, and now there’s ongoing legalities with the finances. I wouldn’t want to be there, either. There are too many memories.
“As in Tribeca?”
She laughs again as she stabs a fork into her salad. “I mean like a new city, Mia. I just can’t help but feel that there’s a whole world out there, and I’ve never been brave enough to see it.”
I stare at her, shocked. We’re New Yorkers through and through. I’ve no idea what she’s thinking right now. Maybe she just needs a vacation.
“Like where?” I stammer, dipping a potato skin into the ranch.
“I don’t know,” she shrugs. “Somewhere not too far, but far enough away fromhim.”
“You shouldn’t have to move because of him.”
“I just need a change, that’s all.”
I suppose I can hardly blame her after what she’s been through.
“How would we see each other?”
“Easily, Mia. I was thinking Boston or Connecticut, not the ends of the earth.”
Thank god for that. However, even that seems a little far since we live just across the city from each other. I’m not sure how we would go living in separate cities.
“Christie’s would have a fit if you found another job.”
“Life is always changing,” she says, looking far away for a moment. “That’s been our only constant since we were kids.”
I bite my lip and nod. She’s got a point there. “I know,” I whisper.
Even after all these years, I can’t think about that day. My soul has never recovered from the loss of our parents and I’ve never shaken the guilt of surviving that crash. But the thought of Rayne being alone if I hadn’t survived, that hurts even more.
I feel bad for her in all of this. I can’t help but think how charmed my life actually is right now. While hers seems to be turning to shit completely because the guy she married turned out to be a dick. I always wanted to fall in love, but I think I’m happy being single. Look at what divorce does to people; it leaves the good ones totally messed up and hurt.
My job is going very well, and I’m making good money. I have a great place and a small circle of friends I love hanging out with. And now I just feel guilty, for I’ve nothing to complain about. Especially when I think of how my sister wants to move to another city because of her ex. It blows.
“Anyway, let’s not dwell on the doom and gloom,” she tells me, gesturing to her food. “How good is this dressing?”
