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I do need help. Maybe therapy is the way to go.
I decide to do something fun and sponsor a spa day for the friends I still have around here. Even though I want to give Harvey the money back, I figure this will be the last time I use it.
Monica and Becca were high school friends who went to college locally and chose sensible careers in which they are already employed.
We meet in the morning for breakfast and at first, I am excited. But, as soon as I get there, I realize this was a mistake, as they are both with their boyfriends in tow and I’m here, sad and alone.
“Oh, hi!” I force a smile and go around the table, greeting everyone and hugging Monica and Becca. “Who are these handsome fellas?”
“This is Kevin!” Becca points to the man by her side.
“And I’m Brian,” Brian introduces himself with a handshake.
“We ordered pancakes. Hope you don’t mind,” Monica says over her cup of frosted latte.
“Oh no, I love pancakes!” I raise my hands in surrender, causing laughter all around the table.
A strange silence falls. As I look around for a waiter or waitress to get my drink order, Monica comes with a dreaded question. “So, how have you been?”
“Monica told us you studied theater,” Brian says, sipping his black coffee. “How’s that working out for you?”
I purse my lips into a thin line of repulse due to how judgmental that question sounds.
“Swimmingly!” I say, once again in forced cheer. “I’m unemployed and living with my parents, but otherwise I’m fine. How about you?”
Weirded-out faces surround me now, and more silence accompanies it, filling me with uneasiness that’s enough to make me want to run away from them.
With an artificial laugh, I try to clear the air, and Becca thankfully switches the subject. “So where are we going today?”
“Oh!” I turn to her after placing my order. “It’s a place called The Zen Gardens, near the river shore. They do everything! Are the guys going?”
“We came just to meet you,” Kevin says.
“And we wouldn’t want to put much burden on you, of course,” Monica says, judging me again.
“I can take care of it, Monica!” I try to reassure her, in a forced nonchalant manner. “Wouldn’t have invited you otherwise!”
“Are you sure?” she says, worried. “We could just pay for ourselves—”
My phone rings, thankfully cutting off the conversation. To my surprise, it’s Harvey and I excuse myself from the table before answering,
“Hey?” I say nervously, now standing in the middle of the restaurant’s lobby.
“Hey, stranger,” he says with nervous laughter. “I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing.”
My heart warms up a little upon hearing that.
“Not the greatest. I just left a table with my friends before college and am receiving their judgement for the life choices I’ve made. How about you?”
“Um…” I can picture him massaging the bridge of his nose. “Thinking about you.”
With that, I take a deep breath; I realize that’s all I wanted to hear but didn’t know it.
However, I’m not fully ready to forgive him yet.
“Listen…” he starts, sounding insecure in his words. “You were right. I am in the wrong in this situation. I should have never faked having a fiancé and gotten you involved in it. Do you forgive me?”
Another deep breath, this time, to help me swallow my pride. “Okay… I’m sorry too.”
