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She rolls her eyes. “Nick picked it. It’s ridiculously expensive. We’ll meet at ten.”
Brent looks at me. “Have you been?”
I shake my head.
“Only the best for Nick.” Maureen sits back in her chair, studying her perfectly manicured nails.
Brent takes a bite of his doughnut, focusing on her. “So, anyone you know coming to see previews this week?”
“My mom is flying into town on Wednesday,” she replies. “You?”
“My girlfriend, yes.”
She grins. “Are you gonna finally propose?
Brent tries to hide his smile, but he can’t help it. It spreads across his face quickly. He nods and shoves his hands gleefully into his pockets. “Hopefully over the weekend.”
Maureen claps her hands together and lets out a squeal. “Ohhh, I’m so excited for you. I’d better get to meet her!”
“She’ll be here Thursday.” Brent laughs. “But you’d better keep this secret.”
“Congratulations.” I smile at him.
He smirks. “Well, she hasn’t said yes yet. But yeah, it feels so right. I feel like I’m ready, you know?”
I nod like I do.
He turns back to Maureen. “Maybe you can help me. I know she’s been dreaming of this. I want to make it perfect. Any tips?”
I study him as he chats with her about the logistics of his proposal plans. He’s beaming brighter than he’s ever been before. I can almost see the joy emanating from him. He’s found his person. He loves her so deeply that he wants to spend the rest of his mornings waking up by her side. Only a certain kind of love can do that to a man.
I wanted that, once upon a time.
After a few moments, he sighs. “So, I’m wrapped for the day.” He eats his last bite of doughnut and brushes the crumbs from his fingers. “I’ll see you both tonight?”
I nod.
“See ya, Brent.” Maureen smiles.
Once he’s left us alone, she turns to me again and grins. “Oh, isn’t that the sweetest thing? I’m so happy for him.”
I turn my eyes back to my script. “He’s lucky to have found her.”
“She’s lucky to have found him,” Maureen amends. “He’s completely smitten with her.”
I continue to pretend like I’m reading. Brent has his act together. He’s ready to jump into a lifelong commitment. And I’m still accumulating individual conquests; one after another.
I sound so disappointing.
There’s a long pause before Maureen leans in close to me again. “I wish you wouldn’t have left so quickly the other night.” She pauses. “What happened?”
I lift my eyes to look around us. I don’t want anyone to hear our conversation. Especially not Sophie. If she finds out what I did Saturday after our argument, she’ll hate me even more.
I furrow my brow at myself. The fact that her opinion even matters to me is an entirely different question in itself.
When I don’t see her anywhere, I respond without looking at Maureen. “I uh…I just realized it probably wasn’t good for me to stay.”
“Why not?”
