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BLAIRE
“Ican’t believe he dumped you,” my best friend, Delilah, says as she paces through the room.
“Me either,” I respond as I sink down onto her bed and grab her favorite stuffed elephant, bringing it to my nose.
Since being paired together as roommates freshman year, we’ve been attached at the hip. Although we’re opposites, I can’t imagine my life without her. She’s the only person who has remained by my side over the last few years.
Once I aged out of foster care, it was me against the world. Thank goodness for good grades and a scholarship to a state university, or I’d probably be working at a local fast food restaurant instead of graduating with an art history degree at the end of the year.
“I thought he was going to propose, but he showed up with another woman instead. Asking for my blessing.”
“Who the hell does that?!” Delilah screeches. “I’m going to make Dickless Chad wish he’d never been born.”
“It sounds bad, but at least he didn’t cheat on me. Right?” I smile, wondering how I even got myself into this mess.
Chad and I met during Intro to Art History, commiserating over the heavy workload. His bright smile and baby blue eyes grabbed me hook, line, and sinker. Being the same major, we were inseparable until classes ended in May. Chad went home to New York to intern at the museum he hoped to work at after graduation, but when he came back, things were different.
“This is my fault.” Delilah throws her arms in the air before plopping down on the bed beside me.
“How’s Chad getting with another woman over summer break your fault?”
“I was the one who pushed you into believing this was a marriage proposal.” Delilah turns, propping her feet against the wall before laying her head in my lap. “If I hadn’t filled your head with silly ideas, you’d have realized something was going on.”
Only Chad would ask for my blessing to be with another woman. I can’t fault him, if I’m being honest. He never cheated, wanting me to know his feelings had changed before acting on his newfound love.
“That wasn’t your fault.” I run my hands through her dark hair. “People change,” I murmur, trying to convince myself of the same thing.
I wish I could pinpoint when things went south in my relationship with Chad, but nothing comes to mind. Well, nothing other than the fact that I refused to sleep with him.
“At least you found out before...” Her voice trails off.
“Before we slept together.”
It seems silly, but I’ve always dreamed about what my wedding would be like. Long white dress, all my chosen family present, and a wedding night to remember.Most people say they’re saving themselves for marriage, but for me, it was all about control. I had none growing up in the system, and now that I’m older, I want to have a choice about what happens to me.
Sex is one thing Icancontrol. Not that there was anyone I’ve wanted to have sex with. Even after being with Chad for three years, I had no desire to change my virginity status. I figured things would change once we were married, but I guess I was wrong.
“How the heck did we miss this?!” Delilah shouts, startling me back to the present.
“You’re asking the wrong person, Dee.”
She sticks her tongue out at me before sitting up and throwing her legs over the side of the bed. “You’re lucky you’re going through a heartbreak, Blaire cakes. No one else gets away with calling me that but you.”
She throws her arm over my shoulder, pulling me into her side. I wonder why I’m not all that heartbroken about this situation. When Delilah suggested Chad was going to propose, I panicked. Not the reaction one would expect when they think about their long-term boyfriend proposing marriage. Things have been off for a while, the two of us becoming more like best friends than a couple. Chad did us both a favor. I just wish he’d have found a better way to go about it.
“You know what you need?” A mischievous smile crosses her face.
This can’t be leading to anything good.
“A bubble bath and a bottomless supply of Chubby Hubby?”
“A party!” she exclaims, pulling me off the bed toward her closet.
“You’vegotto be joking.” I try to pull my hand from her grasp but fail miserably. “Thelastthing I need is a party.”
We stop in front of her closet. A bright red dress with a moto jacket hangs from the door.
