AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I try to tune Colin out, letting him ramble on about the various thoughts he’s having about me and his sister dating when it never has and will never be a thought that crosses my mind. Except for yesterday when I told Adelaide.
I knew from the moment I met Stella that we were…different. Now, don’t get me wrong, I know opposites do attract. But while Colin and I walked the hallowed halls of Harvard Business School, Stella was doing some peace corps save the world bullshit. I can respect it, but it’s not for me.
Unfortunately, the converse is not true. Stella has made it very clear over the years that Wired Reality is just another corporate blemish on the world. The only reason she tolerates Colin’s participation is because of their blood relation. So, I’m the lucky recipient of all her political tirades.
Needless to say, we try not to cross paths too often.
“Colin, I can say with absolute sincerity, any man would be lucky to date Stella and we both know as well as anyone that man isnotme.”
Colin narrows his eyes. “And yet you said her name.”
I throw my hands up.
“You made this bed, Flynn. “Now you’ve got to sleep in it,” my friend says with a mouthful of hashbrowns.
“Okay, here’s the deal. I told Adelaide I have a girlfriend named Stella, and she’s expecting me to come on her engagement trip and bring her.”
Colin raises an eyebrow. “So?’
“So… I need your help in figuring out what to do, dingus.”
“Don’t call me a dingus, dingus.”
I shut my eyes tight. Thirty-four and I still haven’t outgrown the word dingus.
“Just say you can’t go.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not? You’re telling me you’re going to go on an unplanned vacation in less than a month?” Colin asks, eyes bugging out.
I understand his shock. We’re behind on our deliverables and, while the employees at Wired Reality have unlimited vacation time, Colin and I rarely take advantage of that. There’s just always too much going on. “She wants me there.”
Colin raises an eyebrow. “Dude. Come on.”
“What?”
“Don’t tell me this is because you’re still carrying a torch for her.”
“I’m not ‘carrying a torch’.”
Colin’s expression softens. “You’re not totally over it, man. Be honest.”
I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my chest. I feel like my heart has been exposed to the whole cafeteria. “It’s been two years. I’m over it.”
My friend sighs. “So why do you need to go to her engagement party?”
“To show her I’m over it.”
“See, that’s how I know you’re not over it. If you’re still concerned about what she’s thinking of you, you’re not indifferent to her. You’re still hung up.”
He has a point. And I know he’s right. As much as I wish he wasn’t.
“If you go on this trip,” Colin starts to say in a tone he saves for explaining new tech to me, “you’re opening yourself up to just being consistently hurt having to see how Adelaide has moved on.”
“I already have to see that,” I mutter. “They’re always in the press.”
“Then what’s the point in going to herengagementparty if you know it’s just going to hurt?”
