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Despite the fact that she didn’t have a leg to stand on.
My phone rang out in my hand, and I immediately answered it. I knew who it was. Camilla was the only person in my phone with a separate ringtone. I drew in a deep breath as I held my phone to my ear, trying to keep my tears at bay while my heart slowed down.
“Hey there,” I said.
“You keep calling?” she asked flatly.
“Can we meet for lunch? Please? I’ll pay for whatever you want. Just sit down and talk with me.”
“Fine. I figured you were calling to ask that anyway.”
“Thank you, Camilla. Thank you so much. Where would you like to go? I’ll take you anywhere.”
“There’s that new French place that opened up downtown. Du Pont something or other.”
“I know what you’re talking about. That’s one of those pricey places with small plates, though. You sure that’ll fill you up?”
“You said I could go anywhere. Was that a lie, too?”
“No, Camilla, geez. Okay. Yes. That’s where we’ll go,” I said.
“Meet you there in fifteen minutes. Can you go on ahead and order me a glass of wine along with an appetizer? Something with duck or whatever.”
“Yeah. Sure. I’ll do that. See you in fifteen?”
“Yep.”
She hung up the phone, and I raced to gather my things. I didn’t care how I looked. I didn’t care that I was about to walk into one of the premier French restaurants in Manhattan in leggings and a tunic. All I cared about was sitting down with my best friend and airing out the laundry between us. She was my best friend, my confidant, the person I trusted the most.
I needed her in my life.
“Two glasses of red wine and your smoked duck on toast, please?”
“Are you waiting for someone else?” the waiter asked.
“Yes, sir. She’s going to want a glass of red wine, on the sweeter side if you have it.”
“Of course. I’ll pick you both out a fine glass. Take your time looking over the menu. I’ll get your appetizer put in.”
“Thank you so much.”
My glass of wine came, and I held it in my trembling hands. I quickly drank it down before ordering a refill, hoping the alcohol would relax me. This conversation would make or break us. I knew it. I had a feeling in my bones. I kept checking my phone, counting down the minutes until she got here.
But fifteen minutes quickly came and went.
“Your appetizer,” the waiter said.
“Thank you so much.”
“Any word on your friend?”
“She’s just running a little late. I’ll wait to order until she gets here.”
“Of course. If I can get you anything, let me know.”
“I appreciate it,” I said.
Fifteen minutes turned into thirty, and thirty minutes turned into an hour. I shot Camilla a text message as panic flooded my veins. Was she all right? Had she been in an accident? Had something come up? Maybe she had tried to go back over to Logan’s to get her stuff and was running behind? I thought about calling him to see if she was there, but if she wasn’t, that would start a conversation with him about why I was wondering. Which meant I’d have talk to him. Which meant I’d grow weak to him again.
I picked at the appetizer, leaving some for Camilla as it grew cold. It was fantastic, something I knew she would love. I finished off my second glass of wine and felt the alcohol coursing through my veins.
“Would you care for another glass?” the waiter asked.
I nodded, and he poured me a third glass as I stared at Camilla’s empty seat. I checked my phone and watched as it ticked over another minute. An hour and a half. I’d been sitting in the middle of a French restaurant for an hour and a half waiting for her. I sighed with frustration as I dialed her number. Something had to be wrong. Camilla didn’t do this kind of thing to people.
Then my conversation with Logan flashed through my mind. He had mentioned Camilla giving him a time and a place before not showing up.
“Shit,” I whispered.
I held my phone to my ear after dialing her number, and it rang twice before it got shot to voice mail. I hung up and immediately called back, listening as it rang once before going to voice mail again. I wasn’t playing this game. She was going to pick up the phone and own up to her actions. I downed my third glass of wine in frustration as I redialed her number, but this time it simply rolled her voice in my ear.
It didn’t even fucking ring.
She was standing me up, just like she had Logan. But not only had she stood me up; she’d left me with a bill. It wasn’t enough for her to stand me up, she had to have me order for us so she knew I would be spending money on a trip she didn’t make. It was as if my best friend had become unrecognizable. I didn’t know what kind of person she had turned into. I set my empty wine glass down and grabbed hers, then finished off the cold appetizer in front of me.
