“My dream wedding is marrying you.”
Bradford kissed my forehead again before glancing at the clock behind me. He sighed, and I blinked back the tears burning my eyes, banishing them to the cavern they were produced from.
I wasn’t going to be the whiny girlfriend … oh wait, fiancée. I understood having to work. When Jules and I started Marketing Madams there were nights Jules and I slept at the office.
This was what you did when you were a young couple. You scrounged and clawed until you were where you wanted to be and together you got to reap the rewards of your hard work. I needed to pull my big girl panties on and stop being selfish. Of course, those panties would be pink and sexy as fuck.
“The car will be here soon to pick me up.” Bradford helped me to my feet before going into the laundry room to get his clothes out of the dryer.
I put the food away. There was no way I would be able to eat with the disappointment taking residence in my stomach.
This should have been one of the happiest moments in my life, and instead of elation I felt lost and sad. I plastered on my fakest smile when Bradford kissed me before walking out the door, his suitcase rolling behind him.
As soon as I heard the car accelerating down the road, my knees collided with the tiled floor and I sobbed. I wasn’t exactly sure why I had such a visceral reaction to Bradford leaving, and I refused to analyze it. I needed a distraction.
Chapter 7
“Holy fuck, he proposed to you in the kitchen before taking off?” Jules reiterated, after I gave her the rundown of my morning.
“I know it wasn’t the proposal I dreamed of, but he wasn’t expecting his work to call him back so soon.”
“You know, it’s kinda perfect for you two. You both knew you were each other’s person the moment your eyes locked. Not having an elaborate proposal shows just how perfect you two are for each other.”
I exhaled for the first time at Jules’ words. They were exactly what I needed to hear.
“You’re right,” I said, feeling lighter. “Enough about me, how was your night?”
With the whirlwind of my morning, I had completely forgotten that Jules went to meet the couple she was going to unicorn for.
Jules’ face went bright red. It was the first time since the breakup I’d seen my friend blush. Before the breakup, Jules was an innocent girl with big dreams of marriage to her childhood sweetheart. After, she was a hardened girl who refused to show any emotion.
“It was okay,” Jules said, not making eye contact.
“Just okay? Come on, you know even though I’m a prude I still want all the details.”
Jules walked into the kitchen and grabbed an energy drink for both of us. We both relished the sound of the crack of the can and the fizz escaping into the universe.
“I think I finally reached the end,” Jules admitted, plopping down on the couch.
“The end?” I asked hesitantly. Jules appeared fragile for the first time in a long time, and I felt like I needed to approach cautiously.
“Yeah. I’m not regretting what I did last night, but I don’t think I need a repeat. I’m done with whatever I’ve been doing.”
“Does that mean you are ready for a relationship?” I asked, taking a sip of my energy drink, not wanting to ruin her confession.
“Oh, hell no. I just think I’m done running from the heartbreak and I feel like it’s time to sit in my feelings. After last night I realized I haven’t dealt with what happened in college and it’s time. The only relationship I’m interested in is one with myself. And the toys in my top drawer.”
I wanted to hug her, but I knew she wouldn’t accept my love at the moment. I also wanted to know what happened last night to give her the epiphany she needed to heal from the heartbreak she’d went through.
“I’m proud of you,” I said, clinking my can with hers.
“Shut up. I just figured I can’t have a perfect best friend in an even more perfect marriage while I’m a hot fucking mess. Who knows, maybe I’ll even venture into a relationship a million years from now.”
My heart burst for my best friend. I bit the inside of my lip so she wouldn’t see the smile that wanted to plaster itself on my face. Her bravery was astounding, and I was so proud that she was opening up to the thought of dating again.
“So, when do we start planning this damn wedding?” Jules asked, letting me know in her way she was done with the subject.
“Next weekend, maybe next month. I’m not ready to start planning yet. I want to just be engaged. Does that make sense?”