Champagne Toast (27 page)

“
I mean, you were always so tough.  You were always so strong, and right now you
’
re so different.  You
’
re not the Kate I
’
ve always known.
”

“
I might not ever be that Kate again,
”
I say matter-of-factly.

“
Why the hell not?
”
she asks defensively, raising her voice.  She
’
s irritated.

“
Because I didn
’
t like her very much.  I didn
’
t like that my self-worth was totally based on the guy I was dating.  Evan changed that for me.  He changed everything.

“
But, he
’
s gone now.
”

“
That doesn
’
t negate the fact that he changed me.  And now I can
’
t go back.
”

“
Back to what?
”

“
To the girl who hops from boyfriend to boyfriend.  I don
’
t want that, not anymore
.” 

Or the girl who cheats.  I
’
ll never be that girl again.

“
Well, I happen to think you
’
re just fine.
”

“
Thanks,
”
I nod.
“
I really don
’
t mean to be a buzzkill.  I
’
ll work on it.
”

Bree offers a simple smile before getting back to work.  It
’
s almost time to open the bar, put on a brave face and push thoughts of Evan to the back of my brain.

Evan

July 6, 2012

“
I can
’
t believe you finally proposed,
”
I say, raising a glass of draft beer in Patrick
’
s direction.  He nods with an amused smile.  Patrick and I are listening to one of his favorite bands at The House of Blues.  I pretty much live here on the weekends.  Ever since Kate and I broke up, I can
’
t get enough of music.  In some ways it feeds my pain, in other ways it numbs it.  Sometimes Patrick joins me; sometimes I bring dates here or come with Hal and other work friends.

“
You know me, it takes me longer than the average guy.  Look how long it took me to ask her out in the first place
.” 
He laughs, tipping his beer back.

“
Chloe is a patient woman. That
’
s for sure.
”

“
Yeah, she was patient. 
Until
I proposed.  Now, she
’
s like a tornado. 
‘
Bride
’
is her new full time job,
”
he groans.  I can
’
t help chuckling at him.  It doesn
’
t surprise me at all that Chloe is a Bridezilla.
She seems like sunshine on the outside, but that girl is one determined woman when she sets her sight on something.  And her current
‘
something
’
is a wedding good enough to be featured in the magazines.

“
Relax and settle in, these things take time
.” 
I do my best to reassure him.

“
That
’
s the thing, she
’
s determined to have a holiday-themed wedding, so it
’
s just before Christmas.
”

“
Wow, that
’
s really soon, man,
”
I say, a little shocked.

“
I know!  Only five and a half months to go.
”

“
Maybe she
’
s afraid you
’
ll get cold feet,
”
I tease.

“
Who the hel
l knows with this woman?
I love her, of course.  But, lately it
’
s easier to not be around her.  She
’
s obsessed;
completely
consumed with flowers, invitations, dresses and venues.  I
’
ve been working late a lot.  Her mom is helping her plan anyway, so she doesn
’
t even notice I
’
m not there.
”

He takes another swig of his beer, while I pat him on the back, not sure what else to say.  I had thought I
’
d be married to Kate by now
,
and look at me, totally single and hanging out with my best friend who just got engaged.  How am I supposed to give him advice?  I
’
m a fucking mess.

Patrick clears his throat, and he looks nervous all of a sudden.  After studying his odd body language, I say,
“What’s
with you?  Why are you acting so strange?
”

“
There
’
s something I gotta tell you, man.  And I
’
m pretty sure you
’
re not going to like it
. . .
at all.
”

“
Okay,
”
I say tentatively.

“
Chloe
’
s planning to ask Kate to take some pictures at the wedding,
”
Patrick says and the beer that I was trying to drink is now thrashing in my throat as I begin to choke.

“
What?
”
I can
’
t believe what I
’
m hearing.  I start to spin my beer bottle.

“
I know, I
’
m so sorry.  But, she
’
s seen a lot of her work over the years and she wants some artistic shots taken.  She won
’
t be there the entire time, I promise.
”

“
But, she
will
be there
.” 
I shake my head and sarcasm fills my simple reaction:
“
Fantastic.
”

“
Yeah, but you
’
ll be busy doing best man shit.  She
’
ll be off doing other things.  And don
’
t worry, she
’
s not going to take any bridal party shots.  I drew the line with Chloe.  The main photographer will take those so you don
’
t have to interact with her at all, man.
”

Patrick
’
s trying so hard to make the idea of seeing Kate tolerable, but I feel the bile rising in my throat and my heart is starting to pound.  It
’
s amazing how just the thought of her still affects me in such a harsh way.  Why can
’
t I purge her from my fucking head?

We finish a few beers and my anger has subsided.  I have a few months to wrap my brain around seeing her again,
so
part of me is relieved. I
’ve been curious about her for such a
long
time
, it
’
s almost nice to have an excuse to see her.  My mood starts to lighten as Patrick and I listen to the band.  Across the room, I see a girl who looks so familiar.  She has flowing blonde hair, a pale complexion and a tiny button nose.  I know that nose. 
How do I know her? 

Since breaking up with Kate, I
’
ve dated so many women and none of them have filled that hole inside me.  None of them have made me forget her or even come close to it.  But, I keep trying.  Someday I hope one of them will make me forget.
I just have to keep searching for the girl who can give me a fresh start.

The girl with the button nose starts to walk towards me, but she
’
s not looking my way.  She
’
s headed to the bar, and I suddenly feel the urge to follow her. 

“
Want another beer, man?
”
I ask Patrick, who shakes his head and points to his glass that
’
s still three-quarters full.  Quickly, I stand and walk towards the blonde.

She turns my way, just as I approach her at the bar.  She glances at me for just a moment before looking away.  I stand next to her, smiling, and ask the question that I know she
’
ll find ridiculous.

“
Hey, do we know each other?
”
So lame, but I honestly think I know this girl.  A grin is plastered across my face as I lean against the bar.

“
Seriously?
”
she asks, taking a sip of her cocktail.  It looks like an amaretto stone sour, the drink Kate despises like no other.  She said it was the typical sorority girl drink. I wonder if this girl was in a sorority.  I find myself staring at her tiny lips as she speaks. 
“
You know how lame that sounds, don
’
t you?
”
She
’
s trying to look annoyed, but I see a hint of a smile crossing her lips.

“
No, I mean it.  I swear I
’
ve seen you before.  Do you work downtown?
”

“
Yeah, I
’
m an intern at a marketing firm.
”

“
I knew it,
”
I say with realization,
“
you work at my company.
I see you all the time, delivering mail and sandwiches and such.  Am I right?
”

“
Yeah,
”
she says, looking taken aback and confused. 
“
You work there?
”

“
Evan Maxwell, I
’
m on the third floor,
”
I say, offering her my hand.  She takes it in hers and smiles.

“
I
’
m Chelsea.  Yeah, I do think I
’
ve seen you once or twice.  I
’
m sorry I didn
’
t place you. I thought you
were just using that as a pick-
up line.
”

“
Well, I kinda was,
”
I smile, shrugging my shoulders.  Chelsea laughs before taking another sip of her drink.  I seriously can
’
t stop staring at her lips.  They
’
re the perfect shade of pink, slightly plump and puffy for her face.  I bet she
’
s an incredible kisser.

“
So, how long have you worked there?
”
Chelsea asks.  I like that she
’
s not blowing me off because I actually want to get to know this girl.  I want to know more about her and that doesn
’
t happen often.

“
Almost three years.  You
’
re an intern, so I
’
m guessing you started this fall?
”
She nods and I can see her body starting to relax.  She leans in closer to me as we speak.  Slowly at first, but as we continue to share work stories, she is inching in bit by bit until our hands are almost touching as we hold our drinks.  I
’
m so drawn to this girl.
I don
’
t know if it
’
s her perfect nose, her puffy lips or her bright blue eyes, but I really want to kiss her.

“
So, where are you from?
”
I ask, taking a swig of my beer.

“
Lake Zurich.  Have you heard of it?
”

“
Oh yeah.  I
’
m from Arlington Heights.  We weren
’
t too far from one another at all
.” 

“
Well, I live in the city now,
”
she offers.
“
How about you?
”