Chapter 25

You will not believe what I did this weekend!!!

I sent the text to Jenny, Sam and Marla and burst out laughing.

Tell me!!!!!!!!!!

Jenny was always so impatient.

No way, I’ll tell you at lunch. Meet me at noon.

I’d no sooner hit the send button when I got one back from Marla.

No, bet I won’t! When are you going to tell me???

At lunch, am meeting Jenny at noon, I’ll tell you then, be there!!!

“Abbie? Are you okay?” my co-worker Dave said, peering over the low wall dividing our cubicles.

“Yes, sorry, just a joke with my girlfriends.”

Moving a meeting for you, this’d better be good

Don’t worry Jenny, I won’t disappoint

I still hadn’t heard anything from Sam. She had been busy at work since she’d been promoted into my, and Calvin’s, old role.

Sam, you’d better be there! My treat

I turned my attention to sorting out the messed-up reporting at this company. Now that I was married to the owner, I had an added incentive to make the place ship-shape.

Geez, you’re impatient, what’d you do, fly off to Vegas and get married or something?

I burst out laughing. In my fit of laughter I dropped my phone in the trash can and it sent a tinny bang across the open plan office.

“Sorry,” I called out, to who I wasn’t sure. I retrieved the phone and typed back.

Yes Sam, I went to Vegas and got married, in a see-through wedding dress

Enough with the sarcasm :P

Too funny. I couldn’t wait to see her face when I tell her that was the truth.

Just don’t be late

My phone chimed again.

OMG ARE YOU PREGNANT?!?!?!?!

I rolled my eyes and ignored her text.

* * *

The cafe was busy for a Monday, but I’d arrived early and saved us a table for four. I hoped it wasn’t going to be too loud to have a good conversation. Though I suspected that once Sam got a look at my ring, we would be the loud table.

Jenny and Marla walked in together and I spun my ring on my finger, so they wouldn’t see the size of the rock before I told them.

“You’re glowing. What’s up?” Jenny asked, sitting at the table.

“I can’t tell you until Sam is here.”

We chatted a few minutes, me being careful to keep my hands beneath the table. Even with the rock spun around, I didn’t want them to notice I had any rings on my left hand.

“You know what? I’m just going to go ahead and order for Sam. It’s her own fault for being late. I want to know what this mind-blowing news is,” Marla said.

“Just make sure you get a regular Coke and not Diet,” I said.

“Sorry I’m late. Blame the last person who had my job. She left a huge mess for me to fix.”

I stuck my tongue out at Sam, my hands still fixed in my lap.

“Okay, get it over with. Tell us you’re pregnant,” Sam said.

“Oh my God!” Jenny and Marla said, their voices a unified squeal.

“No! I am not pregnant.”

“Then why didn’t you deny my text?”

“Because it seemed more fun to let you think that. Especially when I’d already told you the truth. And you didn’t believe me!” My voice ended in a high-pitched crescendo.

“Shut the front door. Are you serious? No, is this for real?” Sam locked onto my eyes, and I held my gaze.

“Why? What’s going on?” Jenny said.

“Yes. Tell us!”

“Jay and I got engaged this weekend.” I had to pause while they screamed. Once I had their attention again I said, “And married. In Vegas.”

Every head in the cafe turned and stared at the commotion Jenny, Sam and Marla were causing. I spun my ring around and held my hand out for them to inspect. They screamed again, probably thinking the same thing I had when I first saw it – diamonds that big existed?

“Sorry, she just eloped,” Sam stood and announced to the cafe. We’d already had all their attention.

A red-headed woman in head-to-toe pink started clapping, and soon the rest of the people joined her. My cheeks burned and my eyes locked firmly on my feet. I hope to hell Sam wouldn’t say anything about the size of the ring.

Food arrived at our table, and the four of us calmed down. Sam gulped back half her drink. I was sure her throat was sore after all that yelling.

“What was your dress like?” Marla asked.

Sam’s fork crash and rattled out of her hand, off her plate and onto the floor.

“Hold on.”

I nodded. My entire body turned red at telling a person I knew, face to face.

“Stop keeping secrets from us,” Marla said.

Sam pulled up my text message and shoved her phone in front of their faces.

“See-through?” Marla said, a puzzled look on her face.

“Yep,” I said, trying to sound like it was totally normal to get married in a see-through gown.

“Does this mean you’ve finally put Matt behind you?” Jenny asked. Aside from her squealing, her silence during the conversation wasn’t lost on me.

“Screw him, I never want to see his face or hear his name again, for the rest of my stinking life!”

“So that’s a yes?” Sam said, and the four of us laughed.

“Jenny, I love him so much it’s almost hard to comprehend.” I needed her approval. I didn’t want her to think I’d been stupid and rushed in it. Or be mad for not being at the ceremony.

“Anyway, about this see-through dress, show us a picture,” Marla said.

“I’m not sure I want to see Abbie nude,” Sam said.

“It’s not like that,” I protested. “You couldn’t see anything.”

“Whatever, just show us it,” Sam said.

“I’ll show you all it on Saturday at my house, for a celebration dinner.”

“You don’t have a selfie?” Jenny asked.

“I didn’t have a pocket to keep my phone in,” I said, and stuck my tongue out at her.

“Can I bring Collin Saturday?” Jenny asked.

“Collin as in Collin?” I asked. Was she still back with her college boyfriend? Guilt hit the pit of my stomach, I had been so wrapped up in myself that I was completely out of touch with what was going on in my best friend’s life.

“Maybe.” Jenny wasn’t giving anything up.

“Well, if you’re bringing Collin then I’m bringing someone,” Sam said.

“No way! What’s he like?” I asked.

“You’ll find out Saturday.”

“Well if you two are bringing yours, who am I supposed to bring? I’m not going to be the only solo act,” Marla said.

“I’m sure you can find someone, Miss Lady with all the contacts,” Jenny said.