It was with great force that Monroe got through each day without Aria. Like a wound bleeding profusely, he applied pressure to stave off the loss. No matter how low he wanted to sink, someone always pulled him up.

He was positive they were now inventing work in Texas at Libby’s order, just so he’d be forced to stick around. Tonight was Mathew’s birthday, and while they’d been like oil and water, Libby insisted Monroe had to eat. It was a basic human need. He might as well do it with them.

“Someone should get me a shirt that says fifth wheel,” Monroe suggested as James, Libby, Mathew, and his girlfriend, Jessica, took a seat in the large corner booth.

Jessica, with her edgy eye makeup and big bangle bracelets, waved him off. “These two are one stupid comment away from being kicked to the curb, so the math could change pretty quickly.”

James opened the wine list and looked at Monroe with a knowing look. “I’d like to say she’s kidding, but these two are a force to be reckoned with. Now with a baby on the way I know I have to keep my ass in line.”

Mathew, looking like he had something to get off his chest, cut in. “Can we get this out of the way early? If a hoard of clapping waitstaff comes over singing happy birthday and shoving cake in front of me, heads will roll.”

Monroe could see little smirks on all their faces as Libby innocently tried to act surprised. “Would we ever do anything that embarrassing to you? I mean it would be repaying you for the time we were eating at that very exclusive downtown restaurant for my birthday and you had a man who makes balloon animals come in and make me a crown. I had to wear that thing through the whole meal because I was too afraid to offend that sad clown.”

“Or,” James recounted, “it could be payback for the time a few years ago when you and I were in Boston and you told that guy at the bar you saw me on a wanted poster at the supermarket. The cops pulled me out of there, and you had a damn good laugh about that.”

“If you could have seen your face,” Mathew laughed, though he did have a look of apology. “It was stupid. We could have gotten in a lot of trouble for that stunt. Let’s all agree we’re way too old for that stuff now.”

“I’ll agree to nothing of the sort,” Libby countered playfully. “You’ll get your present tonight, whether you like it or not.”

They settled in to their meals and continued their playful banter. Occasionally one of the men would be foolish enough to bring up some work detail and Libby or Jessica would lightheartedly scold them.

Monroe watched the four of them as though it were a formula to be decoded. How had they all managed to sort out their relationships and he had failed so miserably? From all accounts each of them had struggled, climbed great hurdles, to form the lasting relationship they had today.

“I should have chased her,” Monroe said, interrupting whatever banter was happening, and eyes around the table stared at him. “I gave up too easily, right? More than that, I gave her a way to disappear so I could never find her. You were right, Libby. I really am an idiot.”

“Monroe,” Libby replied sternly, “I sat across from that girl. I looked her right in the eye. She didn’t want to be chased. She didn’t want to be won back. She was broken. Space was the only thing that would help her, and you were brave enough to give it to her. Kind enough.”

“I could have convinced her to come back with me. If I’d gone down with you two and begged her in person, she would have come.” Monroe stared at this half eaten steak and felt queasy. As if he’d been made drunk by reality.

“I agree,” Mathew said coolly, and Jessica shot an elbow into his ribs. Getting his breath back, he continued, “Let me finish. From what I’ve heard, she probably would have come here with you. Maybe she would have forgiven you. But it’s like snipping flowers and sticking them in a vase. They look beautiful at first. The water you give them is enough for a while. But at some point it stops being enough to sustain them. They wilt. They die. You could have made her come with you, but you couldn’t have fixed her problems. Not until she wanted help. Not until she was ready.”

“Wow,” Jessica said, patting gently at the spot where she’d hit him with her elbow, “that was pretty profound. Is that what you did with me?”

“No.” He laughed. “That’s what you did with me.”