Chapter 18
Melanie
I text Lucy the next morning the event was fine and Dreams was represented. I mention nothing of Luke. As much as I’d love to share the news, she’s in such a fragile state. It wouldn’t be right to tell her I met someone while she’s still grieving the loss of Coffee Guy. Never mind. He goes by Mr. Anonymous now. And it’s lucky for him.
I’ve tried to manage this on my own, but I’m in need of some reinforcements. So I text my girls and ask if we can meet for drinks this week. My girls are my high school group of friends: Lexi, Liv, Sydney, and Emily. It’s weird because half are married with kids and the other half are still single, myself included. But we’re all still close and try to meet up whenever we can. On a whim I decide to invite Lucy’s friend, Trish. They work together and have grown close. I’d love to hear her perspective. We’ve never met but I Google her and find her work number. I call her and she says she’d love to get together with us and come up with a game plan.
I add her to the group text and we all agree to meet for drinks on Friday night. The week passes quickly. I’m so busy at work I haven’t had a chance to give much thought to Luke. So I’m thrilled when he texts me on Wednesday. He said he’s traveling for work, so we make plans to meet for drinks the following week. I hate that I’m meeting someone right when Lucy got her heart broken. But who knows what will happen—for either of us.
Friday night rolls around and I’m looking forward to getting some much needed advice. Lexi and her sister, Tara, arrive first, sporting matching baby bumps. They are the cutest pregnant people I’ve ever seen. Lexi is further along because she’s due eight weeks earlier, but pretty close. I had hoped someday that would be me and Lucy. I introduce Trish to the group and we all make small talk. Once we have our drinks I give an update on Lucy’s situation. Everyone throws out ideas. But I’m most interested in what Lexi has to say. All of my friends have met Lucy. I introduced her to the group when she first moved to Chicago. She’ll come out with us once in a while, but everyone knows her on the surface. She’s not the type to open up, particularly in a larger group setting. Lexi got to see the Lucy I know and love. They worked closely together when Lucy planned Lexi’s wedding reception. Lexi and her husband, Jake, got married in Aruba. They decided to throw a party in Chicago for those who couldn’t make the trip. She knew Lucy was an event planner, so I hooked them up and they hit it off. But that’s not the only reason I want her advice. Lexi was engaged before she met Jake. Her fiancé cheated on her and she was a real mess. But she got through it and while it’s not totally the same situation, I figure maybe she’ll have some advice I could use.
“All you can do is just be there for her,” Lexi says. “She needs to get through this in her own way. She’s obviously hurting and I wish I could say there was something you could do or say that would make it magically disappear. Only time can do that. But knowing she has support from her friends will be a huge help.”
“I agree with that. But don’t you think it will be good for her to not be sitting at home alone? That’s when your thoughts can drive you crazy,” Tara says.
“What about a distraction?” Emily offers.
“Like what?” I ask.
“Maybe taking up a new hobby. The less time she’s alone the less time she has to dwell on it.”
“What about cooking?” Trish suggests. “She’s a terrible cook.”
“Good idea,” I say. “She is a terrible cook.”
Liv says she’ll text me the name of a place she and her husband went. They got the classes as a wedding gift and highly recommend them. We all chat awhile longer before parting ways. Trish and I hang back once everyone leaves. We end up staying another hour. I’ve never met her before and we hit it off. This doesn’t surprise me considering Lucy and I both value the same qualities in a friend. Though I wish our meeting had been under different circumstances. We talk about Lucy, what she told us about Mr. Anonymous, and our shared hatred of this man who destroyed our friend.
“I’m changing his name to Mr. A. That’s short for Asshole,” says Trish.
I have to concur.
“So how are we going to convince her to do these classes?” I ask. “She would never agree to it if she knows we bought them.”
“Let me see what I can do. I have connections in the industry who can probably give me some free passes or a great deal. I’ll tell her I got them from a vendor and thought she could use them. Lucy knows I’m a better cook than her.”
I laugh. “Anyone’s a better cook than Lucy.”
“Cheers to that.”
We agree to check in with each other periodically with updates. And that we won’t tell Lucy we met. I feel guilty going behind her back. Lucy and I never lie to each other. But I tell myself I’m not technically lying and my heart is in the right place.
When I get home I type up some case notes and get ready for bed. Just as I’m about to turn in my phone rings.
“Hello.” There’s silence on the line. “Luce?”
“’Lo.”
“Luce, are you there?”
“Sss me.” That’s followed by a loud clanging noise.
“Watchya doing?”
“Nuffin.” She giggles. “Oops. Idroppedthebottle.”
“Oh my God, are you drunk?” Lucy never has more than two drinks. She doesn’t like to be out of control.
“A lil. I’s fine.”
“I’m coming over.”
“Don’t. Hic. I’m going out.”
“What? Wait for me to come over.”
“I wanna tattoo.”
“Lucy Chalmers. Don’t you dare!”
“A Phoenix.”
Shit.
“That’s a great idea. I just think you should make the decision when you’re sober. Luce?”
“Gonna go now.”
“Luce, don’t hang up—” Damn it. She hung up on me. I grab a bag from my closet, throw in some clothes and a toothbrush, and head to her place.
Lucy doesn’t answer, so I use my key to get in. I find her passed out on the couch. Thank God she’s still here. There’s an empty bottle of Merlot on her coffee table. She didn’t even use a glass. She’s still in her work clothes and her hair is pasted to her face. I nudge her and she opens her eyes, which are red and puffy. My heart breaks seeing her like this. “Let’s get to bed,” I tell her. I pull her up and put my arm around her waist. We make it to her room and I help her change into her pajamas.
“I’m gonna be sick,” she says.
I follow her into the bathroom and hold her hair back as she vomits. I rub her back while I talk to her in a soft, soothing voice, telling her everything will be OK. After a while she rests her head on the cold, hard floor. “Let’s get you to bed,” I suggest. I help her up and we make it to her room. “I’ll be right back.”
I go to her kitchen and bring her a glass of cold water. She takes a few sips and I set it on her nightstand. Then I tuck her in under the covers, smoothing her hair away from her face. She closes her eyes and I wait until she drifts off. I wash up then put her wastebasket next to her, just in case she gets sick again. I climb in beside her and turn out the light, leaving us in total darkness.
“Mel,” she whispers.
“Sorry. Did I wake you?”
“No. I wasn’t asleep yet. Thanks for staying.”
I squeeze her hand. “That’s what friends are for.”
“I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
“I know. You’ll always have me. You’ll never be alone.”
After a few minutes she begins to snore lightly. I laugh to myself and cover my ears. I can’t sleep so eventually I head to the couch.
I think of Luke and our upcoming date. If things with him go well, I worry about what it means for Lucy. But I try not to go there. As I said, I’ll never leave her alone. No man will ever come between us.