Page 42 of The Wrong Goodbye
“You should see theback yard,” I say. Mason’s pool is huge, with a manmade waterfall on one end,and a long deck that always smells like fresh lumber, which is my favoritepart. There’s a covered patio, an outdoor sound system, a comfortable diningtable, TVs for watching football games, and a hot tub.
Gabe parks behindLivi’s truck and turns to face me. He took a quick shower at his apartment,while I pretended to sit on the black leather couch in his living room, whenreally, I kind of snooped around. I didn’t do any actual privacy invading, butI just walked around and looked at his things. There’s exactly one framed photoon the wall, and it’s a black and white aerial photograph of the old Astrodomearena. The rest of his apartment was just as he described. Boring andbachelor-like. He had one couch, one recliner, a coffee table, a TV mounted tothe wall, and some barstools in the kitchen. He didn’t even have any applianceson the countertops, besides a coffee maker. Of course, that last part might notbe so weird. As a baker, I tend to have every appliance ever, but most peoplearen’t obsessed with cooking.
Gabe’s bedroom hada neatly made bed, one nightstand, another TV on the wall, and a bookshelffilled with mostly magazines and nonfiction books. The whole apartment gave thevibe of a young guy who is more business than partying, and I like that. He’sjust like me in that way. We’re business owners and we work hard. As long as hedoesn’t mind my many colorful, Moroccan-inspired home decorations, I thinkwe’ll eventually blend together just fine.
Yep, I am totallythinking about us moving in together one day.One day. I know that a twenty-four hour relationship is way toosoon to be thinking about that kind of thing, but when the time comes, andwe’ve been together long enough to know we’re a sure thing, then I can’t wait.
Gabe bites his lipnervously, and it pulls me from my thoughts. We’re still parked in front ofMason’s house for Livi’s impromptu grilling night. He just said something, butI didn’t hear it.
“Sorry, what?”
“Were you off inyour own world?” he says, peering at me curiously.
“I guess. Sorryabout that.”
“You looked reallycute, even though you weren’t listening to me.”
I blush. “Well, Iwas thinking about us, so…”
He laughs. “What Isaid was, do you think they’ll like me?”
“Of course. Theyalready met you and they invited you over, so that’s a good thing.” I reach upand run my fingers through his hair, pretending I’m fixing it when really Ijust want to touch him. “They’ll definitely ask a ton of questions so they cantry to figure you out, but you’re good. They’ll love you.”
“Isn’t it funny howwhen someone new joins a friend group, everyone judges if they’re good enoughto date their friend, but when you’re the new person you don’t get to judge? Ican’t just meet a group of people and be like, ‘Hey, I know you two have been marriedfor twenty years, but you seem like an awful match.’”
I chuckle. “Thatwould be hilarious, though.”
He turns off theengine. “Ready?”
I swallow down mynerves. Livi and Mason are both family and friends, but they’re my age and soit shouldn’t be so nerve-wracking. Instead, it feels like I’m bringing Gabeback to meet my mom, and that I desperately hope she’ll like him. The thoughtsends a pang of heartache rocketing through my chest. Mom died when I was tooyoung to have started dating. I wonder what she’d say now, if she could meetGabe?
Gabe reaches for my hand and we walk up toMason’s house together. As the years go by, I start to lose all the little bitsof my mom that I can remember. Her smile, her laugh. The smell of her perfumeis only vibrant in my mind because I kept the bottle and smell it all the time.Still, as I think of her and watch Gabe smiling down at me, I think she wouldapprove. I think she’d be glad I found someone who is smart and kind, andbusiness savvy. Most of all, she’d be happy that I’m happy.
I reach for thedoor handle on the massive double-door entry.
“Wait,” Gabe says,looking alarmed. “We’re not going to ring the doorbell?”
“I’m family,” Isay, tossing him a grin. “I do what I want. But you’ll have to stay here andring the doorbell.”
He rolls his eyes,and I playfully bump into his shoulder as I open the door. “We’re here!” I callout into the massive living room area of Mason’s house. There’s no response,but the humming of music from outside tells me they’re already in the backyard.
“Come on,” I say,leading the way to the back door. “It might be awkward at first, but soonyou’ll be part of us.”
Gabe stops me rightbefore I open the back door. He cups his hand to my face and smiles down at me.“You are the best thing to ever happen to me. Thanks for giving me a chance.”
My eyes burn asemotion wells up inside of me. I was just thinking of my mom, and now myclosest friends, and Gabe. I want so badly for us to be as happy as we can be.I want what Livi and Mason have. Something tells me I’ve finally found it. Ilift up on my toes and kiss him. “Thanks for driving all the way over here tofind me.”
Outside, the smellof burgers on the grill makes my mouth water. Livi and Mason are already twobeers in, so they tell us to catch up. I appreciate it though, because the buzzhas them both laid back and friendly. They’re always friendly anyway, but thisis the first time I’ve brought a guy over. I was half worried that they’d turninto judgmental interviewers whose sole purpose was to pick apart my newboyfriend to find all of his flaws.
Luckily, it’s notlike that.
Mason talks to Gabeas if he’s an old friend, and soon Gabe is helping him man the grill. Livi andI sit on the edge of the pool, our toes dipped in the water while the lightsinside make everything glow and sparkle. The stars shine brightly overhead, andthe weather is just warm enough to still be comfortable. She tells me her goodnews, that Mason finally asked why she hasn’t moved into his bedroom yet, and Ihug her and tell her I’m excited that they now officially live together.
We eat and drinkand laugh, and all my worries melt away. It dawns on me that Livi and Masonaren’t the type of people to be judgmental. They trust me and they care aboutme, and if I tell them I’m totally enamored with this new guy, then they’llbelieve it. They trust that he’s a good guy because I think he’s a good guy.
I seriously can’tget any better friends than these two.
Hours fly by, andsoon it’s midnight. The music is still playing, and the conversation flows likewe’ve all known each other forever. Livi and I still have our toes in thewater, and now we’re enjoying Mason’s homemade frozen margaritas. I look overat Gabe, who is sitting on a patio chair just behind me. He winks at me.
Then I look at mybest friend, who just a few months ago was a stranger, and I think about howwonderful life can be. It brings new people into your world just at a time whenyou need them the most. You can spend your whole life living in the same smalltown, and yet still somehow find the people you were supposed to be with allalong.
Livi smiles at me,her blonde hair glowing under the moonlight. I remember when I first saw herenter my bakery with her grandmother. She looked stressed out and a littlelost, but soon she became a regular customer, and then my best friend. I smileback at her, and then close my eyes and lean my head back toward the stars. Awarm breeze trickles across my hair, and behind me, Mason and Gabe are bondingover their shared love of the Astros baseball team.
I don’t knowexactly when it happens, but it does. Everything changes, somehow. Friendship,love, happiness. It’s all here now. I open my eyes and stare up at the stars,knowing that this is the start of something new.
And it’s going tobe wonderful.
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