Page 35 of People In Love
Or we could be waiting till next year, Nora says.
Okay, Bren says. Wow.
The enthusiasm in Robin’s face fades, just slightly, at Bren’s lack of it. Nora stays focused on the now-empty mug in her hands.
We don’t expect everyone to make it, so last minute, Robin says, misreading Bren’s expression. Only if they can, and want to. Let me show you the venue, he goes on, putting his own mug down and leaning forward. I’ve never seen anything like it, he says, tapping on his phone. It’s this stunning structure made of pine and recycled glass, look, and it’s got these sliding doors that open out to the forest and it’s not far from the beach and, and, and, he keeps talking, but Bren is not listening, does not want to hear what makes this venue so special and magic and so very them, and this fizzing inside of him is not settling as he looks at Robin’s phone screen, unseeing, a faint ringing in his ears.
Wow, he says again, when Robin has scrolled to the final picture on the website.
He sits back in the armchair, feels a pressure in his feet.
I was going to tell you, Nora says, her voice gentle, more like her own. But Robin only firmed up the details last night.
I wasn’t sure she was gonna go for it, Robin says, in the conspiring voice he’d used back in the kitchen; he smiles too much, Bren decides, it’s unnerving. But then you asked, Robin says, and, well.
I thought why not, Nora says, and Robin kisses her on the forehead. Bren puts his coffee down, says cool, that’s cool for you guys. But it’s late. He should probably, you know. Head off.
Stilted pause, then. Robin saying, you don’t want another coffee?
I’m good, Bren says. Thanks. For dinner, and everything. It’s been great.
That word again.
I’ll be in touch, he says, standing up. Before I go.
Go? Robin says, and Nora is trying to catch his eye, now, as if she’s trying to say something without words.
Yeah, Bren says. I’m checking flights to get back out there.
You don’t want to stay for the wedding?
Robin, Nora says.
What? You were just saying last night – she was just saying last night, he says to Bren – that a fast turnaround might mean you could be here for it. Which was a big tick, for this rogue old plan of mine.
And at this, Bren looks back at her.
Really?
I wouldn’t put that on you, Nora says, embarrassed. If you want to go, you should. It might not even happen, anyway.
Those eyes of hers, like whirlpools. Like they could drag him under.
Because of the cancellation thing, she says.
But also, your best friend only gets married once, Robin adds, and she says his name again,Robin, but Bren ignores it, says, you said that?
What?
That I’m your best friend?
Well, yeah, Nora says.
Sudden notion inside him, then. Like the base dropping out of something he hadn’t known was there. Bren stands still, like that, the coffee table between them. Nora remains seated, the cushion in her lap.
All right, Bren says. I’ll be there.
No intake of breath, or sardonic raise of an eyebrow.
