After lounging around in bed for fifteen more minutes, I decided that I should probably get up and start my day. I had an Asher and Coralie article to send to Gloria before noon. And I was certain that there were more wedding shenanigans to be had this evening.
I showered and dressed in a pair of yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt. I did my skincare routine and then finger-combed my hair to let it air dry. I’d worry about makeup and styling my hair when the evening got closer.
After slipping on my glasses, I flipped off my bathroom light and headed out to the living room, where I’d left my laptop on my coffee table before I went to bed last night. After brewing a cup of coffee, I settled down on the couch with my legs crisscrossed in front of me and took a few sips from my mug.
Once I was sufficiently caffeinated, I set my mug down on the coffee table next to my laptop and grabbed my phone. I was going to text Asher first to see what the plans were for tonight.
Me:New day, new plans! Let your best man know where she needs to meet you for more wedding fun.
I added an obnoxious amount of emojis at the end before sending it off. Then I waited to see if he was going to respond. In my experience, Asher always responded within thirty seconds, unless he was in a meeting. Since it seemed like his realtor business was on hold, I anticipated that the response rate would be even faster.
Thirty seconds ticked by. Nothing. One minute. Nothing. Five minutes. Nothing.
I picked up my phone and studied the message. It looked like it was sent, but there was still no response.
Hmm.
I frowned as I set my phone screen down next to me. Maybe he didn’t have service. I shook my head. He was busy, and I needed to be busy as well. Gloria was chomping at the bit to get the first article from me. I was going to distract myself by diving into my writing. By the time I was done, Asher was certain to have texted me.
Fifteen minutes and two paragraphs later, still no text. I checked my phone again, this time it said my text had been seen, but there was still no response. I was trying really hard not to take it personally, but I was struggling to remain objective. Was this how our relationship was going to be from now on?
Had the separation already begun?
“Write the dumb article, Ella,” I scolded myself as I shoved the phone between the couch cushions and turned back to my computer to read what I’d written out loud.
“Marriage is about compromise. It’s about blending two independent lives together to make a cohesive union, which is why it was so strange to see the bride shove her dietary restrictions on the groom. If the bride truly loved the groom, she would accept him as he is. She wouldn’t force him to become who she wants him to be.” I paused as I stared at the paragraph. Was it too harsh? Probably.
Was it true? One thousand percent.
Memories of the article I’d written about the Proctors came rushing back to me. If I had been more strategic, perhaps I might have saved my relationship with my friend before it all went in the crapper.
It would behoove me to be more restrained in this article instead of putting the truth on display.
I highlighted the paragraph and deleted it entirely. Then I wrote some fluff about how the bride’s eyes were glistening as they stared at wedding cakes and how they’d playfully bopped each other on the head with flowers. It was all sickeningly sweet and left me with a stomachache as I polished it off and sent it to Gloria.
This was a form of torture that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
With the article out of my hands, I closed my laptop and set it back on the coffee table. My stomach was growling, and I was ready for some breakfast. I was halfway through cracking eggs into a bowl when I thought I heard my phone chime.
I rinsed my fingers off and dried them on the dishtowel hanging from the stove as I headed back into the living room. I fished my phone out from between the couch cushions and found that, yes, I’d missed a text. But not from Asher. No, he still hadn’t responded. This one was from Shelby.
Shelby:Got a message from Asher that we’re checking out a band for the wedding tonight. I guess it’s in Eden. I’ll pick you up at 5.
I frowned at her message. Asher had texted her? Just now?
Unable to stop myself, I texted her back.
Me:When did Asher message you?
I didn’t want to be that girl. The one who overanalyzed everything. But apparently I was that girl. Asher wasmakingme be that girl, and I hated it.
Shelby:Like five minutes ago. Why?
I scoffed as I stared at her response.Five minutes ago?So he was ignoring me. Anger boiled up in my stomach. So much for things returning to normal now that Coralie was gone. She’d poisoned him into being a mean girl, just like she was.
Me:No reason, just curious. I’ll be ready at 5.
I sent the text off and then threw my phone down onto the couch. I was so mad that I feared what I might do if I picked it up again. If Asher thought that one ignored text would be enough to end our friendship of seven years, he had another thing coming. I wasn’t going to just give up and walk away.
