I stroll down the centre walkway, looking for my friend among the crowds of midday shoppers and am suddenly gripped by my wrist and pulled into yet another shoe shop. Before I have a chance to scream, Rachel is in my face, and I know without her even saying anything, I’m in big trouble.
“What the hell was that back there?” she asks as her grip on my arm tightens.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say as I pull my arm out of her death grip.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. What games were you trying to play? You were encouraging his inappropriate behaviour.”
“I like him—no, I love him. He is perfect for you. His calm and collected personality will work so well with your uptight, crazy ass.”
“I am not uptight, or crazy,” she screeches. “I know he’s a nice guy, but you know why I can’t date him. We’ve already discussed this.” The frustration in her voice is clear, and I know I’m taking quite the risk if I push her anymore. Fuck it.
“He is not a nice guy. Pastor Tom is a nice guy; Mr. Vasalo from the fruit market is a nice guy; the guy who wears dresses on the corner of Ninth Street is a nice guy. William Bradley is not a nice guy: he is perfection,” I say in a dreamy voice, mocking her.
“Who is Mr. Vasalo?”
“You know Mr. Vasalo, the old Italian man from the fruit market? Who cares! You know what I’m talking about,” I state in frustration. “Will is wonderful, and you know it. He is sweet, patient, kind and HAWT! And I only met him for half an hour.”
Rachel rolls her eyes. “If he’s so perfect, why don’t you date him?” Her face drops, and her eyes widen at her thoughtless comment.
“No way, he reminds me too much of Nate. When I date again I’m going to try something different, date someone the total opposite of Nate, you know?” I say, trying to lighten the mood.
“So a really ugly guy who treats you like shit,” she says with a smirk on her face.
“Smart-ass.”
Rachel places her hand in mine. “You said date again.”
“Yeah?” I ask sceptically.
“You think you’ll date again?”
I smile warmly at my best friend. “Yeah, of course, Rach. Well, at least I hope to. I’m definitely not thinking in the near future, but in a year or two, maybe? I’m not an idiot; I’m not even thirty. I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life. I still have plans I’d like to fulfil,” I state with a sad smile.
“Like children, you mean?”
“Yeah, like children.”
“Just don’t wait too many years. The older we get, the more the good guys get taken off the market, and soon only the Saxons will be left. By then they’ll be forty, and they won’t even have their good looks and hot bodies for us to ogle.”
I laugh and silently thank her for moving on from the serious direction the conversation was taking.
We make our way to the car in silence to drop all the bags before we head back inside to the movie theatre.
We choose the new Zac Efron movie so we get all the positives a girl wants in a movie: eye candy, comedy, and life advice. We load up on popcorn and lollies and head into the theatre.
The movie is funny and light-hearted, and a great way to finish off our shopping day. We laugh the whole way home about random stuff, and I can barely remember the last time I was this happy. It has only been three months yet it feels like forever. The same peace I’ve been feeling over the last few days settles over me. It’s time to move forward.
Rach and I carry our many shopping bags inside, dumping them on my couch and throwing ourselves on top of them.
“Oh my God, I’m exhausted. You could’ve taken it easy on me. It’s my first shopping trip in months,” I say as I try to catch my breath.
“I know. I barely have enough energy to drive home. Do you want me to stay and keep you company?”
“Nah, I don’t have the energy to entertain you. Think I’ll be sleeping right here tonight.”
“All right, love. I’ll call you tomorrow,” she says as she crawls across my living room floor. I laugh at her antics before the sound of the front door closing echoes throughout the silence. I pull in a deep breath while closing my eyes for just a second.
When I wake it’s dark, and I know I did more than doze for a few minutes. I stand and stretch, looking down at all the bags I brought home with me earlier before making my way to the kitchen.
I don’t want to go to sleep, knowing it will only bring tomorrow quicker, and that brings Monday even closer. No matter how brave I’m trying to be, I have to admit I’m nervous as hell to go into the office on Monday.