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“You’re just not making any sense.” She shakes her head. “What do you mean?”
“I was there, at Bronson’s Place, across from Daughtry’s. I saw you with a girl, a bridesmaid, seeing how your dresses looked in the sunlight.”
“I wish you would have just come over and said hi,” she says softly.
“How could I?” I ask. “You were getting married.”
“I wasn’t. I’m not. We had an issue with the sprinkler systems. We ran outside to keep the dresses dry. And the bridesmaid was Kate, a woman who works there. She convinced me to try on a wedding gown. To cheer me up.” She gives me a critical look. “To cheer me up over my breakup.”
Her explanation sinks in.
“I thought you were going to break up with me. So I broke up with you first.”
She just stares up at me, pain in her eyes. Pain I’ve caused her.
Saying my reasons for the breakup out loud makes me feel like a middle school boy. I’ve been so immature; my pride is under my shoe right now. “God. I’m so sorry. I’m such an idiot.” I shake my head. “What I put you through…”
“I just had something on my mind. I’m sorry if I was distant but…” Her words trail off.
Will she forgive me?
“I’m so sorry. I never should have done that to you. I never should have broken things off. I should have asked you what was wrong. Not just assumed the same thing was happening all over again. I should never have put you through that…” My words also trail off, the shame of my actions too much to bear.
“You put us through it,” she says with care. “The both of us. I know I was hurting but I see those circles under your eyes.”
“Do I really look that bad?”
She shakes her head slowly. “No. You look perfect.”
“You look perfect.”
“You look perfect,” she smiles.
“No,” I say. “You do.”
I want to grab both of her hands in mine, but she’s got one shoved in her pocket. I grab the other one. “Can you ever forgive me?”
“If anyone understands the fear of being broken up with, it’s me,” she says.
“That’s very gracious of you.”
But her understanding isn’t enough. She pulls her hand away from mine. “I’m sorry,” she says. “I’ve got to go.”
“No.” I go to grab her hand again to stop her and miss. “Please don’t.”
But she walks away, back to her place in line.
“I love you, Lily Watkins. I think I have for quite a while now. But now I know it for sure.”
Slowly, she glances up at me.
“I love you!” I shout into the bodega.
Whispers start up, surrounding us. All eyes are on Lily, to see how she will react.
Finally, she whispers back the words my world-weary soul needs to hear. “I love you, too.”
She crosses the store, returning to me.
