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She groans and throws her head back. “I thought so too, but my standards are so messed up. I’ve beenaskingfor the bare minimum, and that’s not what I want for myself. I shouldn’t have to ask!” I nod in agreement. “It’s not what I want Dahlia to grow up thinking is acceptable, either. I want her to have zero doubts about what she’ll deserve from someone someday.”
“But that doesn’t change how much you liked her?”
Her eyes well up again, but she shuts her eyes tight to fight them off. “Not even a little bit. It’s been six hours and I miss her.”
“What is it you miss about her?”
“She was funny. Really funny,” she says.
I don’t know how anyone could take Reya’s laughter for granted. If she thinks you’re funny and you can coax a laughout of her, you usually want to do everything you can to keep it coming.
“If you want someone funny, what are you doing here?” It’s a fact we all know well, I am not the one with the jokes in our group.
Reya smiles. “I didn’t want to laugh, I wanted to cry.”
Thatismy strong suit. Whether crying or comforting, I think I’m pretty good with the emotional stuff.
“You made the right move. You and Dahlia deserve better than the bare minimum.”
“I know.” She makes eye contact with me, and they shine with even more unshed tears. “I wish it hadn’t taken months for it to hit me. What if it doesn’t next time, and I end up married and unhappy again?”
“Well, I think you’re better prepared now. This happening for the first time since your divorce might have been exactly what you needed to make sure it won’t happen again.”
She nods slowly a couple times before standing and heading towards my living room window. I don’t follow, but I admire the view when she opens up the blinds to gaze outside. It’s so perfectly yellow out there, the leaves remaining on the trees make me smile.
How could you not feel optimistic during the season of change?
Reya does what she does best, and decides to change the subject. Feeling vulnerable is not her favorite thing, but I'm grateful for the moments she does give me.
“What’s new with you? Catch me up on all things Autumn.”
"I just had dinner with Miles."
She turns so fast it’s a blur and suddenly she’s back to sitting beside me. “He asked you to dinner?” I nod. “You went to dinner?” I nod again. “How was it?”
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face, even if she’s going to make assumptions about it. “It was really nice. We got to catch up, talk about life. He’s still just as great as I remember.”
“Just as hot as you remember, too?” When I don’t answer, she presses. “I don’t believe you weretoo flustered to noticethat first time. Come on! Spill the tea!”
I cover my face with my hands in an attempt to keep her from reading me, but it shows my cards anyway.
“I’m going to start planning your wedding,” she blurts out. “Look at you right now! I see you blushing under there!”
I’m laughing, appreciative of the way she knows me. I love her enthusiastic self, but I can’t get caught up in her attempts to find me a husband right now.
“You stop that! That’s absolutely not going to happen,” I tell her. “Even if he wasn’t Justin’sbrother, he justgot a divorce.”
“I don’t see the problem.” She holds up her fingers to count on them. “Justin is so far in the past that it’s irrelevant.” She points the next finger. “He’sdivorced.Not married, not complicated.Available.”
“You of all people should know that just because someone is divorced, it doesn’t mean they’re available,” I point out. “ And it definitely doesn’t mean things aren’t complicated.”
“Well fine,” she concedes. “Maybe it’ll take a few months, but you can still flirt. Build this thing up now, so you’re ready to act on it later.”
I shake my head, as much as a part of me wishes that was realistic. “It’s not happening, Reya. I think we’re going to be good friends.”
She seems to think on my words for a few seconds. “I think it’s time for us to meet him. Vic and I can tell you right away if he’s interested, and then you can stop pretending you’re not.” She’s fully confident in her words, as if she hasn't been wrong before.
About her own love lifeormine. I don’t question her.
