Page 52 of Everything But Mine

I nod. “Let me get changed, and we can pick yours up.”

By the time I step back out and find her, Val is paying for my dress. It’s over a hundred dollars. It’s not a bad deal for a fancy gown, but it’s still a lot for her to pay for. “Val, what are you doing?”

She shrugs.

“You didn’t have to buy me a dress.”

“I didn’t,” Val says, matter-of-fact. “Eric did.”

“What?”

“Eric gave me his card. Said you shouldn’t have to stress about a fucking dress.” She shrugs. “He says fucking a lot. Did you notice? Anyway, I agree.” She hands me the card. I take it without thinking. It’s still warm from her hand. For a second, all I can do is stare at Eric’s name protruding in silver letters from the gold background. “You can give it back to him. Now, let’s go.”

“Are you warming up to Eric?”

She turns to me, lips pressed, cheeks faintly pink. “I still think this”—she gestures between me and the card I’m holding—“is unhealthy. You need to talk to him and at least… Just talk to him.”

“Who are you and what have you done with Val?”

My friend smiles, a trace of shyness breaking through. She adjusts the strap of her bag. “He’s really trying, Amanda. He wants this. Yes, he made a mistake. But maybe, just maybe, a mistake from three years ago doesn’t have to define him, especially against the lifetime you both share. We’re therapists. We know people can grow, evolve, get better.”

It turns out Val’s errand is incredibly fast. Within twenty minutes of parking at the store, she is pulling back out of the parking lot with a red bombshell dress custom-altered in the back seat. Now, she’s driving well over the speed limit and cursing at every driver who forces her to slow down.

“What did you think of the dress?” she asks.

“I told you. It’s a great dress. I do think you’re trying to punish Diego by making him sweat through your hotness, though.”

“Amanda, there is no joy in just trying things,” Val says too quickly.

That shuts me up. I think of her earlier words. Eric’s really trying. I pull out my phone, fingers hovering over his number.

Amanda

Thanks for the dress. You didn’t need to.

There’s barely any time between the message being sent and the three little dots showing on my screen.

Eric

I wanted to.

I do have a request.

Amanda

Do you?

Eric

I need the color or a picture so my tie can match you.

Amanda

Oh? We’re matching now?

Eric

Of course we are.