I lifted a shoulder and released a breath through my nose. “I honestly don’t feel like ranting and raving about him. I understand why he did what he did. I might even be a little bit relieved. It just came as a surprise, is all. I thought I was the one settling, not the other way around.”
“Trust me. You were the one settling.” She flicked a hand at a photo of Will and me on the mantel. “You’re eleven years younger than him, you’re gorgeous, and you don’t even have one bald spot. He is almost exclusively bald spots.”
I smacked her in the arm. “He’s very sensitive about his hair situation. Don’t be mean. He really isn’t a bad guy. He’s going to make some woman very happy one day.”
“As long as it isn’t you.” Opening the stamped brown paper bag in her lap, she dug into it and extracted a treat, handing it over to me. “He might be a nice guy, but that doesn’t mean he’s the right guy for you.”
“Pray tell then, who would the right guy for me be?” I tore a bite off the mouthwatering pastry and waited patiently while she moved her lips from side to side in thought.
“Someone fun. Possibly a little spontaneous. Hot obviously. He’d have to be smart, too, and funny.” She snapped her fingers and smirked. “I’d also vote for a guy who doesn’t only do missionary.”
“Why are you so obsessed with my sex life?” I laughed. “I swear you’re more invested than I am.”
“That’s only because you don’t know what you’re missing.” Her smirk melted away. “You deserve the best of everything, my friend. You just don’t seem to realize it. That’s all I want for you. The best.”
“Well, that seems like a bit of a tall order at the moment.” She didn’t miss the edge of emotion in my voice.
Reaching out to pull me into a hug, she held me tight before releasing me just as abruptly. Her hands landed on my shoulders and she looked into my eyes, her hazel ones fierce with determination.
“Oh no, you don’t. I get that this came as a massive shock to you, but it doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve to be happy or that you won’t be. It’s not a tall order. It’s a completely realistic order. You just need to find the right guy. It’ll happen.”
“Says the woman who believes humanity is broken and that everyone she meets has an ulterior motive?” I gave her a sad smile. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe people are just shitty.”
“Obviously, they are.” She winked. “But there are good people out there. Like you. You’re good. If anyone can find another good person out there, it’s you.”
“I did find a good person. He just didn’t want me.” I stated it as fact because that was what it was.
Ember pursed her lips before letting out an exasperated huff. “You didn’t want him either. Not really anyway. It was a convenient relationship for both of you. That’s it. It should never have gone as far as it did.”
I didn’t immediately protest against her assessment. I couldn’t because I was pretty sure she was right. The day after being left at the altar, I should’ve been heartbroken but I wasn’t. I was more concerned about what this meant for my plans for the future than the actual breakup.
“It went as far as it did because both of us felt like the time was right. It was the next logical step to take. As it happens, I am now completely out of logical next steps.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all week.” She flashed me a slow grin when I frowned at her, clearly seeing my confusion. With a roll of her eyes, she sat back on the couch and gave me a pointed look. “It’s good news because it’s going to force you to stop trying to force your life into a daily planner. Or any kind of planner, for that matter.”
“How is that good news?” My heartbeat faltered at the mere thought of having to shoot from the hip or make decisions on the fly. I had to-do lists to make my to-do lists. It allowed me some measure of control in life—not much, but it was better than nothing.
My best friend knew me more than well enough to know where my thoughts had gone. She was much gentler when she looked at me again.
“It’s good news because sometimes we just need to let things