She looked like she was going to cry.
I didn't mean to make her cry. That was actually the furthest thing I wanted to see her do.
Oh god, her cheeks are turning bright pink from their earlier slightly pink color and she's blinking back a tear.
Crap.
"I don't know Brian. Are you going to the wedding?"
Even though we both knew that answer already, I played along.
"Of course I am. All the fellas are going. I just didn't know if you were going to actually come though. I know we all want you there."
Then as quickly as I thought the tears were coming, they seemed to disappear. Even her cheeks were returning to their original color.
"Yeah, I think I am. I'll tough it out this time. It'll just be another bittersweet moment to add to the pile of 'Nick and Laney' memories.
What is she refering to, I wonder.
"What do you mean by that?"
She sighed, then continued.
"Just that even though it'll be hard to see the person I thought I'd have a forever with give away their heart that I thought I had completely at one time. I just know that letting him go and letting myself go is the only way we'll find our separate happiness and, maybe, the other person we were meant to be with."
I think I understood.But, she isn't done yet.
"What? Stop looking at me like that."
Is that a half smile I saw?
"I know it doesn't make much sense, but by me letting go, I'm also holding onto to the memories - not the man and love anymore-just the memories. I-I don't know...I'm just rambling again..."
I don't think she has any idea how right that just sounded.
"It makes perfect sense."
She looked up at me with a slightly confused face, but then smiled again and started heading towards the balcony I was already headed towards.
"You know, I think I might need a pair of one those sunglasses for the sun on the balcony. Maybe the green ones?"
I got a smirk for an answer at first.
"Only if you tell me how you are really doing. I'm not the only one who went through a lot. Oh, and, you can't have the green ones. Those are special and only special people get them. I've got pink one with stars though."
She smiled one of those smiles that is contagious and I couldn't help but return it.
"What, I'm not special? I come all the way down here to your place and I get the pink ones? I'm not feeling very loved."
And for extra effect, I pouted a little.
" Just this one time, but next time, it's pinky for you. Now, spill."
I put on the green sunglasses and sighed.
"Brian, you've always been there for me, and now it's my turn to be there for you. I've spent way too much time over someone I could never change even if I still wanted to."
It's then she reached for my hand and forced me to look at her in the eyes and still slightly pink cheeks.
Crap.
I hope you can't see through these sunglasses