Page 25 of Save the Date

“You’re in an adjustment period. For the last forty-four years of your marriage, you were at work every day. She got used to having a lot of space. Now she has to actively carve it out for herself.”

“Why does she need space from her own husband?”

Emma sighed. This conversation was quickly turning into a full-blown session and she needed to tread lightly. “I don’t think that’s what’s going on. But if it’s upsetting you, maybe you should ask her about it.”

Alan shook his head. Emma knew it was always easier to vent than communicate.

“Do you want to go look at the Millers’ terrible landscaping with me? I hear it’s full of hydrangeas.” Alan shuddered at the thought.

“I’d love to, but I’m in a bit of a pickle at the moment. That guy Will wants to know my last name.”

“How does he not know it already?”

“We met on an app. You don’t have to share it on your profile if you don’t want to.”

“That seems incredibly dangerous.”

“Definitely,” Emma conceded. “But it also means he hasn’t been able to google me and find out about my not-so-secret plan.”

“You haven’t told him about it yet?”

Emma squirmed. She had intended to bring it up from the outset to avoid wasting anyone’s time. If Will thought the whole idea was absolutely bonkers, Emma wanted to know sooner rather than later. But as the night had gone from painting to ice cream, Emma failed to find a good window to share. It was one of those dates where there wasn’t ever a chance to change the subject because the conversation just kept going. The only moment of silence had come right before Emma had gotten in her car and both of them were wondering if Will was going to kiss her or not. After what felt like an eternity, he decided to go for what Emma could only describe as a sensual hug.

While part of her had been disappointed, another part was relieved. Unlike her failed make-out with Rob, kissing someone she actually liked felt like it would be the final lock on a door she hadn’t wanted to close. Rationally, Emma knew Ryan was never coming back whether she slept with the entire city or not. But for now, it felt safer to remain unkissed and delusional.

“It hasn’t come up yet,” Emma explained. “I just want to make sure he hears about it from me and not the internet.”

“Why not give him a fake name then? Like Bond. Emma Bond.”

Emma smiled at one of her father’s favorite jokes. She couldn’t count how many times Alan had approached a hostess stand at a restaurant and given his requested name as “Bond. Alan Bond.” Nine out of ten times the host had no reaction, but that didn’t stop him from continuing the bit.

“I think he might see through that.”

“Smart guy. Well,” Alan said while standing up, “as the monks say, honesty is always the best policy. Just tell him you don’t like to be googled before you get to know someone in real life.” And with that incredible piece of advice, Alan left to call his wife for the fourth time.

“Do you want to get a few things to split?” Will asked as they each perused the extensive menu at Genghis Cohen. The restaurant was an LA fixture that inexplicably combined Chinese food with a Jewish last name. Emma had grown up going every few months with her family but Will had never been.

“I have to tell you something,” Emma confessed. Will put his menu down and looked at her expectantly. “I am not good at sharing food.”

Will breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s all? I thought you were going to tell me you were married or only had ten months to live.”

“Which would have been worse?”

“Great question. Probably married. You can get a lot done in ten months.”

Will was clearly joking but his take on time was promising. Maybe he wouldn’t think five months was too rushed to get married after all. Or maybe Emma was grasping at straws to calm her nerves.

“I know in comparison being a bad food sharer doesn’t seem like a big deal. But I want to warn you now, it will grate on you.”

Will laughed, clearly unconvinced. “How so?”

“A myriad of ways, really. Group dinners? I’m a nightmare at those. Have to order my own separate thing that always confuses the waiter. New restaurant where you want to try a bunch of different things? Too bad. You have no one to share them with.”

“Sounds pretty rough.”

“It is. So feel free to get out now.” Emma said this part lightly, like she couldn’t care either way, but her insides proved otherwise. Every muscle from her toes to her shoulders tensed up as she waited for Will’s reply. It was a clear signal of how much she already liked him.

“I think I’ll take the risk. But I do need to know why you are so antisharing before I make my final decision.”

---