Page 79 of Save the Date

“Because it’s not my place to stop you from talking to him. And if he’d rather be with you that’s something we both deserve to know.”

“Are you having second thoughts or something?” Kelly asked skeptically.

Emma tried to keep her face neutral even though the disaster in the kitchen had caused some doubt to creep in. What if Emma wasn’t domestic enough for someone like Matt? Was she really going to have to learn things like the structural difference between parchment and wax paper to keep him happy? She was busy enough as it was.

“No,” Emma managed to reply convincingly. “I just don’t want to keep things from him. Even if the thing is you.”

“Wow,” Kelly said. “You’re way nicer than I wanted you to be.”

After a moment of silent consideration, Kelly stood up from the bench as Emma followed her lead. “I shouldn’t be here. Just promise you’ll take good care of him.”

Emma nodded. She put her arms out for a hug and Kelly, seeming to surprise herself, leaned in and took it. Emma could hear Kelly sniffle as she said, “Don’t let him eat anything with red food dye in it. He’ll say it’s fine but then his chin will itch for the rest of the day.”

“Understood. No Twizzlers or red velvet cake allowed.”

As they broke apart, the two women smiled sadly at each other. In another world, Emma suspected they’d be friends. But in this one, they would probably never talk again.

***

“Did someone order a pad Thai made by an actual professional?” Emma announced as she walked back into Matt’s condo. The takeout smelled delicious and it helped soothe her nerves for what was likely going to be an uncomfortable conversation.

“That took forever.” Matt dashed into the kitchen, giving Emma a quick kiss on the head before tearing open the plastic bags. “Was there a long line?”

“Not really,” Emma replied even though there was one man in front of her who’d become indignant upon learning a Thairestaurant didn’t make Chinese lo mein. “But I did bump into Kelly on my way out.”

Matt, who had been in the middle of ripping the cover off his noodles, whipped around to face Emma. “What? Where?”

“Right outside the building. I think she was pumping herself up to come in.”

Matt’s eyes shot toward the front door, his usually calm demeanor out the window. “Is she still here?”

“No. We talked for a bit and she decided it was better to leave, I guess.”

“What did you talk about?”

“Oh, mostly geopolitics in the arctic circle,” Emma joked to lighten the mood, but Matt just looked confused. “I’m kidding. We talked about you. I guess she saw me onAmanda Sharpeand was worried she was going to lose you.”

“Loseme? We’re already divorced.”

“I know. But I think she’s still hoping to win you back.”

Matt shook his head in lieu of a verbal response. Emma noticed the pain on his face and wasn’t sure if it was pity for the woman he once loved, or turmoil over whether to run after her or not.

“Did you want to talk to her?” Emma asked gently.

“There’s nothing to say.” Matt grabbed two forks and handed one to Emma. “Let’s go eat.”

Emma followed him over to the couch. “Not to be a total therapist, but how do you feel about her showing up here? It must feel weird to know she’s still actively fighting for you.”

“You have nothing to worry about, okay?” Matt said impatiently. Like Emma was being ridiculous for harping on something that had literally just happened. “I can’t trust Kelly anymore, so it doesn’t matter how I feel or don’t feel. I have to move forward.”

Emma nodded as she poked her fork into her Pad See Ew with soft tofu. That wasn’t exactly the loving reassurance shewas looking for. “How is the book going?” Matt asked in a clear attempt to change the subject.

Unfortunately, he had just shifted them into another touchy topic. After Emma and Will’s brainstorming session had been cut short by running into Ryan and then almost kissing each other, Emma had been avoiding her manuscript like the plague. She felt like a pilot who’d studied flying all her life without being taught how to actually land the plane.

“I’m struggling a bit with the ending,” Emma confessed, annoyed that her eyes were beginning to water. Clearly her body was more upset about her writer’s block than her mind had been letting on. But maybe it was good to open up and let Matt help her through what was beginning to feel like a creative crisis. Especially now that she didn’t have Will to lean on for that part of her life anymore.

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Matt said with an encouraging pat to her knee. “You’re really smart. Just sit down and pound it out.”

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