Page 86 of Breaking Emily's Rules
My cell phone rang. No caller ID. “Hello?”
“Emily. Thank God you answered,” Greg said from the other end. “I was afraid you’d blocked my number.”
I had thought about it. “I’m glad you called. I can’t make it to the wedding.”
“No need. The wedding is off.”
“What? Why?”
“I was at home sitting with Nika on the couch watching oldGhost Whispererreruns, and I took a good long look at the couch. You picked it out, remember?”
I sighed. “I remember picking out the best-looking beige couch I could find for you.”
“I started shaking. I planned on spending the rest of my life with you. We bought the couch, and I don’t know what the hell happened after that. How did I wind up here? I’m going to be a dad! I’m not ready for that. Nika wants to buy every kind of designer baby stuff they make.Infant Nikes? When the kid can’t even walk? What the hell is wrong with her? I can’t handle it.”
I could almost picture Greg on the other end, wiping the sweat off his wide forehead. I had a road map as to how we’d wound up here, but I didn’t think Greg wanted to hear it.
“Listen, I can tell you really love her. You’re just getting cold feet.” This was generous of me, and I knew it, but I didn’t love Greg anymore. I no longer wished he’d drop dead of a heart attack, choke on a peach pit or fall down an elevator shaft. He could just get on with his life and leave me out of it.
“That’s it! I had cold feet with you. And if I’d had someone like you to talk me through it, I wouldn’t have—”
“Wound up on the kitchen floor with Nika?” Funny, the image didn’t make me cringe anymore. Actually, the entire thing was a little embarrassing for Greg and Nika. Nobody could look attractive in that…position.
“We’d be married by now, maybe with a little one on the way. Like we planned.”
Thank God for clean kitchen floors then. “Youdohave a little one on the way.”
Greg sighed. “But it was supposed to be with you, not Nika.”
Poor Greg. What a sap. A realization hit me square between the eyes. “You would have walked out on me, too, wouldn’t you?”
“No! If not for Nika, I know we would have worked it out.”
“Maybe,” I said. “But I don’t think so. You want to know what your problem is?”
“I’m still in love with you?”
“You’re a commitment-phobe masquerading as the marrying kind. That’s because you’re too chicken to tell women the truth.” At least Stone had been honest with me.
“No, no that’s not it. It’s you. You’re the woman for me.”
“You’re too late.”
“No, it can’t be too late. It’s never too late. I’m not married yet. You’re not married.”
“But I’m in love with someone else.” Wait. Had I just said those words out loud? No problem, because I didn’t mean them. Did I?
Don’t think, don’t worry. Just stay in the moment.
Maybe this was love. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Couldn’t stop feeling slightly sick to my stomach. Either I was in love or fighting a virus.
Greg groaned. “Are you kidding me? Are you telling me there’s no chance for us?”
Funny how puzzled he sounded. As if I’d been standing by waiting for him to make up his mind that he’d made a mistake. “Go talk to Nika. Work it out. It’s time to stop running. Pull up your Pampers and deal with it.”
“You’re the most wonderful woman I’ve ever known.” Greg said with a whimper. “And I blew it.”
“And that’s the perfect way to end this call. Goodbye, Greg. Have a nice life. Don’t call me again.” I clicked off, feeling a sense of finality course through my body. Closure. The last time I’d ever hear from Greg.
