Page 87 of How to Ruin Your Ex's Wedding
“I know.”
“You’re allowed to change your mind.”
“I know that too.”
“It’s his job as your partner to adapt with you.”
“It’s not his fault though.” This I know, when I’m honest with myself.
“What do you mean ‘not his fault’?”
“I really did play a part with him, you know. And for so long, our relationship was long distance, it was easy to keep that up. I mean, we’ve only been living together a few months. Maybe that’s just not long enough to get to know someone. I feel like I tricked him. And that I need to follow through with my commitment. If that means that I continue to play the persona that I’ve built up, so be it.” I feel partly mature as I say this, and part like a martyr.
“How is that fair to you?” Crystal asks.
“How is it fair to Hunter any other way?” I return.
“This is your life, Tabby. You can’t just coast through it, pretending to be someone you’re not and being okay with that.”
“Isn’t that what being an actress is all about?”
“Sure, when you’re actually being paid to play a specific part. Not playing the role of only a small part of the real you, Tabby.”
She has a point. But I know I do too.
We arrive at the Cascadian House and the bellhop arranges our luggage while we check in and head up to the room. The attendant is working the elevator this time, and our ride to the seventh floor is smooth and problem-free.
I open the door to our suite, and the first thing I see is an extremely large bouquet of red roses.
“Oh, look at those,” Crystal says.
I bury my face in the bouquet, inhaling the decadent scent. She snags the card before I have a chance to.
For my Queen,
I can’t wait to make you my wife. Here’s to a brilliant future.
All my love, Hunter.
“That was sweet,” she says after she reads the sentiment aloud. “Especially after everything else that happened tonight.”
“It really was,” I agree, my insides warming at the thought of him making such an effort. Maybe this really is pre-wedding jitters, and everything will be fine. He was just thrown off by my taking the mini-series role during the wedding planning, and the short timeline to plan it—even if it was his idea—and tonight was just out of the ordinary oddness. I grab my phone and send him a quick text.
ME: The flowers are exquisite. Thank you. I can’t wait for tomorrow!
I add a kissy face emoji at the end and hit send, feeling a renewed sense of optimism and excitement that I haven’t felt for a while.
Crystal and I change into our pajamas, open a bottle of champagne from the mini bar, and snuggle into the big bed to watch an old Humphrey Bogart movie. We don’t have any plans tonight other than to relax, so this is perfect.
“Thank you for taking time away from your family to be with me.” I hug her as I say this, suddenly very grateful that she’s here with me.
“You are my family, babe.” She kisses my cheek.
“I know. I mean your other family.”
“I know what you meant.” She smiles. “You’re important to me, you’re my person. When you need me, I’m here. Michael understands that.”
“I love you, C.”
