Page 88 of It Couldn't Be You
“Wow, it’s like you’re living in the dangNotebook,” I said in awe.
“I know. It’s so cheesy, but it melted my heart. It really did,” Katie sighed happily.
“So, what does this mean?” This sounded big. Like marriage proposal big.
“It means he’s going to move here. He’s going to make Sweet River the home base. When he travels, I’ll go with him sometimes. We’re going to do life together.”
“It sounds like you’re really doing this, Katie,” I gave her an encouraging smile.
“We’re committed,” she said. We exchanged excited glances.
I pulled my purse into my lap and started digging around for my sunglasses.
“Are you upset I wasn’t sharing much about the long-distance struggles between Terrence and me?” Katie asked out of the blue.
“No,” I said, pausing my purse search. “Not upset. But I think it made me notice that our friendship is changing a little.”
“Emma, I don’t want you to think that!” Katie pouted.
“It’s not changing in a bad way, though. We’re making room for someone new. We’ve never really made room for a guy beforehand. Terrence is the first one.” I reached over and gave her arm a little squeeze.
She was quiet, mulling this over. “I guess you’re right.”
“I used to know what you were feeling about a guy before he did—even guys you were in a relationship with. Now I’m finding out post you guys already sorting it out.”
“I wasn’t hiding it from you. I think this relationship just feels so serious, and so…ours.” She tried to find the right words. “I don’t even know how to explain it.”
“You don’t have to explain it,” I said tenderly. “I wasn’t expecting you would be married and calling me when he didn’t take out the trash or something. Or maybe I did. Either way, if I had to finally scoot over and share some of your time and attention, Terrence makes it easy.”
The rest of the day, we talked even more about Terrence—about their future, about his family, about how good of a cook he is, about his ambitions, about silly things they had in common… And on the drive home from Austin, the sky going dark overhead, I had the urge to tell her all about Gabe and me. It felt like the right moment.
She was telling me a story about Terrence, and I had the perfect opening. I had the words. Like God had opened a door for me and said, “This way, Emma.”
But I didn’t say them. Katie kept talking. She made a joke. The song on the radio changed. Then the moment was gone.
Rose called to talk about work shifts. Katie asked me about what I was going to write about the chili cook off. My mom texted me, and Katie read it out to me. A deer ran out in front of us at one point, and we both screamed and belly laughed. We stopped for water bottles and gas. I forgot I had even wanted to tell her.
Thirty-Two
Gabe
you took Katie to a chili cook off instead of me??
Gabe
how do I get to become the plus 1 to things like this
Gabe
might I remind you I’m bored and injured. what happened to trying to cheer me up? I can’t remember the last time you brought me baked goods!
Me
cookies have been dropped on your doorstep ;) *I did not make these, but they were bought with great care
My dad was up to something. I realized this a couple of days before Easter when he gave me a call one afternoon. I was walking to my car after an early morning shift.
He said, “I’m thinking of planning a little Easter barbecue. You know, the weather’s been so nice lately. It’ll feel like a little kick-off to spring.”
