Chapter 7

Brooklyn

I sat aside and watched as Nora spoke with the wedding planner she'd hired. We weren't walking much today, she just had this meeting to attend to, and she'd wanted me to accompany her so I couldn't refuse. Besides, I didn't have that many free days left, and the reason I took so much time off was to spend time with her, even if it was just sitting back as she handled her matters.

As much as dealing with an overly hyper best friend was annoying, I knew I would miss her when I left.

My cell vibrated in my purse. I was reaching for it, when a sudden touch on my shoulder startled me, and I looked up to see Nora sit down in the chair across from me.

"Hey, there," she said, smiling at me. "Sorry to leave on your own like this, bored."

I sighed and leaned back in my seat, crossing my legs and arms as I arched an eyebrow at her. "You know, if you're sorry, then you could have just left me alone to sleep. Why did you have to wake me up this morning, huh?"

"It's not like I woke you up early, for once," she retorted. "You were practically out of bed when I showed up, and I fed you both breakfast and lunch, so be a little more grateful, would you?"

I rolled my eyes, but had to concede. She'd been a bit more considerate today. I'd drank enough yesterday to have a bit of a hangover when I got up, and after sleeping in, she'd picked me up and gotten me some meds and greasy food to wake me up from the hangover. Being the good friend she was, she didn't even ask about what happened last night, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to bring it up. The kiss from Abe, not what I did after that. Just thinking about it made me blush.

"I'm not all that bored," I said honestly. "This is a nice place, all peaceful with a good view."

She nodded, looking around. "I wanted to have my wedding at this hotel, originally. It's beautiful, especially the garden. And I love that it's in full view from here, I figured we could just have the ceremony under here, then cross over to the garden for the early part of the reception, then move further into the hotel for the after party at night..."

The idea she painted was a nice one. We were technically still inside of the hotel, but the outside wall had been pushed back on the first floor and replaced with glass. We were under shade and we could still feel the breeze blowing in from outside, not to mention the gorgeous garden. If I could, I would have loved to have my own wedding done at the hotel as well. The only negative was the cold weather.

"So, why don't you have it here?"

She sighed. "That's what I'm trying to deal with the planner today. Pretty much everything else is ready at this point, I have another venue and they wouldn't say no to me, but I still really want to get this place. She's good, though, and she's trying to get me a good deal."

"Is it the money?" I asked, frowning.

"No, not the money. I mean, it's quite expensive, true, but with what you get, I think it's very reasonable. Getting a place that looks this good in New York City isn't easy, you know."

"So, the problem is..."

"I'm not really sure. I don't think there's anything happening here on the date of the wedding. The planner didn't really make that clear, but she said she would handle it."

"Are you done yet?"

"No, she's bringing over some documents for me to look over." She frowned at me, looking concerned. "If you don't want to stick around, feel free to go, okay? You can go back and sleep, or something. Or take a tour around the city, I'm sure you'd love that."

Yeah, I would have loved a tour, except I wasn't a native and I didn't want to just drive around all over the place. I didn't know where to begin taking a tour in the city, Nora had promised to take me when she asked me to come over, but there was never time. Before I could remind her of this fact, and the fact that she was the only native that I knew, the planner was back and calling her over. Nora waved at me then hurried back over to their seats. I just watched her go with a sigh.

Then, an idea came to mind. Technically, she's not the only person here that I know.

It was probably a bad idea, but I pulled my cell out and hesitated. Would Abe even be interested in giving me a tour? It was Saturday, but he should still be busy with work, right? Did I even want to go anywhere near him again? The thoughts swirled through my mind, and I absent mindedly turned on my cell's screen, only to be surprised when I checked and saw I had a message.

From Abe.

It must have been the vibration from before Nora distracted me. I unlocked the screen and opened up the text. It was a simple hello, and I bit my lip as I typed out a 'hi' and hit send. My hands tightened on the cell, my heart beat picking up speed. I felt like mocking myself, because I was acting the same way as I was before he and I got together, a young girl getting a text from someone she has a crush on.

You're better than this, I chided myself. Not to mention older.

Besides, yesterday was supposed to be the only time I would see him again. Especially after how the night ended. I didn't want him to think I was desperate and still waiting for him after so long. It would be too humiliating. So cutting off contact before he figured out my lie would be the best thing to do. But when my cell buzzed with another message, my heart skipped a beat, and I couldn't not check it.

"Are you busy?"

I tapped the edge of the cell with my nail as I looked up at Nora. She and the wedding planner were engrossed in some documents and would probably stay that way for a while. It was just texting, so I didn't have to move...

"Currently free," I sent back. "What do you need?"

"Just wanted to chat. How are you feeling today?"

"Okay. I got to sleep in, so I'm happy. Hope you weren't hung-over?"

I waited for a bit, but there was no immediate answer. I bit at one of my nails as I waited for the new message to come in, swiping my finger on the screen to keep it from blacking out. When the text came, it made my face heat up.

"Am I allowed to talk about last night?"

I gulped down the lump in my throat. I knew it was impossible, but I still wondered if he knew what I'd done after I'd left him yesterday. I had gotten myself off once in the tub, and later again in bed right before I fell asleep.

"What about last night?" I typed back.

"... What did you do when you got back home?"

My heart beat painfully in my chest, and I couldn't bring myself to reply this time. After a couple minutes, the cell buzzed again.

"Don't tell me you don't remember the kiss."

"How could I forget?" I typed and sent impulsively, only to want to hit myself afterwards.

We continued texting for a long while. A lot of it sounded a lot like flirting, and he kept bringing up last night, which made me wonder if it was moving into sexting territory. I did calm down after a while, and I was able to even smile a bit, feeling nostalgic for the good old days when we would text each other all day, before we even got together. A few times, I giggled, remembering to muffle the sound because I wasn't alone and I didn't want to bother Nora.

"Are you busy for the rest of the weekend?"

The question came as a bit of a surprise. We'd been goofing off for a few minutes, so the sudden question coming out of nowhere made me pause for a bit. I looked up at the still busy Nora, and decided I could be free tomorrow.

"Nothing, why?"

"I'm going to a wine tasting. Want to come with?"

His reply was immediate, and it made me widen my eyes a bit. At the speed of the invitation, and the fact that he was inviting me at all. This meant that Abe...actually wanted to spend time with me, still?

"Where is this wine tasting thing?"

"It's a little funny, but it's in Long Island. I can get you a ticket and you can be there tonight, what do you say?"

I bit my lip, hesitating. There was a part of me that really wanted to go. I still cared for Abe, and I wouldn't be seeing him after this whole wedding thing was done with, anyway. I'd just disappear and make him think that I was a married woman. For someone of his means, finding out that it was a lie wouldn't be difficult, but maybe he would bury things, too, so we would both get a clean break?

Should I go...or should I not go. I felt indecisive, and with good reason. As much as I would like to pop over to Long Island, I would be there with Abe of all people. I wasn't all that okay with him paying for my ticket, either, because it made me feel like I would owe him something. But, in a way, I could say he owed me something, too. And thinking that way, there was absolutely no reason for me to refuse.

"Brooklyn!"

I looked up at Nora's call to see her walking toward me with a smile on her face. My eyebrows shot up and I smiled back at her as I rose up.

"I'm guessing some good news?"

"Yes! The total best! It's not set in stone yet, the planner will get back to me, but my wedding might actually happen at this gorgeous place!"

"Your wedding is barely a week away. Isn't this cutting it a bit close?"

She gave me a light slap on the shoulder. "I told you already, I have a place. But if I could get somewhere better, then why would I object? You could say this place was my original plan, but I secured plan B first. Oh, and I'll leave you alone for tomorrow to do whatever you want. I need to go and talk to my parents and I'll probably be there the whole day."

"That's all right," I said slowly, picking up my purse. "I'll think of something to do."

As if to remind me I hadn't given a direct answer yet, my cell vibrated and I checked the newest message.

"If you're worried about the ticket, you can just pay me back later. The wine tasting isn't that big an event, but I've gone before and it's amazing. You should come."

I bit my lip and shot a quick text back.

"Sure thing. Text me the details on the ticket."

"Who are you texting?" Nora asked.

I smiled at her as I put the cell back in my purse. "None of your business," I said teasingly.

She narrowed her eyes, and I was sure she could guess, but she didn't say anything and I didn't, either.