Thirty-one
Danica
The clang of silverware and the murmur of conversations swirl around us as I slide into the booth across from Marisa. She’s already got that eager glint in her eye, ready to dive into every detail of our lives since we last caught up. We’ve exchanged a few texts, confirming we’re both alive and well, but haven’t seen each other since the EnergiFusion party last Saturday.
“Tell me everything about your new job,” Marisa begins as soon as we’ve ordered, setting the menu aside.
I beam at her enthusiasm. “It’s incredible, Marisa. Unmanned is something new and unique. They’re not vehicles for people, they’re robots that deliver, move things around, and make life easier.” My hands animate the air, mimicking the smooth motions of the robotic arms I’ve seen in demos.
“Sounds sci-fi. Is it going to replace people?” Her eyebrows arch in mock horror.
“Hardly,” I laugh, shaking my head. “There are not enough people to do these jobs. People are irreplaceable. They guide, they do the heavy lifting. No robot can match a real person’s expertise.”
Marisa nods. “You sound passionate. I love it.”
A moment later, our salads arrive, crisp and fresh. I take a bite, then rest my forearms on the table. “How about you? How are things down at City Hall?”
Her expression shifts, a shadow passing behind her eyes before she meets my gaze squarely. “Broke it off,” she says simply, but I catch a hint of tremor.
“Marisa…” I reach across the table, covering her hand with mine. “I’m so sorry.”
She shakes her head, a determined set to her jaw. “No. It’s for the best. He was lying to me, Danica. And I won’t be anyone’s side piece, not for him, not for his pregnant girlfriend, not for anyone.”
“Good for you,” I say, squeezing her hand. “You deserve so much better than that.”
Marisa smiles. “We both do, right? We’re not going to let men dictate our worth.”
“Exactly.” I nod, picking up my fork again. “We’re not going to settle for less than we deserve.”
“Here’s to not all men being lying sacks of shit.” Marisa raises her water glass.
“Cheers to that,” I echo, clinking my glass against hers, hoping we’re right.
Marisa sets her glass down and looks up at me, eyes narrowed with concern. “Have you heard from Austin?”
I shake my head, feeling the weight of his absence like a stone in my stomach. “No, he hasn’t been to the loft recently.” I pick at the edge of my napkin, avoiding her eyes. “I don’t know how things went so sideways with Nancy, but they did.” I shake my head. “I said things I shouldn’t have, engaged my mouth before my brain.”
“Maybe you dodged a bullet,” Marisa muses. “If his mother is that involved…”
She trails off, but I know what she’s thinking. Nancy’s insinuation that I was after Austin’s money still stings, and I feel the need to defend myself, even if just to Marisa. “She doesn’t know how wrong she is,” I retort. “Money kept my mother in a marriage with a man who couldn’t stay faithful. I’m never going to be financially dependent on a man. Ever.”
“Good for you,” she says.
I have my own path to forge.
A little while later I unlock the door to the loft, drop my keys in the bowl by the entryway, and am toeing off my shoes when the familiar chime of my phone catches my attention. My sister Yardley’s name flashes on the screen.
“Hey, how’s Seattle?” I ask as I flop onto the couch, cradling the phone between my shoulder and ear.
“Still doom and gloom,” Yardley replies. “But that’s not why I called. Guess what? Jack and I put a deposit down on our venue. We’re all locked in!”
“Seriously?” My heart swells. “That’s amazing, Yard! Congratulations!”
There’s a moment of silence before she adds, “Dad isn’t going to be giving me away, though. It’s crushing Mom.”
“Yardley, you know I’m with you on this one.” We both agreed long ago that we wouldn’t let him have that honor. “It’s your day. It should be about what you and Jack want.”
“Exactly,” she agrees. “Anyway, we have to find a date for you to come up here. We can go wedding-dress shopping.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I say, already imagining the whirlwind trip to Seattle, full of lace, silk, and sisterly bonding. “Look at your calendar and send me some dates soon, okay?”
“Will do. And hey, before you go, how are things with Austin? You haven’t mentioned him. I saw the pictures of you in that blue dress. Holy cow, did you look amazing, and that man is hot, but don’t tell Jack I said that.”
I pause, momentarily amused by the image of Jack getting jealous of Austin. “It’s…complicated,” I finally admit.
“Complicated how?”
“That night,” I begin, my fingers twisting a loose thread on the couch cushion. “It was a disaster. His mother was there, and she basically accused me of gold-digging, and Austin… I don’t even know what he thinks because we haven’t really talked since.”
“Have you texted him?”
“Yeah, but nothing substantial.” I feel the weight of the silence that followed each sent message. “I just feel so stupid, Yard. Meeting his mom should’ve been this big step forward, not the end of the road.”
“Danica,” she interjects gently, “it sounds rough, but you shouldn’t assume the worst. Have you seen the news about EnergiFusion? The lawsuits are everywhere. If Austin’s involved, he’s probably swamped.”
“Class actions from the auto manufacturers and car owners, right? Yeah, it’s a mess.” I sigh. “I guess if it’s meant to be, it’ll work out.”
“Exactly,” Yardley affirms. “Hang in there, okay?”
“Thanks, Yard. I’ll try.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
We hang up, and on impulse, I grab my phone again and type out a text to Austin.
Me: Thinking of you. Hope everything’s okay.
The little bubble with its miniature checkmark mocks me, and I toss the phone aside, not expecting an immediate response. He does have a lot on his plate. But I can’t shake the hope that maybe he’ll text back.
I scroll through my phone, the glow of the screen a cold comfort. Austin’s mother should be back in D.C. by now, yet there’s still only silence from his end. Could Marisa be right? Did I dodge a bullet in the form of his overbearing mother? A bitter laugh escapes my lips. Who am I kidding? Regardless of his mother, I fell for him, and I fell hard. I didn’t dodge anything.
It’s my fault, though. We agreed that we were just two people working their way through a box of condoms. So what if he walked away before we were done? It’s not like he was ever going to stick around forever.
With a deep breath, I make a decision. Enough is enough. I won’t let this spiral of doom consume me anymore. There’s something empowering about choosing where to direct my focus, and right now, it needs to be on the new job I love—at Unmanned—and the hope it represents.
“Danica, you’re better than this,” I mutter, pulling up my email and starting a new message to Yardley. Subject: Wedding Dress Inspiration. The cursor blinks patiently as I attach images of gowns I’ve been secretly bookmarking for her. Each click feels like a step toward healing, a small declaration of moving forward.
I’m going to be there for Yardley, cheering for her and Jack. And when I stand with her on that day, it will be as someone who didn’t crumble when things got tough. No, I’ll be standing tall, proud of the woman I’ve become, a woman who takes charge of her life, who lives fiercely but knows when to let go.