Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Mia
That night, Dina let me borrow her necklace with one hanging pearl in the shape of a teardrop that Liam got her for their fifth anniversary. But I had to swear on my unborn children that I’d keep it safe. And she did my makeup the way only she could—that made me look exactly like me, only better.
The only thing she couldn’t do was find me shoes. She was a tiny size six, and my mom was a seven, and absolutely no one was a nine and a half. So out came the red five-inch platforms with straps that crisscrossed around and ended at my ankles in sparkly red bows. They were wild. But at least they matched the dress…in a prom ’07 sort of way.
I walked downstairs expecting a wrist corsage and a photo with my boyfriend standing behind me with his arms at my waist, because my entire family was oddly present, all dressed up themselves and ready to go, yet all lined up in the foyer. Liam was taking photos. My dad was eating peanut butter crackers, no doubt wishing he was watching a game. My mom looked me up and down. It took her all of three seconds to spot my shoes.
I preempted her question. “It was these or ballet flats,” I said dryly.
“Maybe you can bring flip-flops and pretend it’s time to dance,” Dina suggested.
“You all are draining my confidence,” I shot back.
“Good thing I didn’t throw those away,” my mom said, which actually was a charitable thing to say.
“Why did you ever let me buy these?” I asked her. She literally never let me buy anything I wanted as a teenager.
Her mouth turned up in amusement. “Sometimes, you’ve got to pick your battles.” She kissed me. “You look beautiful.”
At the end of the line was Brax, in Caleb’s suit. It somehow fit decently enough. “You’re stunning,” he said.
“And you’re the best boyfriend ever,” I teased. But I meant it. Also, I loved saying that word.
My dad helped me on with my coat. “You look beautiful, sweetheart,” he said, and kissed my cheek.
“We’ll meet you there,” said my mom.
Brax stood by the door, holding out his arm for me to grab onto as we traveled down the icy path. Okay, five-inchers, don’t fail me now.
As I took his arm, he grinned widely and gave me a wink. “Okay, gorgeous. Time to go kick Charlie’s ass.”
My family literally cheered. It was weird, a strange moment that my whole family was witnessing, and yet Brax took it all in stride.
He closed the door and stopped me on the stoop, which happened to be right under that mistletoe. In contrast to the dark night, the entire outside of the house was lit with strings of cheery glowing lights. He faced me and took both my hands in his. “If you asked me what I thought I’d be doing tonight a week ago, I wouldn’t have said going to a party for your ex and his new wife. But Mia,” he looked me up and down, “You take my breath away. And even if you were wearing scrubs or sweats with your hair up in that bun thing you do”—he made a little curlicue in the air with his index finger—“I just want you to know I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here tonight, with you.”
My eyes misted over. “You had me at kicking Charlie’s ass.”
He looked up at the mistletoe, a twinkle in his eye. And then he kissed me.
And that sealed the deal. Suddenly, I didn’t care about what I was going to say to Charlie—or to Erin. I didn’t care who saw me tonight or what anyone would say. All I cared about was that I really did feel beautiful, in front of the only one who mattered.
And with that, I stepped straight into his arms.
“I give them three years,” Dina whispered to me like the wonderful sister-in-law she was as we stood at my family’s table near the back of the reception hall. We were surrounded by twinkle lights and pine boughs. There were candles everywhere, and red napkins complemented the gold chargers and the white-as-snow tablecloths. A local band played Christmas tunes while people danced. Everyone was dressed in their holiday best and having a fun time.
I had to smile, not so much at her comment, but at her fierce loyalty. “What are you talking about?”
Charlie and Erin were walking around the crowded hall, greeting people, shaking hands, and accepting congratulations. Charlie looked nice, dapper in a navy suit. He’d grown a hipster beard since we’d been together and lost about twenty pounds, so maybe his appearance was a reflection of being with the right person. Erin’s blonde hair was worn up, with a jeweled crown over her veil. Yes, she was wearing a wedding dress, strapless, cut to show off her cleavage and a tattoo on her upper chest of an “E” and a “C” intertwined with a vine.
Brax was off getting me a drink, and he couldn’t return soon enough.
Dina dropped her voice even further. “He hasn’t even looked at her or touched her for the past five minutes, even though they’re standing right next to each other.”
“That’s a risky tattoo,” Caleb said, joining us, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Okay, everyone,” I said, “thanks for being on my side, but you don’t have to critique them on my behalf. Although I appreciate your having my back.” The party was wedding-reception identical, with I’d guess around a hundred and fifty people. I’d caught up with some old high school friends that I hadn’t seen for a while, and that had been fun. And just as Brax had predicted, no one judged me for being there or even seemed to give it a second thought. I did see a few acquaintances whispering among themselves and pointing to me. Mia’s here, they were probably saying. Would you take a look at that?
Take a good look, people, I forced myself to think. Because here I am . Could that drink get here any quicker? Because I sure needed it.
While I waited, I said hi to—well, everyone I could. Old neighbors, teachers, our family doc who’d written me a recommendation letter for med school, my old dentist, and anyone else I could. Once I started, I just kept going. Finally, I ended up back at my family’s table.
“Where are the bridesmaids?” Caleb asked, taking a sip of his drink.
“It’s not a wedding reception,” I said.
“No bridesmaids?” he said, looking disappointed. But then he squeezed my shoulder, and it occurred to me that he wasn’t a complete Neanderthal. He was only trying to make me laugh. Was Caleb actually…maturing?
“Hey,” he said, smiling enough so that his dimple showed, also making me feel a strong sisterly fondness toward him. “If you need us, you’ve got Liam and me right here.”
I hugged him. “Thanks.”
Just then, Brax returned. Caleb gave him a little nod, which was cordial but not much more. I wished he would dial down the big-brotherly thing just a little.
Brax handed me a drink. “I have a question for you.”
“Okay.” I took a sip and coughed. “I do too. What’s in this?”
“A lot of vodka. Drink up.”
“Do I look that nervous?”
He scanned me up and down. “Yes.” As I forced down another gulp, he lowered his voice. “How was the um— you know —with him?”
I narrowed my eyes. “The um-you-know?” I thought about that. “Are you asking me about sex with Charlie?” I considered my answer carefully. “If you’re trying to take my mind off this, that may just have worked.”
“Hear me out, okay? He doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who would make sure you were having a good time too.” He pointed to Charlie and Erin, who were now greeting a long line of people. “Just look at him. He’s talking to everyone, shaking everyone’s hands. No arm around her, not taking up her hand, not introducing her to people. It’s like it’s The Charlie Show, and she’s just along for the ride.”
I took another sip of the drink, which now finally went down less like a fireball and more like a cozy, radiant campfire that you warm your hands near. Brax—and Dina—had made an oddly perceptive point. Charlie had always wanted what he wanted. He wasn’t one to stop, slow down, and make sure his partner was on board. That fit perfectly with the way he’d ended things too.
A memory suddenly hit me, of the day I’d driven to Milwaukee and moved into my efficiency apartment, where I didn’t know a soul. I was exhausted. Scared.
And absolutely exhilarated. Thrilled to be starting over. Thrilled to be on my own. Feeling like my life was about to begin.
I remembered that feeling so clearly now. I hadn’t thought this at the time, but now I understood that it had been the feeling of freedom. A freedom that maybe I wouldn’t have felt or maybe even needed if things had been right with Charlie.
“Are you okay?” Brax asked, touching my arm.
My throat felt too closed off to answer, but I managed a smile. Took a deep breath. Set down my drink, took up his hands, and looked into his warm brown eyes that somehow managed to calm me and unsettle me at the same time. “Thank you for being here. For getting me here. And for making me feel…not alone.”
He leaned over and whispered in my ear, “If I were your partner, I’d make sure you never felt alone when you were with me.” He looked concerned. And sincere. And steady. And…something more.
A feeling hit me hard in my gut. Brax, the guy who basically said he couldn’t show up in a relationship, did—every single time. He’d come to a small town in the middle of the Wisconsin countryside to have my back. And he kept doing it, over and over.
Though my nerves, I smiled. “Somehow, I already knew that,” I said. “But you can show me exactly what you mean by that later if you like.”
A slow smile spread over his beautiful face. “Happily.”
All right, then. I set down my drink and gave him a nod. It was time to do something I really needed to do.
“Go get ’em, tiger.” How could I fail with all the belief I saw in his eyes?
I kissed him and headed over to the happy couple.
Charlie was standing near one of the front tables, talking to Henrietta and Jake, who happened to be the couple we used to hang with the most. Truthfully, after our breakup, I’d lost touch. It was just too hard.
I felt like I was starring in a weird dream, where I entered an alternate reality and did things I could never in a million years have pictured myself doing. This one went like “One day, you’ll be at Charlie’s wedding party and congratulate him on his marriage to someone else.”
By the time I got to Charlie, he’d moved on to chatting with a couple I think I remembered as being his great-aunt and uncle. I lingered for a minute until they moved on, and then I tapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, Charlie,” I said then braced myself.
You know what happened? His face lit up like at his eight-year-old birthday party when I’d bought him a Ken doll to play with my Barbie.
“Mia-ba-dia, you came.” He smiled broadly, that same old Charlie smile, using that ridiculous nickname that I hadn’t heard since—well, since he’d said it last, years ago.
A wave of nostalgia hit me. We’d crossed many milestones together. We just hadn’t been meant to continue the journey together.
I swallowed. Took a breath. “I wanted to wish you the best.”
There. I’d done it. I was shaky and nervous, but I’d done it.
He broke into another smile and squeezed me tight. For some dumb reason, my eyes grew watery, and I found myself hugging him right back.
He wasn’t a bad person. He just wasn’t my person. Maybe some things happened for a reason. Maybe his cheating would ironically turn out to be the best thing he’d ever done for me.
He drew back. “Mia, you look amazing. And happy.”
He clearly hadn’t seen my shoes. “Thank you. You do too.” Erin was talking to an elderly guest, but she glanced over, and I knew she’d soon head over to us. I found myself wanting another minute with just Charlie.
I started to drop my hands, but Charlie squeezed them. “Listen,” he said, “it means a lot that you’re here.”
I could see that he meant it. And that it also meant something to me. Maybe more than I could process right now. I managed a nod.
Then he bent close and said in a low voice, “I’m so sorry, Mia. For hurting you. Please forgive me.”
For so long, I’d wanted to ask him why he did it. Why, after all those years together, he didn’t have the decency to simply break up with me first. But suddenly, I realized that it no longer mattered. “Charlie, I’m sorry too. You found your person.” I rubbed his shoulder. “It’s all good.”
“Great,” he said. “Meet Erin.”
Erin joined him. Up close, she had gorgeous hair and pretty blue eyes. She immediately tucked an arm through his. “Hey, babe,” she said. “Hi, Mia. So nice to finally meet you.”
“You too.” I hugged her. She seemed nice, but what I’d really appreciated was my moment with Charlie. It had been surprisingly comforting, and we’d been able to say a lot in a brief minute or two.
And then I felt a touch on my arm.
Brax. Of course, there at just the right moment again . I hooked my arm through his. “This is Brax, my boyfriend.” He shook hands with Charlie and hugged Erin. Then he wrapped his arm around me, ready to steady me if I needed it. I didn’t. I was going to be just fine.
I hugged Charlie one last time. Gave him a good squeeze. It was a goodbye hug. It also was a goodbye-to-my-past hug.“Congratulations,” I said to him and his bride.
When I turned away, Brax was waiting. Smiling. Looking so handsome, my heart dropped down to my feet. He took my hand.
Good thing. I felt a little shaky.
“I have a plan,” he said. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes.” I did trust him. With my whole heart.
He started to lead me out but halted. “You want to stay and visit with anybody else?”
“No,” I said honestly. “I spoke with everyone who counts.”
He led me through the crowd, past the bar, and through a side door, where one of the catering staff handed us our coats.
Wait. Brax had arranged to get our coats?
This didn’t seem like just a quick exit. It seemed like the beginning of an adventure.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Outta here,” he said as he opened the heavy metal door to the outside. It clanged shut behind us as we left.