Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Trina
It’s been over a week since Scott and I ended our arrangement. That’s what I’ve decided to call it since it wasn’t an actual relationship. And calling it that makes it less personal, which I was hoping would make my feelings about it go away, but so far, it hasn’t worked. I’m still sad that it’s over, and I really miss Scott.
We don’t talk anymore, other than a quick hello when we see each other in the hall. Scott’s back to having clients over in the morning, so there’s always people coming and going from his apartment. Yesterday, I saw Bridget go into Scott’s place and wondered if they’re back together. Then I wondered why I care, since I told myself I wasn’t going to pay attention to what Scott’s doing.
It’s now Friday night, and I’m home with nothing to do. Frank’s been having me work during the day on Fridays so I can go out with my boyfriend at night. He doesn’t know Scott and I aren’t together anymore. I decided to let Frank continue to think Scott’s my boyfriend so he doesn’t try to set me up with Wally again.
I’ve been home for an hour and I keep hearing people going into Scott’s apartment. Maybe he’s having one of his parties, although I haven’t heard him taking stuff from the storage room. Maybe he’s just having some people over.
There I go again, thinking about Scott. I really need to stop that, but it’s hard when he’s right next door. Getting out my phone, I find one of the many job sites I’ve been searching the past week. I go through the listings to see if anything new has been added.
This is not how I want to spend my Friday night. I consider calling Sara to see if she wants to do something but then remember she has a boyfriend. I need some friends who are single.
My phone rings and my pulse picks up when I see Asher’s name on the screen. I haven’t heard from him since we met at the coffee shop. That was over a month ago.
“Hello?” I say, like I don’t know it’s him calling.
“Trina, it’s me,” he says. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good.” I try to sound upbeat so he won’t be able to tell my life’s a total mess. “How are you?”
“I’m okay. I’d really like to see you. Could I come over?”
“You mean here? To my apartment?”
“Yeah.” He pauses. “I’m actually waiting outside your building.”
I race over to the window but don’t see him on the street. He must be standing outside the door.
“Why are you here?” I ask. “What is this about?”
“I need to talk to you. Could you let me in?”
“Um, yeah, okay. I’ll be there in a minute.” I end the call and quickly change out of my baggy t-shirt and put on a sweater. If I’d known he was coming, I would’ve fixed myself up, maybe put on a sexy dress, so he’d know what he could’ve had if he hadn’t dumped me.
Going out to the main entrance, I see Asher there, still wearing his suit and tie from work. He always looked good in a suit, and this one looks new. I haven’t seen it on him before.
“Hi,” I say, opening the door to let him in.
“Hey.” He smiles at me, then pulls me in for a hug. “It’s really good to see you.”
Why is he hugging me? This is strange.
“So where’s your apartment?” he asks, letting me go.
“Just down the hall, but it’s really small. We should go somewhere else.”
“I don’t mind if it’s small. Can I see it?”
As he follows me down the hall, I’m finding this whole thing really odd. I don’t hear from him for weeks, and then he just shows up here? I don’t get it.
“Here it is,” I say, going into my apartment. “Home sweet home.”
“You weren’t kidding.” He looks around. “You can barely move in here.”
I shrug. “I’m used to it now.”
“I see you got a mattress.”
“I didn’t buy it. Someone gave it to me. Same with the chair and the dresser.”
Saying that makes me think of Scott and when I first met him. It really bothered him that I was sleeping on the floor, and yet Asher, who claimed to love me, didn’t even care.
“That’s it for your kitchen?” Asher points to the microwave next to the tiny sink.
“Yeah. And over there is the bathroom.”
He walks over to it and peeks his head in. “Wow, that’s tiny. I don’t know if I’d even fit in there.”
“You would. You just have to get used to bumping into everything.”
He walks back to me, shaking his head. “Trina, I’m so sorry.”
“For what?” I ask, because there’s a lot he has to be sorry for, although I’m surprised he’d admit it. When we were together, he rarely apologized.
“For you having to live here.” He looks at me and holds both my hands. “This isn’t what I wanted. I never wanted you to be living this way and for us to be apart. I need you to know that.”
“Why are you telling me this? We’ve been broken up for over a month.”
“Which was enough time for me to realize how wrong I was back then. I was blaming you and our relationship for why I wasn’t succeeding at work, but I’ve realized it had nothing to do with that. It was the job. It wasn’t right for me.”
“Are you saying you quit?”
He nods. “A couple of weeks ago. I got a new job, but I haven’t started it yet.”
I can’t believe Asher quit his job. He was always bragging about working there because it was such a prestigious firm. It makes me wonder if he didn’t quit, but got fired.
“What’s the new job?”
“Same as I was doing before, just at a different company. It’s smaller, but they’re growing fast. The guy who hired me said I’ll move up the ranks much faster than if I were at a bigger place.”
“That’s great. You sound really excited about it.”
But I still don’t know why he’s here. Did he just want to tell me about his new job? Why would he think I’d care? We’re not together anymore. We’re not even friends.
“You remember Laurence?” he says. “The guy I interned for the summer between my junior and senior year?”
“He was your dad’s friend, right?”
“Yeah, they’ve been friends for years. They went to college together. Anyway, I was visiting my parents a few weeks ago and Laurence came over for dinner. I mentioned I’d quit my job and he gave me an offer. I didn’t even have to apply. He said I really impressed him during my internship and that he’d love to have me join the company. The pay is the same and I’ll get more time off. Isn’t that great?” He’s beaming as he tells me this, his whole face lit up. I haven’t seen him this excited in years.
“It’s great, but isn’t their office in Connecticut?”
“Yeah, not far from my parents’ house.”
“And you’re okay with the commute?”
“For now, I can deal with it, but I’ll eventually want to move there.”
“That’s a big change. You used to say you never wanted to leave Manhattan.”
“This is what I’m trying to tell you.” He rubs my hand. “I’ve changed, Trina. This time we’ve been apart has really made me think about what’s important and what I want in life.” He glances at the mattress. “Can we go sit down?”
“Sure.” I sit in the chair and leave the mattress for Asher.
He leans toward me, that excited look still on his face. “You used to talk about wanting a house someday with a big yard for our kids. I couldn’t imagine it because I couldn’t imagine ever leaving the city. But now, with this new job, everything’s changed, and I’m actually looking forward to living back in Connecticut. Having a family there. Being close to my parents.”
“Asher, why are you telling me this? Why are you here?”
He takes my hand and holds it in his. “I made a mistake. I never should’ve called off our engagement. I love you, Trina, and I want to marry you. I’m ready now. I’m ready to set a date.”
“Asher, I—”
“Wait. Before you say anything, there’s something I need to do.” He reaches in the pocket of his suit jacket and pulls something out, then gets down on one knee. “Trina, I love you, and I want us to have the future we always talked about. I know that now. I’m not wavering anymore. I know this is what I want. So I need to ask you again…” He smiles at me and holds out the ring. “Will you marry me?”