Chapter 2
Lexi
"Aunt Gertrude, it's time for us to place our order," I say firmly, giving my aunt a gentle pat on top of her wrinkly hand.
She shuts her mouth mid-sentence with a loud sniff and glares up at the poor waiter, who is practically trembling in his black sneakers. After we order, I see the familiar expression in Great Aunt Gertrude's eyes that tells me she's about to start lecturing again. I quickly play defense.
"I understand your thoughts, Auntie, but remember, I am seeing someone, and I have been for a couple of months now," I remind her.
"Oh, yes. That's right. Well, good then. You'll have a date for your cousin's wedding next month," she says, locking her gaze on me as she takes a sip of sangria.
"Uh, well, I don't know about that, Auntie. That's a huge ask."
Aunt Gertrude waves her hand as if she's shooing away an annoying fly.
"It's only in California. You're planning on driving anyway, right?" she says irritably.
"Yes, Auntie, but still. That's asking him to take time off from work and travel," I say, staring out at the promenade as the Phoenix sun blazes in the sky.
"Well, Lexi, you either are seeing someone or you're not. And if you're seeing someone, then I am expecting to meet him at your cousin's wedding," my aunt sniffs.
Knowing that I am fighting a losing battle, I take a large sip of my pinot grigio and swallow it before saying, "Yes. Yes, Auntie. I'll ask him."
After brunch, I close the apartment door behind me, dump the mail and my purse on the table, and collapse dramatically onto the couch. Elinda, my roommate, looks up from her book.
"Fun brunch with your aunt?" she asks with a knowing grin.
"Super fun. I am now to ask Ralph to be my wedding date in June," I say with a groan.
"What? I thought you were planning on ending it with Ralph?" she says, furrowing her brow.
"I was. We, like, have nothing in common. He just has those pretty green eyes," I say with a chuckle.
"So then?"
"I haven't gotten around to it yet. But, yeah, I don't see a future there," I say with a sigh. "But you know what? Maybe I've been too hard on him? Maybe I'm being too picky?"
Right then, my phone buzzes in my back pocket. Pulling it out, I see that it's Ralph.
"Speaking of the devil."
I respond to his text saying hi and then stare at the screen, chewing my lower lip.
I guess it doesn't hurt to ask, and maybe I have been a little too hard on the guy.
It's not like he is a jerk or anything. We've had some good times together.
Sitting up on the couch with determination, I begin typing out my invitation to the California wedding when my phone buzzes again.
I stare at the message and have to read several times before the words fully make sense in my head.
I'm so sorry for doing this over text, but honestly, I don't really see a future between us, and I just met someone. So I want to stop seeing each other.
The last four words practically glow at me like a neon sign.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me," I groan.
Elinda looks at me curiously.
"What happened?"
"Fuck!" I whine, slouching down on the couch and throwing my head back against the pillow. "Goddamn it!"