Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin [102]
"We tried that. She doesn't speak English very well. She just kept saying that she 'didn't see no ring.'" Darcy imitates the maid's accent. "I even took the phone. I told her I would give her a big, big reward if she finds it. The bitch isn't stupid. She knows that two carats are worth about twenty million dirty toilets."
"Okay," I say. "But it's insured, right?"
"Yeah, it's insured. But what the hell am I going to tell Dexter?"
"I don't know. Tell him that it fell down the drain at work… Tell him that you took it off at the gym and somebody broke into your locker."
She gives me a half-smile. "I like the gym one. That's believable, right?"
"Totally."
"I just can't believe this happened."
That makes two of us. I can't believe that Darcy cheated on Dex with some random guy. I can't believe that I am helping Darcy cover up her affair. Does everyone cheat when they're engaged?
"Is this a full-fledged affair?" I ask.
"Not really. Just a couple of times."
"So it's not serious?"
"I don't know. Not really. I don't know." She shakes her head and then rests her forehead in her hands.
I wonder if Darcy's recent moodiness has anything to do with this guy. "Are you in love with him?"
"God, no," she says. "It's just fun. It's nothing."
"Are you sure you should be getting married?" I ask.
"I knew you would say something like that!" Darcy starts to cry again. "Can't you just help me without being all pious?"
Trust me, I'm not being pious.
"I'm sorry, Darce. I'm not trying to be pious… I was just offering you an out if you wanted one."
"I don't want an out. I want to get married. I just—I don't know—I just panic sometimes that this is it. That I will never be with anyone else ever again. And so I just had this little fling. It was nothing."
"Okay," I say. "All I meant was that if you are unsure of this whole marriage thing… I just want you to know that I fully support whatever decision—"
She interrupts me. "There's no decision to make! I'm getting married. I love Dex."
"Sorry," I say. And I am sorry. I'm sorry that I love Dex too.
"No. I'm sorry, Rachel," she says, touching my leg. "It's been a horrible day."
"I understand."
"I mean, do you understand? Can you imagine what it is like to be weeks away from a promise that is supposed to last forever?"
Oh, poor you. Does she have any idea how many girls would kill to make a promise like that to someone like Dexter? She is looking at one of them.
" 'Forever is a mighty long time,'" I say, with a hint of sarcasm.
"Are you quoting a Prince song? You better not be quoting a Prince song in my time of need!"
I tell her no, although that was precisely what I had been doing.
"It is a long time," she says. "And sometimes I don't know if I can do it. I mean, I know I want to get married, but sometimes I don't know if I can go forty more years or however long it is and never feel that thrill of kissing someone new. I mean, look at Hillary. She is on cloud nine, isn't she?"
"Yeah."
"And it's not like that with Dexter anymore. Ever. It's all just the daily grind—him going to work all the time, leaving me with all the wedding plans. We're not even married and the fun part is already so far gone."
"Darce," I say. "Your relationship has evolved. It's not about the initial frenzy, the lust, the newness."
She looks at me as if she's really paying attention, taking mental notes. I can't believe what I'm saying. I'm convincing her that her relationship is this great, special thing. I don't know why I'm doing it. Probably just nerves. I keep going. "The thrill of the chase is always exciting. But that's not what a real, lasting, loving relationship is all about. And the initial infatuation, the 'I can't keep my hands off you' routine, it fades for everyone."
Except for Dex and me, I think. It would always be special with Dex and me.
"I know you're right," she says. "And I do love him."
I know she believes what she's saying, but I'm not sure she does love him. I'm not sure she's capable of truly loving anyone but herself.
Jose buzzes