Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin [132]
She gives me a quizzical look. "He called it off? For sure?"
I tell her the whole story. She hangs on every word, and in the end she looks like one of those people who answers the door to find Ed McMahon with a big check and a television crew. She covers her eyes with her palms, laughs, shakes her head, and then comes around her desk and gives me a hug. I am not surprised by her reaction. I didn't expect her to get any of the subtleties—the fact that Darcy and I are no longer friends, the fact that my parents are upset, and that word of my treason is traveling at the speed of light all over Indiana.
"Well, that is awesome, awesome news. I owe Dex an apology. Shit. I really had him written off as another womanizing pretty boy."
"He's not like that."
"I can see that… I'm so happy for you."
I smile. "So what has been going on here?"
"Oh, not too much. Same old shit… Julian and I had our first big fight."
"What? Why?"
She shrugs. "We got into an argument that escalated."
"About what?"
"It's a long story… but basically we have this full-disclosure rule. No secrets whatsoever."
"Secrets about your past?"
"Yeah. And just anything. So anyway, he was talking to this girl at a party, and he introduced me to her. And the three of us had a big conversation about all sorts of things. And later that night, I asked him how he knew her… He told me he met her two summers ago… and that was it. Then kidding around, I said, 'Did you sleep with her?' And he just looked at me… He had!"
I don't try to hide my smirk. "You got mad because of an ex-girlfriend?"
"No. I got mad that I had to ask him if he slept with her. He should have brought it up first! That wasn't in the spirit of our agreement. So of course, I start to worry that he isn't as honest as he seems."
I shake my head. "You're a trip. So stubborn."
"He is too… We haven't talked in almost twenty-four hours."
"Hill! C'mon, you have to call him!"
"Not a chance. His finger isn't broken."
Her words and posturing are bold and defiant, but for the first time I see her as vulnerable. Something in her eyes gives her away.
"I think you should call him," I say. "This is silly."
"Maybe it is. I don't know—and then again, maybe we're not as perfect for each other as I first thought."
"Because of one fight?"
She shrugs.
"Hillary, I think you're overreacting. Pick up the phone and call him."
"No way," she says, but I can tell from the way that she glances at her phone that she is weakening.
I think to myself that when you're in love, sometimes you have to swallow your pride, and sometimes you have to fight to keep your pride. It's a balance. But when the relationship is right, you find that balance. I am sure that Hillary and Julian will.
When I return to my office, I dial up my only other unconditional ally. I know that Ethan won't miss the complexity of the situation, perhaps because he knows Darcy better than Hillary does. In some ways, he understands her better than I do.
He does not interrupt once as I tell him the story. "So did you suspect that? When Dex called asking about my flight?" I ask him after I finish.
"I hoped… That's why I gave him your information. But I didn't ask any questions. I just crossed my fingers."
"You hoped? Really? I thought you didn't like him."
"Aw, I just didn't like him for jerking you around all summer. I like him now. I mean, I actually admire him now. He didn't take the easy way out. I really respect him for that. So many people just let the engagement tide roll over them and get washed up into the hurrah of a wedding. Dex did the stand-up thing. I give him credit. I really do."
"I'm just glad he was the one to call it off, instead of Darcy making the decision for him after the pregnancy discovery. Then I'd always wonder, you know, if I was just the runner-up."
"So how do you feel?" His question is gentle, and I know he is asking about Darcy.
I tell him that I am happy, of course,