Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin [89]
"Uh-huh," she says. "How about 'No time like the present'? Ever heard that one?"
"I'll say something soon. I will."
"Okay. Because you really can't put this off any longer. You need to nail him down," she says. "Move on with your life one way or the other.
This waiting-around stuff just isn't good for you, Rach. I'm seriously worried about you…"
"I know. I'll say something," I tell her. "You have to remember that I've only seen him one time since our weekend together. And that was late one night after work. He fell asleep on my couch."
"Well," she says knowingly.
"Well, what?"
"Well, isn't that somewhat telling?"
I know what she is implying. That if Dex loved me enough, he'd make more time for me. That I have lost momentum since July Fourth.
"No, actually, it's not telling," I say defensively. "Work has been crazy for both of us. Les is on a rampage. You know that. We've literally had no time to see each other."
"All right," she says. "But I'm giving him one more week. Then no more excuses."
"Two more weeks," I negotiate, and then explain that only a very shallow person would find it so incredibly easy to cancel an engagement. That the situation is vastly more complicated than she is acknowledging. That Dex would not string me along for the hell of it. That he values our friendship at the very least. That he also values my friendship with Darcy. That he has integrity. That he told me he loves me. And meant it. I pull out all the stops, trying to convince myself along the way.
"All right then," she says. "Two weeks. Absolute max."
I smile and nod, thinking that two weeks should just about do it. One way or the other.
In the meantime, I must face another hurdle: Darcy's shower/bachelorette party. It has been on the calendar forever—the third Saturday in Julybut for obvious reasons I have yet to plan the evening. Claire calls that afternoon to press me on details. "Should we go to the Hamptons or stay in the city?"
"I don't know. What do you think?" I am distracted, noticing that my secretary put two c's in "recommend" on a fax cover sheet that I failed to proofread. If Les sees it, he will go postal.
"It depends on what Darcy wants," Claire says.
Naturally. It always does.
"Right," I say.
"So? What does she want to do?" Claire asks in a tone that says, you should know this, you are the maid of honor.
I admit that I'm not sure.
"Let's conference her in and find out," Claire suggests in her sorority-social chair voice. She puts me on hold and returns with Darcy on the line.
We present Darcy with her options: Manhattan or the Hamptons. Claire outlines the pros and cons of each and assures her that either way it is going to be the best bachelorette party ever.
Darcy says she doesn't care. Both options sound great. She is subdued. Something is wrong. Maybe there is trouble brewing at home, a visible crack emerging in their relationship. Maybe Dex said something to her. I feel a surge of hope, which is followed by a larger dose of guilt. How can I so easily root for my friend's unhappiness?
"You don't care?" Claire asks. "That's a first."
"You guys decide. I'm fine either way."
"What's Dex doing?" Claire asks. Of course, I am wondering the same thing.
"I'm not sure," Darcy says. "He mentioned going to the Hamptons to golf."
"Well, if he does that, we should stay in the city. You don't want him around for your big night, do you?" Claire asks.
"No," Darcy says. "I guess not."
Something is definitely wrong. She does not sound the slightest bit excited about a night in her honor. My instinct to soothe her kicks in. "Claire and I will put it together and let you know where to show up," I say. "Does that sound good to you?"
"Yeah. That's fine." Her voice is flat.
"Is everything all right?" Claire asks.
"Yeah. I'm just a little tired."
"Okay. We'll work on this, Darce. It's going to be a great party," I say.
We all say good-bye and hang up. Claire calls me right back. "What is wrong with her? She sounds upset."
"I don't know."
"You