I really didn’t feel like bringing up the fact that Fletcher had won as the World’s Worst Boyfriend. She was already jumping on his case without that information. I should really talk to Fletcher first, not Zoe, but my emotions were all over the place. I needed to make some definite decisions, somehow.
“It was about relationships, and how to thrive in your relationship with your significant other.”
Zoe smiled slowly. “That sounds like an interesting one.”
I hummed in agreement.
“You seem a little quiet tonight,” Zoe pressed as she turned to study me. “Anything juicy to tell me?”
“Meh,” I shook my head and nodded at the same time, turning my head into a real-life imitation of a bobble head.
“Oh, come on. I’m your best friend. Tell me what’s wrong.” She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. Best friend was a bit of a stretch, convenient friend would be a lot more accurate, but I understood what she was saying and didn’t disagree.
“I don’t think Fletcher is that into me anymore.”
Zoe sighed heavily. “You have got to listen to me. You know he never liked me. That should tell you everything right there! Never date a man who doesn’t like your best friend. You need to meet a man who’s going to dote on you and be attentive. When was the last time you had a man treat you that way?”
“I met a man the other night,” I admitted. I didn’t know why I was bringing up the stranger who had helped me with my broken-down car. But he’d been very attentive. He would probably meet all of Zoe’s criteria.
Zoe’s eyes widened. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It isn’t important at all. He just helped me with my car. He was really kind.”
“What? Tell me all about it. What was he wearing? Did you kiss him? Did he take you to dinner?”
I glared at her as I adjusted my glasses. “No! Nothing like that. You know I would never do that to Fletcher.”
She absentmindedly pressed on one of her rings. “Well, was this guy at least good looking?”
I took a sip of the water in front of me and wondered if the waiter would ever come over so I could put in my order for something chocolatey. “Yeah, he was a good-looking guy. A little older, maybe in his mid-to-late thirties or something close to that.”
“Oooh, you know I love an older man. Why don’t you give me his number?” She glanced at her phone as though that would make the number magically appear.
“If only I could,” I laughed, trying to cover up the fact that I did have his number. The server came to our table and took my order for a giant margarita. I wanted something sweet and delicious, and after thinking about it, I knew a milkshake wouldn’t be enough.
“So…since you obviously won’t share the deets on your mystery man, did you enter Fletcher into the World’s Worst Boyfriend contest?” she asked slyly, her eyes back on the bartender.
I spun the water glass in a full circle on the mahogany tabletop. Zoe was the one who got me started listening to the Bee Best podcast. Of course, she’d listened to that episode. She’d known all along what was being discussed on the podcast. She’d probably listened to it before me.
“Erm,” I started. Luckily, the bartender delivered our drinks himself, and subsequently smiled at me and made an awkward attempt at flirting with me.
It was very sweet and flattering, then turned full on uncomfortable when Zoe piped in and embarrassed him by saying, “She has a boyfriend and is hopelessly obsessed, but I’m single and free.”
She smiled and rested her chin on her hand, angling toward him. The bartender fled back to his domain and Zoe turned to me as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. “This isn’t like you. You’re not a moper.”
“I feel like I am though,” I replied before I licked the salt off the rim.
She raised her eyebrows at me. “You’re moping because of him.”
I nodded. “I know. But I’m still deciding what to do about it.”
Zoe scowled. “You know what I think of him.”
“You’ve been wanting me to break up with him for a couple months now.”
Zoe shook her head. “He doesn’t like me either, and you know it’s important for a man to like your best friend. So important it’s almost sacred.”
She shrugged as if that explained everything about my current relationship status. It didn’t. I was still confused as to why she and Fletcher looked at each other in disgust.
Of course, after the attempted dinner the night before, I felt like looking at Fletcher in disgust. I couldn’t believe the way he spoke to that man about me. I thought he loved me the way I loved him. Okay, so in a moment of weakness I had nominated him for World’s Worst Boyfriend, that is true…but I still cared for him. But now…now I knew what he really thought of me. I was a placeholder.
I licked a little more salt off the rim before I took a burning gulp. Bless the bartender and his heavy-handed tequila pouring.
Setting the glass back down, I stood up and set some tip money on the table.
“I’m going home.”
“But you just got here!” Zoe protested half-heartedly as she winked at the bartender.
“I’m sorry, Zoe, it’s just that I finally know what I need to do.” With that I left the bar and grill, dodging the college crowd that made me feel crusty old at twenty-seven. I even managed to avoid making eye contact with the judgmental hostess.
Look, lady, I know I don’t look good right now. That was the point.
And unfortunately, there was a certain amount of clarity that came with realizing that Fletcher didn’t care about me. An overwhelming sense of serene peace filled my soul.
My hurt, broken, never-to-recover soul.
Chapter Six
Saidy
It wasn’t until a few days later, after work and dinner with my mom at a small Thai restaurant,
