So this was what it was going to be like to be single. You felt awkwardly out of place at engagement parties.
But I was good at digging in the ice for a drink.
I could do this.
I carefully dug around until I found a wine cooler that looked more my speed. Ah, a cold drink would be a nice change of pace. I wonder if I could get a to-go cooler to take some of the ice home in.
I spun around and bumped into another man I didn’t recognize. “I’m so sorry.”
He smiled. “No harm done. I should have warned you I was waiting in the beer line.”
I glanced behind him and smiled when I realized he was joking. “I managed to save some for you even though there was a rush.” I stepped to the side and let him grab himself a drink.
“I’m assuming you know Milo and Andrea?” he asked as he popped the top off.
“No, I usually like to pop in and celebrate with people I don’t know. It’s a great way to get a free meal. Sort of a prelude to the Wedding Crashers movie, except this one involves a female and it’s for the engagement party.”
He chuckled and held his hand out. “I’m Tyler. Milo’s my cousin.”
I shook his hand. “I’m Saidy, and now that you say that; I can see the family resemblance.”
“I was actually adopted.”
I cringed. Open mouth insert foot.
“But it’s all good. We always joked that I look more like my parents than their biological children.”
“Okay, well, I’m just going to try to never speak to strangers again. So I never say anything quite that dumb again.”
He tipped his head back and laughed again. “No, I don’t want to be responsible for any social anxiety.”
“Too late,” I smiled as I took a drink of my cooler. “Who are you here with?”
“No one. Now are you going to feel bad for pointing out my singleness?” he teased.
“No, I’m not. Because I don’t have a date either.”
“Saidy!” A loud greeting called across the yard. Well, there goes me being discreet. Andrea came charging toward me with her arms open wide.
Ever a hugger, she wrapped her arms around me and practically lifted me off the ground. I tried to keep my drink steady so as not to spill it on her white romper.
“Congratulations! You know I’m so happy for you guys,” I laughed as she continued to squeeze the life out of me.
“Well, I’m still mad at you for not being my wedding planner,” she said as she released me.
I smiled as I grasped her hand to study the ring. Milo really had outdone himself. It was a vintage-style ring with a ruby in the center. Something perfectly unique for Andrea. “You do know that being an interior designer doesn’t mean I’m a wedding planner?”
“But you manage to make everything beautiful! I know it would be amazing and look even better.” She teased. “Oh, you met Tyler! I’m so glad, he’s here visiting and doesn’t really know anyone. Is Fletcher in the house? Tyler runs a software company, and I thought they might get along talking shop.”
Tyler stood there sipping his beer, pretending like we weren’t talking about him in front of his face.
“I’m not sure where Fletcher is.” I gulped. My cowardice was about to come out. I’d had a couple weeks to tell her…but I’d chickened out. I mean, it was all so new, why blast the news before it was absolutely necessary?
“Oh, is he late again?” Andrea asked with true concern in her voice. “That boy is always late, isn’t he?”
I cleared my throat. “Well, actually, Fletcher and I broke up.”
“What?” Andrea shrieked. “Milo! Get over here!”
Milo strode across the yard; his wavy brown hair was something to envy. Along with the scruff casting a five o’clock shadow across his face, he looked like a model. He and Andrea were the couple that looked so good together that it was painful.
“Hey, Saidy,” he greeted as he gave me a quick hug. “What’s going on?”
We both stared at Andrea who still looked in shock. “They broke up.”
“Who?” Milo asked.
“Fletcher and Saidy.”
Milo’s hair swooshed when he spun to look at me, then back at Andrea. “What? You’re joking.”
They continued to ramble back and forth to each other for a few minutes. Now I knew how Tyler felt, having them talk about me when I was standing right here. Tyler tipped his beer toward me in a little salute. Apparently, he was used to them having conversations about people directly in front of them. It was one of their more annoying traits.
“Hey, guys,” the deep, familiar voice behind me had me choking on the drink I’d just swallowed.
I didn’t think he would even remember the party without my help.
“Of course, I would remember.” The voice growled again. Okay, apparently, I hadn’t said that in my head.
“You seem to be losing your filter lately,” he whispered loudly. “Maybe it’s the stress of a bad boyfriend.”
“You’re not together!” Andrea stated painfully loud. Now I felt bad for coming to the engagement party. We were ruining the mood for the happy couple. Andrea looked as though she were about to pass out. Milo was frowning—Milo never frowned.
Fletcher stepped closer and scowled down at me.
There was too much of that going around. “Yeah, Saidy realized she could do a lot better than the worst boyfriend.”
It was the second time he’d mentioned something about being a bad boyfriend. He couldn’t possibly know…no. What a ridiculous thought.
Andrea laughed nervously. “Okay...well, I’m glad you’re both here.”
Fletcher was still glaring down at me; his emphasis on the word “worst” made me cringe. “Well, if someone had actually cared about me, we might still be together,” I whispered.
“If you hadn’t been so obsessed with counting my faults, we probably would be.”
Tyler seemed to be chugging the beer like it was his life-breath.
Milo and Andrea both dragged him away, leaving me standing
