That bitch Nancy had everything and she didn’t even have to work for it. She coasted through high school, dated all the popular guys, and then she did the exact same thing in college. If she wanted someone, all she had to do was bat her pretty eyelashes and they belonged to her.
Here comes the bride, all dressed in white. Yeah, right. White. That’s a bit of a stretch.
After riding the carousel of eligible bachelors, and a few guys that weren’t quite available, she had finally decided to settle down. Of course, she had to choose the only man I ever loved. Dominic wasn’t just my best friend, he was my everything.
Why can’t you see past her pretty face? Why do you have to be so shallow, Dominic?
When Nancy put her claws in Dominic, I figured it would be another quick trip to bliss, followed by a broken heart—for him. I was wrong. The whirlwind romance kept spinning, and it seemed like it wasn’t going to end until the wedding bells tolled. Dominic was officially a part of my past and I had no idea where that left me. I never told him how I felt. I was too shy to profess my love because I was afraid of the rejection it would bring. I also didn’t want our friendship to end. My eyes glazed over as Nancy walked past me, on her way to everything I ever wanted.
Six months later
“Do you want me to call you a cab or something?” The bartender handed me my credit card back and stared at me as I staggered off the barstool.
“No, I’ll be fine.” I nodded and tried to force a smile.
“I’ll make sure she gets home.” A familiar voice—it couldn’t be him.
“Dominic? What are you doing here?” I practically tumbled into his arms when my heel missed the step that carried me from the ledge along the elevated bar to the floor below.
“Apparently, I’m giving you a ride home.” He offered his hand and helped me balance on my heels.
“I think I can make it.” I used his hand for support and took a couple of steps.
“Yeah? Let’s see you do that by yourself.” He released my hand and I stumbled immediately.
“Okay, maybe I am too drunk to even find my way to a cab.” My words were slurred, but they sounded like poetry in my head.
“I’ve never seen you this drunk.” He grabbed my hand and helped me walk. “What are you celebrating? Did you get a promotion at work or something?”
No, I still haven’t stopped drowning my sorrows.
“Yeah, something like that.” I faked a smile and continued walking with him.
I was the one that usually helped Dominic to the car after he had a few too many beers. Being on the other side of that was strange for me. The night had started off well, especially when a cute guy asked me to dance, but when he decided to go home with the hot redhead at the end of the bar, I decided wine was going to be my evening companion. It wasn’t like I would have been went home with him, anyway. I would have went on a date with him, but I wasn’t quite desperate enough for one night stands. I was still a virgin, the eternal cliche of a woman saving herself for one guy—a guy she had to watch get married. Dominic helped me to his car, got me into the passenger seat, and walked around to the other side.
How many times have I dreamed of this?
“How’s Nancy?” I turned my head towards him as soon as he slid into the driver’s seat.
“I wouldn’t know.” He sighed deeply and held up his left hand, which was missing the wedding band I watched her put there. “The ink is still drying, but we’re divorced.”
“Shit…” I exhaled sharply. “I’m sorry, Dominic.”
“Don’t be sorry.” He shook his head back and forth. “She cheated on me.”
“Well, then fuck that bitch!” My words came out harsh, guided by alcohol, before I even realized what I was saying.
She had Dominic and she cheated on him?
“Yeah.” A smile slowly crept across his face. “Fuck that bitch. It feels good to say that out loud.”
I’d love to say that the night ended in glorious passion as I healed his wounds with my innocence, but that was never how it ended for us. He parked his car, helped me get to my apartment, and once I was safe in bed, he was gone. The one moment when Dominic was single, available, and vulnerable was lost. I was too drunk to do anything more than cling to him in order to keep the world from spinning into oblivion. Even though the blackness of sleep was calling my name as I lay there with my head against the pillow, I couldn’t help but wonder what might have been if I hadn’t spent the last six months drowning my sorrows.
How many nights did he need someone to talk to when I wasn’t there for him?
I stayed away out of respect for Nancy. She was his wife, and I was the female best friend. That was like fire and ice, unless they came together, and then it was kerosene against an open flame. I felt her jealous eyes on me the first time she walked into her apartment and saw us having a drink together. It was uncomfortable to say the least. Dominic would have never touched me when he was with her, but she didn’t know that. I understood it after I found out she cheated on him. She probably thought he was doing the same thing to her. Maybe he should have been. Maybe I should have been a homewrecker instead of an innocent virgin. Perhaps that would have taken me down the path to Dominic’s arms instead of loneliness.
“You’re late.” My boss, Mr. Stone, stared at me as I shuffled into the conference room and took a seat.