"You too, sir." I did my best to walk out of that office with my head held high, but it only worked for a short while until I found myself back behind my desk looking down at that fucking invitation.
I was beginning to think that this was going to haunt me for the rest of my life. I picked it up and threw it into my top desk drawer when my cell phone went off.
"Hello."
"Drew, it’s Zach."
"What's up?"
"Not too much. Listen, I just landed in Denver and I'm heading up to the chalet tomorrow."
"Ah, well, have a safe drive! I'll see you when I get up there."
"No, not so fast. I figured I would pick you up on the way. Mom and Dad are expecting you."
"No, it's all right. I told you I would drive."
"Why, so you can sit and pine over what could have been for the next few days? No way. I'll see you tomorrow around one. You better be ready."
"No, man, don't bother. I'll drive up myself on Saturday."
Zach was already gone, and I was greeted with a dial tone as I spoke the last couple of words. I swore under my breath and pocketed my phone, grabbed my jacket and laptop, and made my way out of the office, shutting off the pathetic little plastic tree that sat in the corner before I left.
* * *
I stoodand looked out my living room window, sipping on my coffee. Dark-gray clouds hung overhead, making the day appear gloomy. The storm that was supposed to hit last night was more than likely on its way today, and from the looks of it outside, it was going to be rolling in early.
I sat down on my couch and started scrolling through pictures on my cell phone, pictures I had sworn I would never look at again and didn't know why I hadn't deleted them yet. The same question rolled through my mind again:How could she just walk away?
After I had paid the wedding bill and said good-bye to our 500 friends, co-workers, and highly judgmental family while profusely apologizing for the lack of wedding celebration and fun, I had called her. To be honest, I wasn't expecting her to answer, but she surprised me when she did. She didn't even sound upset, didn't even apologize. Instead, she was short and matter of fact, as if we were nothing more than mere acquaintances. It was that moment that I realized I had no idea what had happened between us.
"Yo, Drew, you ready?" I heard the back door bang and Zach call from the kitchen.
"Jesus, man, you scared me half to death. I told you I would drive myself!" I called out from the couch, quickly shutting down the screen on my phone just in time for Zach to step around the corner.I really should take my spare key back, I thought to myself as Zach grabbed an apple from the bowl of fruit on the counter and took a bite.
"I know, but you are a lawyer, and lawyers lie. Where's your shit?"
"It's ready," I answered as Zach looked around the room for some sort of luggage.
"If it's ready then where is it?"
"God can't a man enjoy his Saturday morning coffee? Give me a minute and I'll get it," I said, getting up from the couch and heading toward my bedroom.
"I had my morning coffee three hours ago," Zach called out as I returned carrying my bag. "You're only taking one bag? I thought we'd hit the slopes while we were up there."
"Then I'll have to buy all new equipment. I sold all mine after..."
"For God’s sake, man, she left. You're not dead. Single men can still ski, you know."
One thing about Zach I could always count on was that he didn't coddle people, especially me. Everyone around me wanted to wrap me up tight and protect me from all the hurt they thought I had going on inside. Zach, though, treated me just like he always did, because he knew the truth: I wasn't hurting, per say. I was just stumped more than anything.
"It's fine. I'll get new stuff up there."
Zach nodded and took another bite of the apple. "We should get on the road before the weather gets much worse. We have a good drive ahead of us."
"Yeah, yeah, give me a second to clean out the fridge." I walked into the kitchen, Zach following behind me. I pulled the garbage over to the fridge and signaled for him to hold the bag open as I began throwing stuff away that was sure to go bad before I returned.
"Man, I really would have thought all this would have been done before I got here," he said between the last few bites of his apple, throwing the core into the bag.