1
Sophie
The heat from the morning sun was hot as I made my way down the street to Aroma Mocha. I was on my way to meet Jenna for our usual Saturday morning coffee date.” Normally, we walked to Aroma Mocha together after our yoga class, but she couldn't make it this morning. Instead, I made my way to the local cafe and flung my mat under my arm as I pulled the door open and stepped into the amazing smell of roasted coffee beans and freshly baked cinnamon buns. I looked around the dining area for Jenna, and when I didn't see her, I made my way to the counter and placed our usual order, then took a seat in our usual booth. I pulled my cell phone from my yoga bag and quickly checked my messages. I had just finished replying to someone at work when I spotted Jenna entering the small cafe. She spotted me right away and waved as she made her way through the crowd, her cell phone pressed up against her ear.
"I'm sorry, just a second. It’s Matt," she mouthed as she pointed to her phone.
I smiled and slid out of my jacket while waiting for my vanilla latte and blueberry muffin to be delivered. I tried not to pay attention to Jenna while she spoke to Matt, but it was impossible. My best friend looked so happy, and I loved how her face lit up as she listened to whatever it was Matt was saying. The excitement in her voice was almost contagious when she responded to him. I wondered what it was like to be as happy as Jenna was. I hadn't had a decent relationship in years—well, honestly, never, but who was counting.
Jenna beamed as she hung up the phone and tucked it into her purse and turned her attention towards me. "Good morning," she sang. "How was yoga?"
"It was yoga. You know, the usual—downward dogs and tree poses. It would have been so much better with you there."
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry about that. It was a crazy week, and I needed this morning just to lounge around with Matt."
"Yeah, sure, whatever. You know, I recall someone who so desperately wanted me to join yoga she spouted about how it does a body and mind good to de-stress. Now I go more than her."
"You are right, I did say that, but let’s just say that Matt does his best to make sure I stay good and de-stressed." I couldn't help but roll my eyes as she giggled.
"How's Matt?" I questioned, doing my best to change the subject.
"He's good." She got quiet for a moment, a soft smile coming to her lips. "I should probably tell you that I think I might be in love." Jenna swooned. "He is just everything I have ever wanted. I seriously have to ask myself what made me wait so long."
I let out a laugh, leaned across the table, and whispered, "You waited because you were convinced that he was a player."
"I did not. That was what you said."
"You are such a liar! I told you to take the chance."
Jenna laughed as she stirred her coffee with her biscotti. "So tell me, how's everything going with Ralph?" Jenna asked, taking a bite of her coffee-soaked treat.
I looked around the cafe and laughed. "Ha, don't ask. The man is all tongue. I can't even fathom what he'd be like in bed because I can barely get past a kiss."
Jenna began laughing uncontrollably. "Oh God, that reminds me of that guy I dated in university. Do you remember? What was his name?"
"Scott. Who wouldn't remember? But now look who you have," I said, raising my eyebrows suggestively. Jenna had started dating Matt, one of our close friends, not too long ago. I'd always thought that they would be perfect for one another and was so glad that they had finally taken the plunge.
"And look how long it took to find him."
"At least you found him. I'm just stuck with tongue," I murmured, crossing my eyes and sticking out my tongue. We both laughed.
Truth was, I had struggled in every relationship I'd had, the longest lasting just over a year and ending just as I had come off the hardest year of my life. I was convinced now more than ever that I was destined to be alone. I had just celebrated my thirtieth birthday and felt that lately my biological clock was ticking, but without a serious relationship, there wasn’t much I could do about it.
"What about one of our circle?" Jenna asked, snapping me back to our conversation.
"What about them?" I questioned.
"Well, you say that ultimately you want a baby, right? You don't sound super keen on staying with Roger, or the Tongue as you call him, so, what about one of our circle? It takes all the risk out of it. I mean, you at least know who the guy is, what he looks like, what he is like."
"And we are going to kill that idea right now."
"What? Why?" Jenna asked innocently.
"Because you are being ridiculous." I shook my head. "The whole idea of that is just not going to happen."
"No, I'm not. What about Brent? I think you two would make a lovely couple. Or Shawn. Oooh, or Dave. He has an eight-pack most girls would kill to touch," she said, raising her eyebrows.
"Oh my God, just stop." I laughed, hiding my face in my hands.