Ben still consumed her thoughts now, but for a different reason.
Amie was wary of talking at Nina’s place, for fear of Maura overhearing, but luckily, Nina called first that morning, asking if she could drop by Amie’s after work.
When Nina arrived, she’d barely entered the apartment before Amie burst open.
“I can’t wait to hear all about your trip,” she said breathlessly, “but something truly crazy has happened. You’ll never believe it. The person I’ve been writing letters to for the past few months, remember the one I told you about? Well, apparently it’s Maura’s friend, Ben. The one I met at your apartment. The guy I just started seeing.”
Amie remained standing while Nina lowered herself onto a chair at the kitchen table, her forehead wrinkled in thought.
“The one who drew those sketches for us?” Nina asked. “I . . . uh . . . Are you sure? How do you know?”
“He told me himself,” said Amie. “In a letter.”
“Oh my god, really? How did this even happen?”
“His and Maura’s support group,” Amie said. “At my school.”
Nina nodded slowly.
“You know, you could have told me that’s how he and Maura met, when I first texted you about him.” Amie’s voice was tinged with accusation.
“All you said was that you ran into Maura’s friend at the apartment and went out for drinks,” Nina answered. “You didn’t say that you had fallen in love with him!”
“I don’t . . . I don’t know if it’s love,” Amie said defensively, her arms crossed tightly. “It’s just a bunch of letters.”
“Look, even if I had known the whole story, it wasn’t my truth to share,” Nina said. “If I went around telling you that Ben had a short string, that would’ve made me no better than the girls who outed me in high school.”
Amie’s arms dropped to her side. “I hate it when you’re right.”
“Have you talked to Ben about all of this?”
Amie shook her head, leaning back against the counter. “I don’t know what to say. I’ve been going crazy about it. What do you think I should do?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Ugh, come on, Nina! If we were still in school, and I came to you asking for advice, you would jump at the chance to tell me what to do.”
“That was always about little things, like which gym class to avoid. This is . . . bigger.”
“I know it’s bigger!” Amie said, her arms flying up toward her face. She always lost control of her limbs when she was anxious. “Which is why I don’t . . . I don’t think I should keep talking to him,” she said quietly. “Either in person, or the letters.”
Nina’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
Amie’s gaze turned toward the floor, unable to meet Nina’s.
“It’s just that he said all this really heavy stuff in his last letter, about being a good partner and having kids . . .” Amie drew a slow breath. “And I know that I want those things, too, and . . . I like Ben,” she said. “But I don’t know if I can be the person he needs.”
Nina pressed her forehead into her hands, rubbing her temples with her thumbs.
“Please say something,” Amie begged her.
“I just wasn’t expecting this right now,” Nina said. “I actually came here because I have something to tell you.”
“Oh,” Amie said. “What is it?”
“Well, this isn’t exactly the way I wanted to share it with you . . .” Nina’s voice trailed off. The news of her impromptu proposal was supposed to be a happy surprise, but given Amie’s current state, it suddenly felt like an aftershock.
“Maura and I are getting married,” Nina said.
Amie was stunned. “You’re what?”
“I proposed when we were in Verona, and we just decided that there’s no point in waiting long,” Nina explained. “So we’re getting married in two months.”
“Nina! Two months? That’s really soon.” Amie started pacing nervously. “Do Mom and Dad know?”
“I’m calling them tonight,” Nina said. “I wanted to tell you first!”
“But . . . are you sure you’ve thought this all through?” Amie asked.
“I know it feels sudden, but this is what I want,” Nina said. “What we want.”
Amie looked pale and distressed. “You don’t think you should slow down for a second?”