"You are fortunate that I like you," I would say to him, and that would make him laugh, giving me the opportunity to kiss his neck and slip my hands into the back of his hair. "I like you a lot." His eyes would come back to mine. "I love you, Harlow," he would say, and no matter where we were or how loud it was, I could always hear those words clear as day. It would fill my whole body; it would make me feel complete. It would make my heart full in my chest. It was a feeling I thought would never go away.
I blink away the memory. "Okay, take two," I say, getting up, putting my hands on the table to steady myself, and when I don’t wobble, I want to give myself a high five. Instead, I giggle to myself.
"I’ll come with you," Shelby says, getting up. "I need to pee also."
We walk side by side through the tables and into the bathroom, and I stand here in shock. "Oh my God." I look around the square room that has all exposed red bricks. Wooden beams are exposed on the ceiling, with a crystal chandelier hanging down.
Five white sinks are along one of the walls, but what gets me is the big white bench right in front of a mirror that fills most of the wall, but it’s the thick gold antique frame. "This is gorgeous." I walk to the edge and touch the intricate lines with my fingers, tracing the tiny flowers.
"It’s the perfect place for a selfie," Shelby suggests, taking her phone out of her pocket. "Sit down," she says, motioning to the seat in front of it, and I do. "Face the mirror," she instructs me, and I follow her lead. "Put your legs to the side." I laugh when she says this. "Smile."
I smile into the mirror, and then she shows me the picture. "Damn, if you ever give up being a vet." She laughs when she walks into one of the stalls while I hold her phone in my hand. "You could be a model."
I can’t help but laugh at that. "Thanks"—I shake my head—"but no, thanks. I’m happy doing what I’m doing."
I look up at the stall when I hear the toilet flush, and then she walks out going to the sink. "You know," she says. "I’m not going to lie. I was shocked when I got your response." I get up from the bench and go to her as she turns the water off and then takes one of the white hand towels and dries her hands.
"I made him a promise I would be there on the happiest day of his life," I share with her, looking down and then blinking away the tears from that memory. "And I am a woman of my word." I look back at her, smiling. "For the most part."
"There is a reason that you came today." She grabs the phone from me. "I have no idea what it is, but it’s the universe telling you something."
I shake my head. "It’s probably the universe telling me I should have let sleeping dogs lie," I say, walking into the stall and going to the bathroom.
When I walk out, she is sitting on the bench, and she watches me while I wash my hands. "I don’t think that Jennifer was the one for him," she confides, and I stop my hands from rinsing under the water. "I know it’s a shitty thing to say, and I am not going to talk bad about her, but I just didn’t think that they loved each other." I turn off the water, trying to get my heart to calm down at this news. "I mean, I think he loved her but I don’t think he was in love with her."
I grab a towel and dry my hands. "Your brother wouldn’t marry anyone that he didn’t love. I might not know the man he is today." The burning now comes to fill my stomach. "But the man he was wouldn’t ask someone to marry him if he didn’t love her."
"I think, that before you leave"—she puts the phone back into her pocket—"I would have a talk with my brother. At least to clear some things up."
I shake my head. "Nothing to clear up. We were two young kids who dated ages ago." I don’t believe the words coming out of my mouth and I have a strong feeling that neither does Shelby. "We’ve moved on. The end." I put the towel into the basket at the side.
She shakes her head. "You really should at least clear the air."
"There is no air to clear." I put my hand to my stomach. "I came here to wish a friend well, and tomorrow I’ll be going back to my life, and he will continue with his."
"Okay," she says, not sounding convinced at all. "Shall we get back to the party?"
I pull open the door, and I hear the song "Hey Girl" come on, and I laugh when I hear the song start. I clap my hands when I get close to the table, and the girls look up at me. I take a glance at Travis, smile, and he brings his cup to his lips.