“Hello?”
In a hushed voice, she asks, “Are you trying to replace me?”
“What? No. Why would you say that?”
“That last text, it sounds like you’re trying to find a replacement.”
“Lia, come on, you know I’m not trying to replace you. You could never be replaced, but let’s be honest, as much as we like to believe things won’t change, they will. Brian will be your top priority once you’re married, and you can’t let anything get in the way. Which means I’m going to have some free time. I don’t want to be sitting around in my apartment by myself all the time, so maybe it’s time I go out and find someone.”
“You won’t be alone. We’re going to live next to each other, remember?”
“Still, Brian won’t want me over all the time, Lia. Face it, things are changing, and that’s okay. We knew the time would come.”
“But . . . I don’t want things to change,” she says softly. “I like things the way they are.” God, so do I. I liked it when I had full access to my brothers too, but that ship has sailed. It’s life, I guess. But I can’t ignore this opportunity. I swallow hard and then say, “So then why did you say yes to his proposal?”
She’s quiet, and I know it’s a question I don’t think she knows how to truly answer other than the generic statement.
“Because I love him.”
But are you in love with him? I want to ask her that so bad, but I also don’t want to cause drama. I don’t want her second-guessing herself. If she says she loves him, then I need to believe that.
“Well, then, this is what happens when you fall in love, Lia. Things change.”
She’s silent again and then says, “But Birdy? She doesn’t seem like a person you would go out with.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Well . . .” I can hear her take a deep breath. “You don’t have a lot in common. She seems like the popular girl type, and you’re more on the interesting scale.”
“Interesting?” I laugh. “Please describe that for me.”
“You just have different interests that don’t match up.”
“And you and Brian have interests that match up?” I ask before I can stop myself. “Last time I checked, he thinks it’s lame that you and I freak out over a new board game.”
“He said that once.”
“Once is enough.”
“What are you saying? Do you not want me marrying him?”
No, I would prefer that you didn’t.
“I didn’t say that.” I drag my hand over my face. “I’m just trying to say that sometimes interests don’t match up, and that’s okay. Look at you and Brian. You don’t have everything in common, but your relationship still works. Look, I’ve only met Birdy once, so I’m not going to suggest that I’ve met my future wife or anything. But what’s the harm in finding out if we’re compatible? Maybe those different interests won’t be a deal breaker like they’re not with you and Brian. There’s only one way to find out.”
“So does that mean you’re going out with her again?”
“Yeah, we’re going on a hike next weekend. I’m going to teach her about birds. Who knows, maybe she’ll become a fanatic like me.”
“What’s with the Cane brothers and their birds?”
“Hey, JP likes pigeons because he feels guilty about them not being loved, but he couldn’t care less about other feathered friends.”
“Please, for the love of God, don’t call them feathered friends.”
“Well, if I don’t try to put myself out there and date, they very much might be my only friends, and although the solitude of being the crazy bird man sounds charming, I don’t think I’m ready for that title just yet.”
“I can see it, your poncho, a bucket hat. A cane.”
“Please . . . please don’t envision that.”
She chuckles and then sighs. “I’m sorry, Breaker.”
“Sorry for what?” I ask.
“Well, for one, waking you up. And also for giving you a hard time about Birdy. I guess I’m just stressed with the many rapid changes. I was comfortable, content, and now my life feels like a whirlwind of change, and it’s all happening at a frightening pace.”
“You know you have the choice to slow it down.”
“By disappointing others.”