Love Unrehearsed

He made me laugh. “That’s what we get for leaving them alone to talk last night.

They’re both grown-ups. I’m sure they’ll figure it out on their own.”

Ryan didn’t seem so sure. “Well, let’s go find out.”

Two hours into a wonderfully romantic dinner, Marie and I politely excused ourselves for a companion trip to the ladies’

room. Call it what you will, but we all knew this was a chance for us girls to do our half-time checkup while the boys pondered what they had to do to score. Mike and Marie were so comfortable together; it was freakishly weird and exhilarating to watch all at the same time.

“Oh God, I think I’m in love already,” Marie gushed, pacing the tiny, private ladies’

room nervously, fanning herself to cool down. She brushed her long brown hair back, pulling it off her neck. “Or, at least, in very serious lust. Did you see him choke up when he talked about his last military tour?

How close he came to that car bombing in Israel?” Marie wiped a finger under her eyes, fixing her makeup. “He tried to hide it but he’s holding on to some seriously deep emotional pain, Tar. You can see it in his eyes.

That was hard for him to talk about, but he’s got to. He’s got to get that out or else it will fester.”

To say we were all moved to the verge of tears when Mike told us about one of their missions and how he lost his two good friends to senseless Middle East violence was an understatement. Mike was harboring some traumatic stuff behind his tough-guy image.

Marie took the single toilet first. “Shoot. I feel guilty for peeing. That first bottle of wine alone was almost two hundred dollars. Do you two splurge like this all the time? A family of four could eat for a month on what they’re going to spend on this meal.” While neither of us grew up underpriv-ileged, it was slightly unnerving to pretend not to care what things cost. “I know. And the answer is sometimes. Ryan wanted privacy tonight and I’m pretty sure Mike just wants to impress you.”

“Well, mission accomplished.” She pinned me with her eyes. “He knows what Gary did, doesn’t he?”

I nodded. “Ryan told him. He also knows you’re

separated and staying

in

my

apartment.”

“Thought so. I saw him tense up a couple of times.” She took a deep breath. “Yeah, well, what you don’t know yet is that Jeff the UPS guy came into the pub the other day.

Told me he delivered a package to my house and was wondering who the cute girl was that answered my door wearing nothing but a T-shirt. He asked if Gary had a sister. It was like nine in the morning, Tar.” I gasped. “Oh God.”

I could see her anger holding back the tears as the painful recollection poured from her lips. “You know, I wondered how the hell he could do that. Move on so damn quick with some girl? And here I am, ready to do the same thing. I guess I understand now.” I leaned up against the sink counter. “Do you still love him?”

Marie snorted. “After all of this bullshit, hell no. Our marriage is over.” Just saying those words were hard for her because she was holding back some tears in that weak smile. “Now I just want to get my stuff and move on. The scary part is not knowing where to move on to.”

I gave her a reassuring smile. “You know as well as I do that life has a way of clearing that path for you. And maybe the good Lord above has dropped two hundred pounds of gorgeous path-clearing answer out there at our dinner table for you.”

That made her laugh. “That’s the problem.

I’m too afraid to get my hopes up. Not right now, anyway. He probably just wants some casual sex, but I highly doubt one night with Mike would be enough. Well, unless he has a small penis and no skills. Damn, he’s already got me tangled up inside.”

“You know . . . I recall someone once telling me to go for a one-night stand with Ryan. How fast you change your tune when you’re the one wearing the slut shoes.” Marie made a face at me. “That’s different.

Your fiancé oozes sex from every pore and happens to be one of the most desired men on the planet. You’d have been a complete fool not to jump that.”

“Well, I could say the same. Mike’s pores are oozing just as much hotness. And he’s becoming quite famous, too, you know. He’s in just about every picture and video taken of Ryan these days. They’re like the dynamic duo poster boys of sexiness.”

“I know.” She grinned widely but it didn’t last. Her face fell quickly as she leaned on the counter. “This moment feels so surreal, like I’m going to wake up and find that it’s all been one big practical joke. I can’t go out there.” She started to hyperventilate and appeared ready to puke in the sink. “I . . . if he . . . I don’t think I could survive rejection twice in one week. If I’m not good enough for a schmuck like Gary, why the hell would I ever be good enough for someone like Mike?

I mean, look at him. He’s tall and gorgeous and perfect.”

I rubbed her back reassuringly. Oh how I knew exactly how she felt. “You’re gorgeous, too, you know. And you are good enough. I think it’s about time someone starts treating you like the goddess you are.” She grimaced at me.

“You know as well as I do that things happen for a reason. And by some freakish miracle, two of the most amazing men in the world are sitting out there at a table waiting patiently for us to come back to them. We are two of the luckiest women alive. But

instead of spending these moments with them, we’re holed up in a tiny bathroom worrying like two idiots. What do you say?

Ready to see where the chips fall?” Marie took a breath and righted herself.

“Yeah, I’m ready. Time to trust in fate.” She gave her boobs a bit of a lift and took a deep breath. “Let’s go make our mamas proud.”

“Good morning,” I uttered over my coffee cup, even though it was close to ten. Marie’s long brown hair was all bushy and tangled and she was wearing the Brown University T-shirt I got her eons ago.

The wench failed to look me in the eye. Instead she searched for another coffee cup, ignoring me.

“I can feel you staring holes in my back,” she muttered matter-of-factly, pouring the piping-hot liquid into her cup. “No, I didn’t

sleep with him. Yes, he is fully aware of the location of both of my breasts, and yes, he is an uh-may-zing kisser.” She turned and grinned like a girl who was definitely up to no good last night. Her lips were still puffy.