After watching me for a few seconds with his sharp brown eyes, Einstein walked casually over to his water bowl, lifted his paw and smacked at the lever, and then waited until the bowl was full to get himself a nice cold drink of water.
Laney watched the whole thing with her mouth hanging open. “That’s the smartest dog in the world,” she finally surmised.
“Why the hell do you think we named him Einstein?”
Even now, I smile when I think about her. But it’s bittersweet. It’s like having the most precious thing in the world, but yet not really having it at all.
And then losing what you didn’t have.
How’s that for a conundrum?
Back in the present, I text my boss before I get lost in the past and forget about the present entirely.
Will do. See you soon.
THIRTY-ONE: Laney
It’s Friday. And for the first time in a while it feels like Friday. That relief that the workweek is over and the fun is about to begin, that’s how it feels. Well, my version of that, anyway. For me, it means that I get to spend some time away, out of my own head and away from things and people and places that make me sad. And even though going back to Greenfield should qualify as something that makes me sad, for some reason, I’m still looking forward to it. It almost seems like just being in town again will make me feel closer to Jake.
Even to me that sounds crazy, but it’s true, nonetheless.
I let myself into Tori’s apartment. She hasn’t had it very long, but she’d been unpacking and settling in as quickly as possible, and it’s come a long way since the last time I visited.
It’s decorated in vibrant colors, much like Tori’s vibrant personality. The living room is huge compared to mine and it’s done in rich jewel tones—ruby, sapphire, and emerald. It’s anything but soothing, but I don’t think Tori really wants or needs soothing, so it fits.
I set my stuff off to one side of the kitchen and make myself a drink. When I sit down on the couch, I have no intention of taking a nap, but that’s exactly what happens.
More than two hours later, Tori coming through the door wakes me up. “What the hell are you doing, lazy ass? You’re supposed to be ready!”
“Ready for what?” I ask, trying to shake the fog from my brain.
“The party.”
“What party?”
“The party I told you about.”
“You didn’t tell me about a party. You just said it was a surprise.”
Tori stops with her hands in midair as she was taking the clips out of her hair. “Oh. Well . . . surprise!”
I roll my eyes and flop back onto the couch. “You can go without me. I’m tired.”
“Oh, no! You did not come all the way home just to crash on my couch, young lady. You will have fun this weekend if it freakin’ kills me. Do you hear me?”
“I’m pretty sure everyone hears you,” I tease, sliding off the sofa.
“Shower for you, my friend. You’ve got exactly forty minutes to wash, shave, and pamper that pretty ass or I’m taking you as is.”
I mumble all sorts of things about what she can do with a razor and a bottle of shampoo as I make my way to the bathroom.
Before I can close the door all the way, Tori shows up to press her face into the crack. “Were you giving me attitude? And did I hear a ‘up your tight ass’ thrown in there?”
Tori’s expression is comical. She’s probably never heard me say the first curse word. I grin at her. “Maaaybe.”
She squeals and pushes the door open to give me a bone-crushing hug. “Eeee, I love this new you!”
I can’t help but laugh as she darts out the door and slams it shut behind her. I don’t tell her that she’s got Jake to thank for this Laney.
* * *
“Um, why are we at the church?”
I look suspiciously through the windshield at the bright lights pouring out of the detached fellowship hall windows. Suddenly, I have a bad feeling.
“I’ll explain in a minute. Just come on,” Tori says, hopping out of the car and running around the hood to jerk open my door. “Move it, slowpoke.”
Earlier, I was curious why Tori didn’t want me wearing jeans and a T-shirt tonight. She insisted that I wear her little black cocktail dress, the one she reserves for special occasions. That right there should’ve been a huge red flag.
“What are you up to, Tori?”
I’m not sure at all that I want to go inside.
Tori takes my hands and pulls me to my feet. Even though we’re both wearing heels, she looks down into my face. “Laney, you know I love you. Please. Just trust me.”
Something in her eyes tells me that this is important to her, important to her proving herself to me like she’s tried to do for months now. That’s the only reason I go with her when she tugs me along behind her all the way up the walk to the front doors.
When we step inside, every head (of which there are literally dozens) turns toward me and everyone starts clapping. I smile uncertainly as I look around.
It looks like the cheesiest high school prom in the world is getting ready to take place. There are white streamers dangling from the ceiling, there are white silk roses gushing from vases on every surface and there is glitter sprinkled on the tables and floor.
All my church family is here, as well as my parents, who are standing at the front of the room in front of the lit gas fireplace that’s flanked by two long tables. Each is draped with a white paper cloth. My mother looks like she’s about to cry, and my father looks impressively smug.
The crowd seems to part as I make my way to them. A few of them move just enough that I can see who is standing at my father’s side.
Shane.
He’s wearing the worst car salesman smile I’ve ever seen. And he’s standing beneath a printed banner that reads, CONGRATULATIONS, SHANE AND LANEY!
I stop. Dead in my tracks, right in front of everyone, I stop. And I turn toward Tori.
“What the hell is this, Tori?”
She takes my hands in hers again and holds them up to her chest.
“Laney, you are my best friend. I’ve only ever tried to do what I think is right and what’s best for you. I would never, ever hurt you. If I ruined what was between you and Shane, please accept this night as my most heartfelt apology. I’m giving you back everything that I cost you. All you have to do is accept it. If, for some reason, a life with him isn’t what you want, then I still offer this as a gift to you. Tonight’s the night, Laney. You’ve come so far, and I know you have this in you. You can either walk down there and take Shane back, set a date to marry him, and live your life with him, just like you planned. Or you can tell him to go to hell, tell the rest of these people to kiss your ass, and you can take my car to Jake’s house and tell him how you feel about him. You go forward with him. Or back to this,” she says, sweeping her arm toward the front of the room, toward my parents and Shane. “It’s up to you. This time, you’ll get no interference from me. I’ll love you no matter what you decide. I just want you to be happy.”