“No way—strictly business,” he says simply.
“And if she does corner you about it—just tell her that you feel it’s better you don’t have a relationship that exists beyond the walls of your office building.” I pause, thinking again about how I basically got her the job there. “Or she can just call me if she has any further questions.”
Max gives me a pointed look. “What about you? How are you going to handle things with her, really?” he asks.
I take a second to think. I’d been so focused on winning Max back that I’d never considered what it would mean for my friendship with Courtney when I finally did. The betrayal I felt even before she’d kissed him chipped away at my heart every day, but I hadn’t let myself take more than a few moments to acknowledge the pain that came along with it. Saying good-bye to Courtney would mean I’d have to confront not just her, but what she’d done to me. Because even though she did a terrible thing, she had been my friend for many years, and there was a part of me that would mourn that loss, a void that would remain long after we parted ways. “I will talk to her on Monday and disinvite her to my bachelorette party and the wedding,” I say forcefully, even though I’m dreading the conversation. “Now, can we get back to us—no need to waste any more of our weekend talking about her, right?”
Max nods in agreement, then shakes his head.
“What?” I ask.
“I just can’t believe how close I came to ruining everything,” he says as he grabs my knee under the table.
I just smile wryly and shove a piece of bread into my mouth so I don’t have to tell him I’m glad it happened, that I’m so happy he got things right this time.
? ? ?
The rest of the weekend passes by quickly, Max and I swallowed up in each other like we were when we first started dating, strolling hand in hand in town, sharing an ice cream sundae as we sit on the wooden bench outside of the parlor. We even get out on the lake in a kayak, me not complaining when it tips over and ruins my blowout. For the first time in as long as I can remember, our conversation flows freely, although I am careful to engage Max in topics that he is interested in and avoid the subject of wedding planning. That can wait.
I had texted Jules and Liam the second Max fell asleep the first night to let them know that we were officially “back together.” Liam’s response was hard to read—the same way he’d been since he started dating Nikki. He’d simply written great news. I’d stared at his response, wanting more, mentally urging him to add to it, to tell me that he was happy for me—that this was how it should be—anything. Even though he had only been with Nikki a short time, I still felt a difference in him, something I couldn’t shake or reason away no matter how hard I tried.
Jules’ reaction was much more enthusiastic. She’d sent a series of emojis of champagne glasses and hands clapping, then immediately asked if I could now use my remaining wishes on her. I had laughed out loud, causing Max to change positions in bed. As I watched his eyelids flutter, curious as to what he was dreaming about, I wondered how I would use them now. My whole goal had been to get Max back, and now that I had, did I still have the power to wish for more changes in my life? Did I even want to?
? ? ?
Waking up Monday morning back home in our bed, I lean into Max’s solid body nestled against mine, his arm slung protectively around my waist, and feel a wave of emotions. A swarm of butterflies dance inside my abdomen as I think about marrying him at the end of the month, as I realize my breath will no longer catch in my throat with the fear that I won’t. But I’m also nervous and, honestly, sad about the conversation I must have with Courtney. I knew that there was a part of me that would miss her. I just hoped that Max didn’t feel the same way.
I pull up to Max’s building at 6 p.m. sharp, when he said I would probably catch Courtney walking out. We’d texted more today than we had in a long time, ironically bonding over his time spent avoiding her. He’d confessed to spending half the day holed up in his office, terrified to run into her in the kitchen. It had felt great to banter with Max again—me joking that it must really be awkward if he was suffering caffeine withdrawal in order to avoid her. But behind our playful teasing, I still felt anxious.