It took me two hours to decide on the perfect outfit: A dark green summer dress with silver flats.
I arrived at the coffee shop an hour early. I ordered a latte and walked around looking for a table.
I wondered if he would be wearing a disguise, or if he would send Joan in to get me and lead me elsewhere. I’d been sitting for twenty minutes when I heard other patrons cheering and saw the flickering of camera flashes.
I stood up and smoothed my hair. This was it. He was early and he was coming for me, in front of everyone. I stood waiting.
Maybe he doesn’t see me?
I picked up my purse and headed down to where all the commotion was. I made my way through camera happy fans and heard one of them scream, “Kiss me Selena!”
I paled. I cut through more fans and caught a glimpse of her as the clerk handed her a smoothie.
“Miss Carter?” she turned around and beamed. “You really are good! I didn’t know you were keeping tabs on me!”
What?
She reached for my hand and led me away from her crazy fans. She pulled me into a small side area and thanked the manager for letting her use the room.
“Did Matt tell you that this used to be our spot when we first started dating?”
NO.
“Um, no he didn’t...”
“He must have! I know he probably made you promise not to tell me so don’t worry, I won’t mention it to him.”
“Thanks,” I offered a weak smile. “When you said that this was your spot what did you mean?”
“We used to come here all the time,” she sipped her latte. “It was between this shop and another one in Tribeca where we used to hide from the paparazzi. Then they found out about it so we gradually stopped coming. They still make great coffee though, so occasionally I stop by and get some.”
“Thanks for telling me this,” I tried my best not to look upset.
“Not a problem! Well, it was nice seeing you hard at work! I’ll see you at my wedding,” and with that, she ventured back into the shop amidst the fans and outside into a black SUV.
The crowd followed her out and I stood still, wanting to believe it was just a coincidence.
I couldn’t.
I left.
I sent Sophie to cover the wedding. I didn’t want to be in the same room with Matt, and I couldn’t bear to watch him marry Selena—real or fake.
I wondered if there was a world record for being left for someone else. If I counted my third and fifth grade boyfriends, I would be up to four.
I stared at the clock on my wall until it was five in the evening. I hoped Sophie would be quick coming back so I could hear about everything and start my article.
I bet it was extravagant. I bet they had a fifty piece orchestra and a sixty piece band. I bet they had a hundred white doves and a million red roses.
I’m sure the food was amazing…I should have asked Sophie to bring me some back.
I pulled When Harry Met Sally out of my purse and put it in the DVD player. I was halfway through it when I heard Sophie’s faint knock on my door.
“Come in Sophie!” I didn’t bother turning around, Sally was just about to demonstrate the fake orgasm in the diner.
“I’m beginning to think your assistant is invisible,” Matt’s voice forced me to change my mind.
“I’m beginning to think we need a new security system,” my voice cracked.
He shut my door and smiled. “I take it you didn’t get me a wedding present?”
“I ordered arsenic but it didn’t arrive in time.”
“How were you planning to write about the wedding from here?”
“My invisible assistant was there taking notes.”
“Well, I can’t wait to read it. Would you like to hear about the ceremony?”
“Not really.”
He sighed. “I didn’t marry her, Melody.”
“What?”
“We didn’t get married.”
“What about your contract?”
“Are you going to let me tell you what happened?”
“Fine.”
“I spoke to her before the wedding, right before we took our pictures. I told her that I couldn’t go through with it because the woman I fell in love with might not ever talk to me again.”
Love?
He took a Twizzler from my vase. “I told her it wasn’t fair for either of us to put on the charade anymore. I thought she would’ve been mad, but she admitted that she was seeing someone and he wasn’t feeling the whole pseudo thing either. Of course, she still wanted to go through with the wedding.”
Did he just say he loved me?
“So, when it was time to read my vows…I told her, in front of everyone, that I didn’t love her anymore and I couldn’t go through with it. She put on the most Oscar worthy performance I’ve ever seen. She even slapped me,” he laughed.
“Can’t Oprah’s network sue you now? Aren’t they angry?”
“They’re ecstatic. Selena Ross left at the altar? They were the only people allowed to have cameras so I’m pretty sure their ratings will be through the roof whenever it airs.”
“What about Selena?”
“She’ll be made out to be the victim over the next month or two, and she’ll get loads of press.”
“And you think you won’t?”