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I FOLDED UP THE LETTER and pondered. In a way, my father brought Dylan and me together. If he hadn’t made me get married, then I would’ve never married Dylan. Because of my father, I had the greatest gift of my life, my husband, and family. Maybe that’s what my dad wanted for me all along. I thought he wanted to punish me, but I now know better. He wanted me to settle down and have a family and be happy, and I get that now. He knew how scared of commitment I was. He knew I’d get Tommy to be my groom. There was no doubt about it. He was forcing us together, playing puppet master from the grave. Maybe he shouldn’t have been playing with our lives like that, but I think he was hoping Tommy and I would get a taste of what married life was like, and that we’d love it if we just gave it a chance. He was hoping it would connect us and make both of us settle down. And my gosh, he was right! It was a different groom than who he expected, but it worked nonetheless.
I gazed up at the blue sky. “Your plan worked, Dad,” I said. “I’m happy. I settled down. I’m finally happy.”
Tommy came over and I showed him the note. I wiped the tears falling from my eyes.
“Your dad planned the whole thing?” he asked.
“Yep. He guessed my every move.”
“Not every move. You married Dylan.”
“He still got me to get married and see how wonderful it could be.”
“Smart guy.”
I laughed. “My dad tricked me into marriage. How did I not see that one coming from a mile away?”
“I didn’t even see that one coming. I fell for it hook, line, and sinker.”
“He caught us both off guard. I think it was because he was flashing money.”
“His plan wouldn’t have worked if I had married you,” Tommy said. “But we sure would have had one heck of a ride. And one heck of a divorce party a year later.”
“Yeah!”
He smiled.
I let out a long breath. “I know his plan would’ve never worked. Because you’ve been hopelessly in love with Lily since grade school. Just like I was in love with Dylan.”
“Exactly.”
“You two are perfect for one another.”
“I love her, Rose. Nothing can change that. But I have to give your old man an A for effort, that’s for sure.”
I chuckled as he wrapped an arm around me. “Thanks for being my best friend.”
“And thanks for being mine.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you had a thing for Lily all this time!” I said.
“And I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you had a thing for Dylan all this time.”
“Hey! Mine was different. Dylan left for the Big Apple. I thought I’d never see him again. But Lily was here all this time.”
“Yeah. And she thought I was a complete idiot with women.”
“Well, you were.”
“It’s why I never approached her. I kept her strictly in the friend zone. I didn’t want to hurt her.”
I laughed. “So it was okay to approach me, and hurt me?”
“Okay, that didn’t come out right. When I asked you to prom, I didn’t plan... Well, you know, taking your first, big step into womanhood, deflowering you.”
“You are so lame. Deflowering? You took my virginity.”
“I didn’t plan it, but you looked so hot in that red strapless dress, and I couldn’t control myself.”
“Hey, I wanted it as much as you did. And I don’t regret it. It was a beautiful memory...not a scar.”
“It was one of the most amazing, romantic nights of my life,” he said.
“Mine, too. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
He sighed. “I wanted things to work out. And when they didn’t...”
“Because you cheated on me with Melisa Hillings six months later?” I joked.
He sighed, clutching his heart. “Man, I still feel horrible about that.”
I touched his arm. “Don’t worry. I’ve been over that for years. You know that.”
He cupped my face. “I’m soooooo sorry, Rosie.”
I laughed and pushed him away.
“Do you remember anything good?” he asked “About us?”
I smiled. “Yeah. You used to bring me a rose and tell me I was beautiful every single day.”
“A rose for Rose. Yeah, I remember that. I was crazy about you. You were the most beautiful girl in high school. But then I went and screwed it all up. I trashed the only good thing that ever happened to me. I was so young and immature. And I couldn’t keep it in my pants. I couldn’t stay faithful to anyone. Not even the most special girl in my life.”
“I was the only girl to brag that I got a relationship with you. I tamed your ass for half a year. Those are bragging rights.”
“I begged you to take me back,” he said. “But you said no.”
“I can’t be with somebody who cheated on me. That’s just not how I roll.”
“I was an idiot.”
My gaze narrowed. “And if I had taken you back, would you have stayed faithful?”
He looked away. And I knew the answer was no.
“Yeah, thought so,” I said.
“I enjoyed the chase, the thrill of the hunt, the conquest. I was a player that wanted to sample every single flavor. I was a total and complete jerk. Telling me no was the best thing you ever did.”
“It’s okay,” I reassured him. “We’re so past that. So stop it, okay?”
“I learned to never date my friends,” he said. I know how much I hurt you. I didn’t ever want to do that to another friend. I told myself Lily was off limits.”
I wasn’t mad at Tommy for screwing up our teenage love. He was young, wild, carefree, and stupid. I could say the same about me. We often laughed at our past and how stupid we were.
I cocked my head. “So you’ve broken your cardinal rule about dating friends. What’s different now?”
“I’m serious this time.”
“I hope so.”
“I’m growing up, Rosie. I want more out of life ya know? It’s time to become a man.”
“Getting serious about life? This is going to front page news.”
He laughed. “I want to get a job that I love. I want to support Theo and be a fantastic father. I want to give him a great life because I love him more than anything. I think about things like settling down with Lily, and one day starting a family with her. Please don’t ever tell her that. I think it’s way too early in the relationship for that. She might run a million miles away in the other direction.”
“I can’t believe my ears,” I said, staring at him in shock.
“I know it’s weird, right?” He shook his head. “I always used to think the future was scary. When I think about mortgages, commitment, marriage, and babies, I would want to run! But when the right person comes along, thoughts of the future become exciting.”
“It’s wonderful. And it’s about time.”
“When I’m around Lily, my heart beats madly. I burst with all this excitement when I see her. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I toss and turn at three a.m. She’s all I think about. ALL the time. From the minute I wake up to the minute I go to sleep. I’m flippin’ crazy about her.” He grabbed my arm. “Wait, there’s more. I even want to text her all the time.”
“You hate when girls text you all the time,” I squealed.
“I know! But it’s different with Lily. And I’m the one texting all the time.”
I chuckled. “Wow. So this is serious between you guys. I hope you know this means no dating other women. Because I can’t have you hurting my best friend. I might have to pick up that sledgehammer again.”
He laughed. “You didn’t have the sledgehammer!”
“A hammer then. The smaller version.”
“You’re forbidden from picking up tools!”
“Duly noted.”
He smiled.
“I could see the two of you getting closer and closer every day,” I said.
“And I swear to you, I don’t want anybody else,” he said. “It’s like other women are invisible to me.”
“Whoa!”
“Can you imagine that? I have no desire to even look at another woman. Lily is all I need. She’s beautiful, smart, caring, funny, and brilliant.”
I smiled. “This sounds like the L word. Love.”
“I think so. Lily has my heart and soul. I think I’m going to send her a huge bouquet of lilies today.”
“Lilies for Lily. How sweet! I know she’s crazy about you too. I think this is wonderful news.”
“News that’ll shock the entire town. Because they were always convinced that me and you would get married one day.”
“What can I say? You and me...well, we just weren’t meant to be. And that’s okay.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
“I’ll always care about you deeply, Tommy. You’re my best friend and I love you.”
“Ditto.”
I smiled as he grinned.
I playfully nudged him. “Are we getting too deep?”
“Way too deep! Wanna grab a beer?” he asked.
I laughed. “Sure thing.”
“But first...”
“Yeah?”
“Go put a bra on, Rosie.”
“Not fair. I didn’t know you were coming over!”