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TWENTY-FIVE
It’s not enough.
Adelia hadn’t been able to get Oliver’s words out of her mind since last night. After that horrible moment, he’d taken her hands in his and stared into her eyes before he said he should probably go. She had stood there, feeling numb, and not just from the cold, as she watched him walk away. Then she’d snuck into the bathroom and had a good long cry until Skylar happened to come into the bathroom and heard her. And when it came time for the bridal party to dance with their dates, she stood on the sidelines, dateless and alone, until Ephraim stepped in and lifted her spirits with a spin around the dance floor.
Now, she was curled up in Skylar’s childhood bedroom, staring out the window at the winter wonderland from the freshly fallen snow. She thought she was all cried out last night, but her throat tightened, and her eyes burned with the threat of more tears.
Deep breaths, Adelia.
She rolled over and looked at Skylar, sleeping peacefully beside her, and wished her life was as settled as her friend’s.
Skylar’s phone rang, and she grumbled and rolled to grab it. “Hullo,” she answered groggily. “Good morning.” Her voice turned all soft and dreamy, and Adelia knew it was Franky calling.
“Good morning, Franky!” Adelia called out, and Skylar yelped and nearly fell off the bed in surprise.
“Adelia! You scared me to death. I thought you were sleeping.”
Adelia laughed. And laughed some more. She couldn’t stop laughing. If she didn’t laugh, she’d cry.
Skylar eyed her. “Are you okay?”
Adelia giggled and pulled herself up to sit against the headboard.
“I’ll see you soon, Franky,” Skylar said all lovey-dovey. “I love you too.” She hung up and rolled over to look at Adelia with a goofy smile.
“You guys are sickeningly cute.”
“I didn’t mean to rub our love in your face.”
Adelia waved her off. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll get over it.”
“Are you sure there’s no way you and Oliver can find a compromise?”
“I told you, he’s never going to want a baby, and I don’t want to get married. Why even start something if we know we’ll never get what we want out of the relationship.”
“I guess that’s mature of both of you.”
“It is.” She pushed down the sadness that threatened to swallow her up. “We both know what we want.”
“But if you don’t get married, I can’t be in your wedding.” Skylar pouted.
“I’m sorry, Sky. Not going to happen.”
“Maybe he’ll change his mind someday and want kids after all.”
“He seemed pretty adamant.”
Skylar snuggled up and laid her head on Adelia’s shoulder. “I’m really sorry it didn’t work out with Oliver.”
“Me too.” Adelia’s phone rang, and she saw her agent’s name and groaned. “Ugh. Barney.” She took a deep breath and answered with fake cheerfulness. “Barney, so good to hear from you so early in the morning. How are you?”
Skylar made a face as she pretended to stick her finger down her throat.
“Good morning, Adelia. I have news about your project.”
Adelia sat up straighter in the bed. “What news?”
“The producers are in, and they’ve approved a budget. You’ve got the green light.”