Page 117 of The Wedding Menu

Unfortunately, I’m one step ahead of him. My mind replays every moment after Ian and I had sex. The chatter, the unpopular opinions, the cute pickup lines he looked up and read to me. There won’t be any more of that. Surely, there won’t be any more of his groggy, post-orgasm voice calling me beautiful like that’s my name. There won’t be any more texts and calls and incessant flirting. No more Ian and Amelie.

“Ames? Did you hear what I said?”

“Hmm?”

“Youhaveto stop talking to him.”

With a distracted nod, I look out the window. “I know.” I’m almost numb. All the anger I thought would come up during this conversation, all the built-up resentment and regret, they’re not here. There’s nearly nothing, yet it’s the most overwhelmed I’ve ever felt. Like when a bomb explodes, and for a second there’s just light and noise.

Then everything that exists is wiped away.

“Well, are you gonna?”

I meet Frank’s gaze, furious from behind his glasses, and nod.

Releasing a breath, he shifts on his chair. His hand wipes his forehead, his eyes studying the table as he processes the news. He looks insulted rather than upset. “I can’t believe this, Ames.”

Scornful and bitter, his words burn into my brain. I know he didn’t think this would happen, and, if possible, that pisses me off even more. “Why not?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you not believe I’d sleep with another man?” I ask as I rest my chin on my fist.

“You didn’t sleep with him.”

“Yes, I fucking did,” I snap. “And if he’d been here, I would have done it all the same but without the phone. With all the touching and seeing you’re so fond of.”

Through his lashes, he glares at me. “Listen, I get that you’re pissed off, but—”

“But what, Frank?” I ask in a much more composed voice than I expect from myself. “Do you realize this is all your fault? All of this—do you understand it happened because of you?”

He frowns down at the table. “Right. Blame yourfeelingson me. I said we weren’t supposed to have anything emotional, Ames.”

I nod. “And I told you there was a risk it would happen.”

He holds my gaze for a while, his jaw clenched and his lips compressed. Eventually he looks away and the silence stretches on, then some more. I don’t know how long we sit there, contemplating our failures and regrets, reflecting on the past six months.

He clears his throat. “Well, I propose we end this whole open-relationship thing. The wedding is in a week anyway.”

I’m somewhat taken by surprise, but the relief I expected tofeel isn’t there. I figured it would feel like completing a test, and it does, but with the awareness that I’ve failed. Thatwefailed.

“Yesterday was your birthday and I broke up with you. I was a huge ass.” He stands and holds on to my elbow, pulling me up. Once I’m standing in front of him, he wraps his arms around me, and I can’t help but feel stiff against his chest. “We’re fine, okay? Let’s never talk about it again.”

I stand there as he drops kiss after kiss on my cheek, too stunned to know what to say or think or do.

“How do you feel about eating out? We could call everyone and celebrate your birthday. And you’ll have to excuse me for a couple of hours, because I’m going to go get you the most amazing present of your life.”

When I smile weakly, he kisses the tip of my nose. “I love you, Ames.”

“I…”

I’d let you burn me anytime.

“I love you too,” I breathe out.

His fingers gently graze my cheek, then he takes a step back. “Okay. Give me two hours. I’ll plan dinner, get your present, and be back with cake too.” Pointing a finger at me, he grins. “You make a list of what we need to do for the wedding, take a shower, read. Just… relax. Today’s your day.”

“Okay,” I whisper.