Part 43 (2/2)

I nodded.

”Well,” Lexus said with a sigh, ”let's not talk about the cost. That doesn't matter. I guess what really matters is that it is finally going to happen.”

She was glowing with happiness, and I secretly envied her. I tried to push that unloved feeling away. I wanted to listen to her, and keep the focus and attention on her. This was my best friend. This was Lexus. She deserved to be this happy.

”John proposed to me at a party my parents were having. When he and Dad stepped away to talk, I kind of had a feeling that he was going to ask my Dad if he could propose, but, then again, I had my doubts.”

”Why did you doubt?”

”I don't know,” she said. ”That night was-”

Her voice trailed off as if she had to think about what she was going to say next. I looked at her silently as I waited. She looked away from me and shook her head.

”It's okay,” I said, ”I know that was the night when I messed up. I know that's why you didn't answer your phone. It was a perfect night, just like you said.”

I smiled at her. She had to know that I was not angry at her for being happy.

She wiped a single tear that rolled out the corner of her eye. She sucked back more tears in a deep breath. She cut her eyes back at me for a second, most likely expecting me to be looking sad. When she saw that I was smiling, she looked back at me. She let out a sigh and then began to chuckle.

”Why am I crying?” She continued laughing.

”I don't know.” I let out a laugh.

”Kristen,” she called out to me. ”I am really sorry.”

”No,” I told her. ”You did the right thing. I'm glad you didn't answer your phone that night, because then things would not have gone as they should have for you. Now, everything is as it should be.”

Lexus' smile disappeared when I finished speaking. A look came over her. I had never seen the look from her before. It was a look of wonder and amazement. Her eyes narrowed and the color seemed to warm her face. Her cheeks relaxed as her mouth slightly opened. She c.o.c.ked her head slightly to the left side while staring at me.

”There's something different,” Lexus realized aloud.

”What?” The new expression that graced her caught me by surprise.

”I don't know.”

As she spoke, her eyes warmed me ever more.

”I'm looking at you,” she said, ”and I'm listening to you, and you...you're...”

When her voice trailed off again so that she could think about what she wanted to say, I took the opportunity to cut the topic short. I wasn't ready for what Lexus might have said to me. In fact, it scared me to think of what may have been coming next.

She opened her mouth to let out the words that had come to her when I reached across the table and grabbed her left hand. This made her quickly close her mouth.

”Can I see?” I asked her.

”Yes,” she said. ”It just worked out perfectly. Look at it!”

Lexus stretched out the fingers on her left hand and dazzled her gorgeous, teardrop, white diamond.

I couldn't help but touch it. It was beautiful. I told her that I was very happy for her and that she deserved it more than anyone did.

Lexus smiled and said, ”Thank you so much. That means the world to hear you say that.”

”I'm sure everyone's told you that,” I told her.

”Yes,” she said. ”But I appreciate it so much more from you.”

”Why?”

”Because you're my best friend. And I want you to be one of my bridesmaids.”

I unintentionally rolled my eyes.

Lexus caught me.

She explained, ”I want to share this happiness with you. You are the reason I know John. We all grew up together. So you, more than any of my other friends, know how special this is. I need you to help me set things up and get ready for my big day. It wouldn't be right without you there beside us.”

The sparkle and gleam in her eyes made me say yes.

She reached across the table, and her long arms grabbed me. We both stood up and we hugged each other. I quickly wiped away the painful tear that shot out of my right eye before we pulled away so that she wouldn't see me crying.

As I sat back down in my seat, I felt the metal ball turn in my chest. I ignored it, picked up a Yum Yum sus.h.i.+ roll with my chopsticks, and then ate it.

Lexus was still smiling.

I kept my eyes focused on the food. I knew that if I looked at her she'd see that I wasn't smiling and that rottenness inside of me would somehow seep out and ruin the moment.

”So,” she said as she ate a California Roll. ”What color should the bridesmaids' dresses be?”

”Oh, I know,” I started to answer, but she cut me off.

”Black is not an option,” she said.

”Well, I'll have to think about it some more,” I told her.

CHAPTER 57.

Lexus and John's engagement party was the main event that everyone had been looking forward to. I had to spend most of my check paying off the late tuition from my home schooling program, along with the steep late fee. Mom and I had to split a gift for Lexus and John. The gift didn't turn out to be as elegant as most of the gifts we saw in the piles of gifts from their family and friends who were at the party. We got them a gift card for the store IKEA. At least they would be able to get a few nice things to decorate their new home together.

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