This first thing I'm sharing is a scene based on Franz Ferdinand lyrics I misheard:
“So if you’re lonely, you know I’m here waiting for you. I’m just across here, I’m just a shout away from you.”
“And if you leave here, you’ll leave me broken, shattered--”
“Alive,” I groan at how overly dramatic Jackie is and point out how small the distance between the table and bar is. Again, I remind her, “We’re just across here.”
“Just a shot and then he can die.”
“I know I won’t be leaving here with you.” I wink at Jackie.
Honestly, getting my best friend to have just one drink with a blind date should not be this hard. I’ve set her up Alex, a very nice guy from work. If I wasn’t already married to Paul I’d go on a date with him in an instant. But it took me two weeks to convince her to meet him, and only after I’d promised to stay nearby in case she needs me.
So now we’re in the bar, waiting for Alex to arrive. I’m carefully hidden behind a plant so he won’t know I’m here. I watch him walk in, watch him recognize Jackie from the photo I showed him at the office that day (chosen by Jackie, of course), and for the next hour and a half I watch them smile and flirt over their drinks. Then I watch them get up, watch him place a hand on her back, and watch them walk out the door.
I told her she wouldn’t be leaving with me.