Tension.

“He what?”, I saw how Tristan's body stiffened, both hands gripping on the table cloth when I told them about what had happened with Greg. “Tell me you're fucking kidding-”

“Tristan”, Mellisa scowled at him while throwing him a glare, probably warning him about his voice of words in public because there were a few stares looking our direction. He had a thing of using cursing when he was really pissed. Mellisa proceeded to reach out and took my hand into hers.

“Liv darling, I'm so sorry”

She was using that voice, the one she always puts on when she's around me. It wasn't a secret that she didn't like me, I think it's mostly because I knew Tristan like the back of my hand, and we were close. She was just trying to get along with me because I'm his best friend and still one of the important people in his life. This wasn't a competition, but she was making it seem like one.

“It's okay Mel. I'll learn to get over it”, I shrugged, smiling politely as I withdrew my hand from her grip.

“No, it's not okay Liv”, Tristan protested as his voice raised that both Mellisa and I stared blankly at him. His facial muscles had contracted and his blue pools darkened. “Did he have any idea how much you loved him?”

Clearly not and he’s not the only one

“It doesn't matter anymore, Stan”

“I told you from the beginning that he wasn't the right man for you”, he scoffed before folding his arms. What a great time to roll in the I-told-you-so's in my face. Thanks a lot, Tristan.

He must have noticed my eyes dropping in disappointment before I heard him heave a sigh. “I'm sorry Liv, that was insensitive of me”, he clicked his tounge. “Are you okay?”

“Tristan, you heard what she said, it doesn't matter anymore”, Mellisa chipped in with a dullness in her tone. Her words seemed to have no effect on him as instead he stretched out his arm to place his hand on my shoulder.

“Are you okay?”, he asked again as his eyes boring into mine and I nodded before forcing a smile

“I'll be fine”, I reassured but the intensity of his gaze didn't dissolve

“Are you sure?”

Of course I'm not sure. I'm beyond broken and the last thing I needed was showing up at this stupid dinner to act like I'm happy that you're getting married.

“I'm sure”, I breathed out, and he still looked like he wasn't convinced. “I'm serious”, I laughed nervously. “This is nothing comfort food can't fix”

“If you need anything, I'll always be here for you, alright?”, his voice was comforting and smooth, I could feel tears attempting to flood my eyes as I placed my hand over his on my shoulder

“I know”

We heard Mellisa heave a deep sigh as she placed her phone back into her purse, drawing the attention on her again. “Nathaniel won't be joining us for dinner tonight”

“That sucks. I was really looking forward to seeing him”, Tristan twisted his lips to the side. “Did he say why?”

“He says he got caught up on something”, Mellisa rested her face in her hands before rolling her eyes. “I told him this would happen if he doesn't organize his things in time”

“Who's Nathaniel?”, I asked curiously as I looked at the both of them simultaneously

“He's my cousin, but I consider him as a brother”, Mellisa smiled in my direction. “He has a doctorate in psychology and just opened his private practice across town a few months ago”

“Oh, that's nice”, I took a sip of my wine, looking around the room. That's Mellisa for you, never missing out of an opportunity to tell everyone who's willing to listen just how successful her family members are. I noticed Tristan leaning towards me with his hand shielding his lips from Mellisa.

“He's single too if you know what I mean”, he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at me, his intention to whisper out the words but that didn't work out because he earned a quick nudge from Mellisa

“Tristan”, she scowled at him again with a disapproving look on her face, both Tristan and I laughed

“What?”, he shrugged. “He's new in town, and it's a great way to start meeting other people”, Mellisa rolled her eyes then he turned to look at me.

“Too soon?”, he pursed his lips together

“Too soon”, I raised the glass to my lips for a sip before I was about to do what I do best, changing the topic. “So, when is the big day?”

“On the 7th of August”, Mellisa replied happily, like she almost couldn't wait to tell me. I almost choked on my wine.

“The 7th?”, I coughed. “That's like in two months”

“Exactly”, she grinned before she reached out for Tristan’s hand and entwined their fingers together, giving a clear view of her huge, gorgeous diamond ring

“We've known each other for a long time so, why wait?”

“How are you going to plan a wedding in such a short time frame?”

“I got the best wedding planner already on it, so we should be fine”, she replied confidently, and I felt my heart sink, this was actually happening....sooner than I thought

“Wow”, I breathed out. “This means I have to start shopping for an outfit to wear to the wedding real quick”, I laughed nervously

“That's not the only thing you will have to worry about”, Tristan gave me the side eye before taking a quick sip of his drink

“What's that supposed to mean?”, my eyebrows quirked up in confusion

“What kind of best man will you be if you don't throw me the best bachelor party of the century?”, he chuckled

Best man….bachelor party…best man

Wait….

Best man?

“You want me to be your best man?”, my voice croaked, and I watched him nod his head in agreement

“You're my best friend Liv, of course I want you to be my best man”

So now it's mandatory to actually attend the wedding?

Fuck!

“Best lady in this case”, Mellisa did that half laugh sound as she took a sip of her drink. Tristan's enthusiasm faded from his features as he noticed me zone out in front of them for a few seconds.

“Is that going to be a problem, Liv?”, he laughed nervously. “You don't look excited”

I think devastated is a better word to use

“Of course I'm excited”, liar. “I just wasn't expecting this”, I laughed nervously

“So will you be my best man, Liv?”, he pouted his lip and his eyes lit up. “Please?”

I hesitated for a second before I gulped down heavily. Here marks the exact time when I'm about to make the most ridiculous decision of my entire life.

“Are you kidding me? I would love to be your best man, Stan”, I watched his lips curve up in a beautiful smile.

“You're the best, Liv”

“You know I got you”, I reciprocated his smile

Tragic

After the dinner, I dragged myself into my dark and cold apartment, it wasn't as luxurious as I would like it to be but at least I had a roof over my head. It was stylish and modern, accommodated the interior of black, grey and white here and there, so it was homely enough for me, I couldn't complain.

I leaned against the door and heaved a sigh. What did I just get myself into?

I flicked on the lights and jumped in shock from seeing a person sitting in my lounge. I covered my face with my hands when I caught a glimpse of ginger hair.

“Jesus Anna”, I ran my hand through my hair. “Are you out of your freaking mind?”

“Why aren't you answering my calls Liv? I was worried something happened to you”

“How did you even get in here?”, I took off my coat and hanged it near the door

“You gave me the set of keys you got back from Greg, remember?”

After multiple failed attempts of trying to talk to me and explain his actions, he finally gave up and accepted that I wanted nothing to do with him anymore, and he had my apartment keys delivered to my office, accompanied by flowers and a long ass apology letter, which I burned and sent the ashes back to his office

“I think I'm going to need those keys back”

“Not a chance”, she stood up from the couch and I realized she was all dressed up. “You need to change all this formal dinner wear into something else. We're going out”

“I'm exhausted Anna, can we do this some other time?”, I kicked the heels I was wearing off before plobbing down the couch. “It's been a rough week for me and I don't think I can handle anything else that's hectic”

“So you want to stay in and wallow in self-pity?”, she folded her arms. “I've noticed you've been indulging in comfort food lately, and it's not healthy”

After work in the mist of coping with my heartbreak, I'd lock myself in, wrapping myself in a warm blanket and watch the binge edition of my favorite late night reality show, stiffing my face with ice cream and snacks

Getting over a breakup 101

“Preach sister”, I threw my hands in the air as I leaned my head back, listening to her sermon

“I'm not trying to be funny here, Liv”, she pulled me up from the couch. “It's a Saturday night, and we're going out to party hard. You need to detox and get Greg out of your system”, she was already dragging me to my room.

“You're a bad influence, do you know that?”

“You'll thank me later”