Page 28 of Rise & Fall

I met Sara once when my best friend’s boyfriend-at-the-time proposed to her. She’s the sassiest little now-teenager, but Sterling treats her like a little sister more than she does just a kid she babysits.

“Nope. She’ll never let me forget it either.” We both laugh.

“How’s Callan? How’s wedding planning going?” I wonder and Sterling goes on and on about dress shopping, cake designs, the fireworks Callan is planning to show across the lake of the thirty acres of land they acquired for their summer wedding next year.

Sometimes, talking about my best friend’s wedding makes me feel despondent. Not because I’m not happy for her, because I am. She’s been through a lot, and, man, does she deserve the hell out of someone like Callan. But naturally I get a little upset that I wasted my life on an idiot as big as Asher and that he took my first engagement which should have been myonlyengagement.

I’ll never get that experience again. And wedding planning had always been a dream of mine.

“We don’t have to talk about this, Dakota, if it’s too much.” Sterling has always been the most understanding person in my life. Next to my mom of course.

“No. it’s fine. You deserve this. And you shouldn’t have to tiptoe around me because my fiancé was a cheating piece of shit.” I sink further into the couch, wanting to melt away into the leather and disappear. I hate that that jerk made me feel so little about myself. So insignificant.

“I know. I just want to make sure you know I’m here for you. And I think you should definitely give this new guy a chance. It could be good for you.”

“I know.” I sigh into the phone.

“Listen, I’m gonna go, but promise you’ll tell me all about your date when it happens?” she asks as eagerness laces her tone.

“Ifit happens,” I clarify before hanging up the phone.

But let’s be real, I’m going on that date.

eight

Dakota

AsIsitinthe parking lot of Em’s school—a few minutes early, surprisingly—I stare at the text that came in about ten minutes ago.

Have you made up your mind yet?

Obviously, I have, but I’m still not sure if it’s actually a good idea. I guess I just have to man up or back off, right? I mean, I’m not a tease so there’s really no point in making him wait for an answer, but really, it’s kind of fun and I think a few days of torture is enough.

I text him back quickly before getting out of the car to go grab Emsley.

I’ll go on a date with you.

Short and sweet and to the point.

As I approach the door to Em’s classroom, kids bust out onto the deck. The end-of-school bell rings as they do. I look around for Aria, which leads me to look for her mom again for the third time this week. After learning about Nolan’s co-parentship with her, I am a little curious. But I don’t see either of them.

“Hey, sissy!” Emsley’s sweet smile greets me as her messy braid swings in the wind.

“Did you hand out all your invites?” I ask, taking her backpack from her and walking her over toward the parking lot.

“Yeah, but I think I lost the invite for Aria. She looked really sad and thought I didn’t want to be her friend anymore. We made her one, right?” Her voice is sad and little as we walk toward the parking lot.

“We did, but I thought I’d just talk to her daddy instead.”

Em’s birthday is this weekend. We made invites last night after deciding that weweregoing to have a party for her. I didn’t want to give Aria an invite and have her take it to her mom knowing that this was Nolan’s weekend, so I figured it would be fine if I just talk to him about it.

“Look, that’s the bus Aria rides on when it’s her mama’s week.” Em points to one of the buses parked in front of the school. Well, that would explain why I didn’t see her.

“How was school?” I ask as we get to the car.

“It was boring. My teacher was talking ‘bout career choices and how math is going to help us in life. So lame. I mean, how can math help with being a space ballerina?” She rolls her eyes and all I can do is laugh at her.

“I was thinking I could take you to the park? Mom is at her doctor’s appointment and I don’t have to be at work today.” I see the sparkle light up in her eyes as she jumps up into her booster seat.