After I Stopped Waiting, She Begged Me to Stay

"So... Norman's single? Who's he waiting for?"

I looked up.

Every pair of eyes in the room turned toward me.

Phyllis looked at me too.

She frowned.

Gave me the tiniest shake of her head.

I glanced down at the wedding invitation my mother had sent over, the one that had been ready for days.

I shook my head.

"Not waiting for anyone. I'm pretty easygoing about it. Whenever my family tells me to get married, I get married."

"And when does your family want you to get married?"

"Next week."

The color drained from Phyllis's face.

Hilary let out a soft laugh. "Oh, so that's how it is. I thought you were single because..."

His gaze darted toward Phyllis.

"...you had your eye on someone."

"What are you thinking, Hilary? If Norman really had his eye on Phyllis, he would've made a move ages ago. Why wait until now?"

"Exactly."

One of Hilary's buddies leaned in close and whispered, "Even if he did make a move, Phyllis has been single for six years. Can't you tell who she's really hung up on?"

I smiled bitterly.

The truth was, Phyllis and I getting together hadn't been my doing.

I liked her, yes.

But I also knew she was drawn to someone like Hilary, his looks, his personality.

In her words, I was too boring.

So I'd never pursued her.

She was the one who knocked on my door on a rainy night, soaked to the bone, staring at me.

"I like you. Will you be with me?"

A jolt went through my chest.

A thought struck me suddenly. Her confession, so out of nowhere... could it have had something to do with Hilary?

I shook my head and stood up, heading to the restroom. I splashed cold water on my face.

Stop overthinking.

It didn't matter anymore. It had nothing to do with her now.

When I stepped out of the restroom, she was waiting in the hallway.

She grabbed my arm and pulled me into an empty room, her brow furrowed.

"When did I ever agree to get married next week? Even if you're trying to pressure me, there's a limit! And that thing with Hilary, everyone was just messing around after a few drinks. There's a line, Norman."

I looked at her without saying a word.

She seemed agitated. "Anyway, no one took it seriously. Just go back in there and tell them you were joking, that you were just trying to lighten the mood."

She reached for my hand, ready to drag me back.

I pulled it free without a change in expression.

"Why would I clarify anything?"

She stared at me, eyes narrowing. "You're really planning to marry me next week? I won't agree to it."

"Whether you agree or not doesn't matter. The person I'm marrying isn't you."

She froze.

Then a smile broke across her face. "If not me, then who? I don't have time for these games, Norman. I've told you before, we'll get married eventually. I just need more time."

"It really isn't you."

I took out my phone.

I held up the digital invitation my parents had prepared and showed it to her.

"She's the daughter of a family my parents have been close with for years."

Phyllis looked at the phone. Then at me.

Disbelief flickered across her face as she took the phone from my hand.

She zoomed in on the invitation. Zoomed in again.

When she saw the name, she let out a scoff.

"Norman Farley. You already had our invitation made."

I blinked.

I leaned in to look.

The bride's name...

Iris Sullivan?

Just one character off from Phyllis Sullivan.

"Faking an invitation is one thing, but you couldn't even get my name right."

"Norman Farley, you're so desperate to get married that you didn't even proofread the invitation?"

"What were you planning to do, send it to everyone here? Force my hand in front of all of them?" Her voice rose, sharp with disgust. "How could you stoop so low?"