pieces | ethma

runaway train

Ethan

My twin brother got married today, and as much as I'm happy for him, it's also hard for me because I don't even have a girlfriend yet.

And whenever Grayson reaches a milestone, everyone asks me when I'm going to do the same.

For years now, it's been "Ethan, when are you going to have a girlfriend? When are you going to get married? Why are you only focusing on your career instead of settling down?"

Here's the thing—I've always wanted to settle down. I've just had bad luck with women lately.

Besides the casual dates I've been on, nothing has really stuck. I just haven't met the right woman for that yet.

I hope I will someday.

After Grayson and Natalie's send off, I left the ongoing party to catch the train. I'm heading back to Manhattan tonight to pack the rest of my things, and I'm leaving New York for Chicago tomorrow.

Permanently.

Tonight was the end of an era. Grayson and Natalie are married, my best friend Ricky just had a baby, and Haley and I have finally moved passed our previous relationship. We'll be friends forever, but we can't ever be together again. We didn't work the first time—she didn't want children, and that was a huge dealbreaker for me. I want to have kids more than anything. My friends always tease me about being a dad, even though I'm not one yet.

As I wait for the train, I notice that the station is quiet. It's late, there's really not that many people around. It's kind of outside of the little town we were in, so it made sense.

I'm not paying attention when I hear a car door, but I'm definitely paying attention to a girl walking up the stairs by herself in a wedding dress.

Suitcase in hand, she glanced around. I don't recognize her, but she must've had a wedding tonight too. I don't see a groom in sight.

"Sir, are you waiting for the K train?" she asks.

"Yeah," I say. "It should be here in a few minutes," I continue, glancing at my wrist watch.

"Thanks," she says.

"May I ask why you're by yourself this late with what I'm presuming is a wedding dress?"

"Oh," she says. "My supposed to be husband is currently fucking my little sister. Good thing no one signed the actual marriage certificate yet, huh?"

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I just need friends right now," she says. "Looks like we're the only ones waiting for the train."

"I can keep you company if you'd like," I say. "I'm honestly feeling really lonely right now. My twin brother got married tonight, and everyone in my family is constantly asking when I'm going to finally settle down. They don't like that I'm focusing on my career. The truth is, I just haven't met a girl I belong with yet."

"That's heavy. Your twin brother, you said? Does your family jump down your throat every time he reaches a milestone?"

"Yes. Thank you. That's exactly what they do."

"Is that why you're running away to Chicago?"

"I got a really great job offer out there," I say. "And I'm ready to get out of New York. There's only so much time you can spend actually enjoying living here."

She laughs. "I grew up in Upstate New York, and I can already tell you that I'm ready for a different city. I've been in the city here since college."

"I've been here since I graduated college. I found my best friends, but this is kind of the end to an era. My brother is married now, my best friend just had a baby, and the girl I dated for a year and I have both officially moved on permanently. We just kind of accepted that we'll never work."

"I'm sorry," she says. "Are you still in love with her?"

"No," I say. "She'll always be my friend, but the dealbreaker is that I want children, and she doesn't. Plus she's secretly still in love with my best friend."

"Wait, what do you mean still? Was she in love with him before?"

"Yup. They dated too."

"Oh my god, is this a tv show?"

"Could be," I say. "Yeah, she's still in love with him."

"Didn't you say he just had a baby?"

"Yup. From a one night stand. He had the baby half the time, and the mother takes her the other half."

"Sheesh. And you?"

"Have a new job in Chicago I'm moving to tomorrow."

"Damn," she says. "Good luck with that."

"Maybe there's better fish in the sea for me there than here."

"Don't we all just have bad luck with love? First my fiancé died in a car crash, I finally find someone I feel like I belong with, and he fucking cheats on me with my little sister?"

"I'm sorry about your first fiancé."

"His name was Dean. He was my high school sweetheart. I'll always love him, and he'll always have a very special place in my heart, but that doesn't mean I can't find someone else to be with. Every relationship is different, and special in its own way."

"You sound hopeful."

"After today, that's about as hopeful as it gets. I think I'm done with New York too."

"If you ever find yourself in Chicago, call me up. With my luck, I'll probably still be single by then."

She laughs. "I didn't catch your name."

"I didn't throw it."

"What is it?"

"Ethan," I say, reaching out my hand for her to shake. "Ethan Dolan."

"Emma Chamberlain," she says. "And yes, that's my maiden last name."

"Well, Emma Chamberlain, would you like to spend my last night in New York with me?"

"I would love to," she says.

-

"Woah woah woah," Grayson says, shocked to see me sitting in our usual booth at the bar, a beer in front of me. It's two days after the wedding, but him and Natalie still haven't left for their honeymoon yet. "What are you still doing here?"

"I met someone," I say.

"Are you fucking kidding me right now, Ethan?" Natalie asks, sitting across from me. Grayson slides next to her in the booth.

"What?" I ask.

"You probably think she's the one, and now you aren't moving to Chicago."

"I'm not moving anymore," I say. "My job here offered me a lot more money to stay here than Chicago was offering me to go there. Plus I met a girl. She's in the bathroom right now," I say. "Nat, you're going to love her?"

"As much as I love Haley?"

"Maybe. But in a different way. I think this one is actually perfect for me. Something is different about her. It just feels like everything is somehow falling into place, and it's because of her. I don't know how to explain it, but she's just—right."

Emma comes back from the bathroom, sliding into the booth before she introduces herself to Grayson and Natalie.

When Emma and I get back to my place later, Grayson texts me.

Grayson: I think you're right. Emma might be the one for you. She's exactly who I imagined you to be with someday.

Ethan: right?? She's perfect for me. She even likes Marvel movies!!

Grayson: me, you, Natalie and Emma marvel movie marathon when Nat and I get back from the honeymoon. Well, that's if you and Emma are still going strong ;)

Ethan: I have a good feeling about this one.

Grayson: me too, Ethan. I'm so happy for you.