Fuck you for ruining NYC for me (G×G)

A true friend reaches for your hand... and puts a glass of gin in it.

Tuesday, October 5th, 2021

"Okay, speak." Ordered Nora after putting down my gin in front of me. She wrote me a short, direct message yesterday which literally said *You. Me. The Shanty. 7 pm. Tomorrow.*

I couldn't decline such a nice invitation and this is how I ended up in this great gin bar in Brooklyn. We have been fairly frequent visitors to the bar since I moved back to NYC as it is considered one of the best gin distilleries in the area.

"What do you want to know?" I asked while I took a sip of my gin. I let Nora decide for me this time, it had a smokey flavor to it. I usually prefer the fresh, fruity vibes but it was fitting with my mood today.

"Come on. I know that you have met and talked." She looked at me with a resentful expression on her face. "By the way, fuck you for not calling me immediately after. How should I fulfill my best friend tasks if you don't tell me about these things?!"

"I am sorry." I sighed and nodded while letting my walls down a bit more. "Everything happened rather quickly. We met on Friday in the gym and Cari agreed to talk on Saturday morning. We met at Hygge..." I spent the next fifteen minutes telling her what has been said between Fletcher and me. "So in the end she took my number and promised to reach out when she is ready to continue our conversation. I thought we did fairly well but it is Tuesday evening and she hasn't written or called me yet. I don't know what to do. I don't even have her number." I said frustrated with the situation.

Since our morning together on Saturday, I couldn't stop thinking about Cari. I replayed the whole conversation in my head again and again and the more I thought about it, the less confident I felt. What if whatever I said made everything worse for her? I don't want to hurt her more than I already did. I would hate myself even more.

"Hey. Based on what you told me, it went well. It hasn't even been 4 full days since then, give her time. I am sure it is a lot to process. Alex said..." Nora bit her lip when my eyes instantly widened by hearing the name.

"What did Alex say? Since when do you keep in touch?" I leaned forward and started asking questions.

"Well, her marketing company is working with mine for the last year or so. We have talked a few times due to work and well since you have met up again, we keep each other in the loop. God knows you both need some additional help." Nora confessed and I was just sitting there. I wasn't sure if I should be annoyed or amused by their antiques.

"I guess that answers how you knew about our meeting," I stated the fact and she nodded.

"But back to the conversation. Alex said that Fletcher is on her healing journey for some time now. She said that Fletch takes her sweet time with all her big decisions to fully understand her own feelings. Just let her process everything. I am sure that she will reach out soon." Nora sipped her own gin and scrunched her face due to the bitterness of her drink. I had to smile seeing that, she has been trying to change her drinking habits and enjoy gin more but it is not always successful. I usually like to tease her about it but I let it go today. "Anyway, you are literally talking about why running away was a stupid thing to do on both of your parts. She will not do the same in this case."

I considered what Nora said and when seeing it from that point of view, she was right. Cari would not do that again, we are both more mature and know how to handle these things. I need to be more patient and accept that she needs more time. I don't have the right to demand anything from her.

"I guess you are right. Thank you for listening to me and sharing your opinion. I appreciate it." I extended my hand to toast Nora. "Your next drink is on me."

"Not tonight though, I can't handle gin in a larger amount than this on a weekday." Nora shook her head and I laughed. I really missed doing this with her during the last few years. She was one of the few people who really kept in touch with me over the years and didn't let me distance myself from her even when I was at my worst. She was always there together with Kristen and I will never forget that.