It Had to Be You

Three Hours Later

She made it exactly three hours before she picked up the phone and called Walker. She had been crying for so long by that point that the only words she managed to get out were "I'm scared" and "It was terrible" which was enough for Walker to get in a car and come over to her apartment without being asked. She heard the buzzer and looked in the mirror. She continued to be overcome by emotion so her face was raw. Her eyes were swollen and her cheeks were red from the futile efforts of using a tissue to wipe away the rivers of tears that seemed to be pouring out of her.

"Hi" she tried to put on a brave face as she opened her front door. One look in Walker's eyes and she crumbled. It was not the cute crumble of someone upset like in a rom-com. She couldn't even get the words out and silently sobbed in the space between them until he closed the door and opened his arms. "Do you want a hug?"

She nodded silently and moved into his embrace. She felt fragile. Nina had never felt like this before. She'd felt lost, confuse, uncertain but never fragile. It felt like she was going to break in half.

"Shh" he rubbed her back and she tried to take a deep breath but she couldn't get air fully into her lungs.

"Nina, breathe. You're okay. It's okay. Just try to take a deep breath." He made a point to take an exaggerated breathe in and she tried to follow. She hiccupped and sobbed harder causing him to tighten his embrace.

"Okay, you're alright. But I really need you to breath because fainting is not my favorite thing to witness. So let's not hyperventilate, okay?" She nodded into his chest.

"You go sit on the couch. Point me in the direction of your kitchen." She stayed glued to his chest for a few moments and he tightened his embrace once more.

"It's okay. We're going to handle this together. You're going to be alright. Let's sort this out alright?" She pushed off his chest and saw the two blotch marks of mascara on his dress shirt.

"Oh god, I'm sorry." She wiped absentmindedly at the stains and he waved it off.

"I think we have bigger things to worry about than a makeup stain. Now, where is your kitchen?"

She walked him through the living room and around the corner to the kitchen.

"Go take a seat I'll be right there." She was so exhausted she headed for the couch automatically. She heard him rattling around in the cabinets and the faint sound of glassware clinking. His voice was talking to someone on the phone and then there he was. Two glasses and a bottle of scotch under one arm.

"Chinese food is on its way."

"Where did you get the scotch?"

"I took a gamble that there was probably some here. Old English custom for apartments is leaving a bottle of scotch under the back of the sink for moments like this. Even when you move out, you typically leave it."

"So we're going to drink a random stranger's bottle of scotch?" Part of her worried about being poisoned.

"Nah, I'm just messing with you. I picked it up at the store on the way here. Figured you could use it. We're going to drink it with the best dumplings you've had this side of the Atlantic while you tell me everything from start to finish.

---

When Nina was done word vomiting the entire saga to Walker she slouched back into the couch. She was both exhausted and full. Walker was right. The scotch had actually paired well with the dumplings and they had been incredible.

"Last one?" He held up the now empty container for her.

She waved it away. "No, no, all you."

He gave her a "are you sure?" look before popping it into his mouth.