Valentine's Day

Chapter 18

The sound of his iPhone startled Brian as he held his guitar on his lap. He had been spending the evening writing the guitar pieces for "The Stage." They'd managed to get a few tracks recorded during the day but he still had some stuff to work on. What he liked best about music was that he could lose himself for hours creating epic solos that he hoped the fans loved as much as he did. He was on a roll with the one he was working on and was glad when the ringing stopped.

Before he could turn his attention back to the music, the phone started ringing again.

He sighed before h put his pick in his mouth and leaned over to grab his phone. The number was a vaguely recognizable one and he spit his pick out before answering. "Hello?"

"Brian, it's Dylan."

Great, Brian thought. A call from his is lawyer was just what he needed. "Hey Dylan, what can I do for you today?"

"Actually Bri, I wanted to do something for you."

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

"Just wanted to say that the all the paper work finally went through...judge approved the settlement....the divorce is final."

"Final?" Brian repeated.

"Final."

"Yes....it was pretty simple. Michelle didn't contest the proposed​ settlement and signed the paperwork yesterday."

"Wow," Brian said feeling relieved and a tinge of sadness at the same time. "That's great."

"I have some paper work for you that I can have messenger-ed over asap, unless of course you want to come into the office..."

"No.."Brian said quickly "Just go ahead and have it sent over."

"Great...I'll have it on its way. Give it a look and let me know if you have any questions. Go out and celebrate."

Celebrate? Brian thought to himself. Yeah that's what he wanted to do. Call out his friends who were all married with kids and celebrate the failure of his marriage." Thanks..I'll do that," Brian replied before hitting the end call button.

He picked up the dropped guitar pick but couldn't seem to get back into the musical mind set.  Maybe he did need to get out and get some air. He put his guitar gently on the sofa and stood.

Maybe he needed to go get a beer. Celebrate the good news. Who should he call? He knew all of his friends were settled in with their wives for the evening. Of course, they'd drop everything to go out with him but he couldn't see asking them to leave their families so late in the evening just to celebrate the demise of his marriage. That would be too twisted.

Maybe he just needed a drive. Yeah that was it. A chance to get away and just think.

Moving to the kitchen counter, he grabbed his keys and his army green canvas jacket and headed out of the door.

=======================

The caller ID said it was Julie. Maddie felt her heart found as the name popped up across her phone screen. She hadn't talked to Julie since a few weeks after she left Utah.  The fact that her once close friend was marrying her a ex-boyfriend's best friend made her think that she'd never hear from her again. 

What on Earth could she want?

"Hello?" Maddie answered hoping she didn't sound nervous.

"Maddie!" Julie's excited voice cried "I'm getting married!"

Normally those words produced giggles and shrieks but Maddie wasn't feeling it. Not that she wasn't happy for Julie. She was. But it was perfunctory happiness because she hadn't been close to Julie in a long time.  "Wow, Jules...that's...great... So Greg finally proposed."

"Finally, can you believe it?" Her voice cracked on the last word, and Maddie could tell this phone call was way up in the double digits on her list. By now she was reciting a well-rehearsed monologue. Maybe she wouldn't notice that Maddie wasn't picking up the cues. 

Julie and Greg had been dating for years when Mason introduced Maddie to them. They talked about saving up and waiting till they had enough of a nest egg to get them comfortably settled to get hitched. 

"Congratulations, Jules," Maddie gushed "When is the wedding?"

"In nine months." 

"Oh!" 

"No. No baby," she said quickly, laughing. No, nothing was sordid or imperfect about this impending wedding.  "We just wanted a wedding in November where all our family could travel here. It's easier since people will be in town for Thanksgiving and all."

"That makes sense," Maddie replied "It'll be great."

"How'd you like to be a bridesmaid?"

Maddie hadn't been expecting the offer. Greg was Mason's friend and Maddie had been sure that Mason had gotten them in the break up. "Wow Jules...thank you! I can't believe your asking me."

"Sarah's not going to be able to make it that weekend since she will be in Canada for the holiday with her husband's family."

"Oh." was all Maddie could muster.

"Shit. I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I'm just glad that I can ask you. I was worried we wouldn't have enough room to have everyone in our wedding party that we wanted and now we can. Besides, you and Mason were really there for us that one time we almost broke up and it would just mean so much to us if—"

"Jules," Maddie cut her off before she began to fabricate more loving history between them. "It's fine. I'd love to be in your wedding."

"That's so fantastic!" Julie replied loudly "Thank you Mads...and seriously, I'll have you down for a plus one. You can bring whatever fabulous LA guy you're dating."

Maddie rolled her eyes and forced herself to say thanks again before rushing the end of the conversation. She had to get details about dresses and sizes and potential flights back to Utah for fittings.

As she ended the call, she let out a small scream of annoyance. She wished she had a hot LA guy to ask to be her date. That would show Mason. Not that she even cared about him but she knew he was going to bring his new woman. His fiancee. And the only prospect she had on the table was a rock star that she'd thrown herself at and who had a history of cheating and was probably only chasing her because so far, she'd managed to resist him...for now at least. She'd spent more than her fair share of time of thinking about his kiss and his touch to want more. And she knew as soon as she gave in to it, he'd drop her like a hot potato. And she'd be alone again.

She had never been the type of woman to who defined her personal status and self-worth by the length and quality of her relationships. Or at least, that's what she thought about herself before she picked up that phone to hear Julie's good news. Then she was flooded with the jealousy of another person getting picked first. She didn't need a husband to prove she was worth something. She just hated being second.

She needed to not think about it. She needed something to take her mind off of the situation. 

Cupcakes. 

That's what this situation called for...cupcakes.