The Last Five Years

Poppy

  Against all better judgement, I sat in the parking lot of the bar. I could see Drew through the window, sitting at a booth, checking his phone repeatedly. Just like he said, there was no girlfriend there with him.

I sighed, paying the taxi driver and getting out of the car. As I walked to the entrance, every nerve in my body was screaming for me to turn around. I pushed the door open, and Drew looked up, a big grin spreading across his face.

"I didn't know if you were gonna show." He said, putting his hand on my waist as he gave me a half hug. I squeezed into the booth, not saying anything to him. He cleared his throat. "So, how was your first day in Maryland?"

"Fabulous." I spat, calling over a waiter so I could order a drink.

"You know, you could not be so difficult all the time."

"You could've told me about your live-in mutt." I looked up as the waiter was setting my drink down.  I smiled as politely as I could.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "She doesn't live with me."

I smiled at him, taking a sip of my drink. "I don't care, Drew. In fact, I don't even know why I came out here honestly. I'm going to book a flight home tomorrow."

"No, you're not." He shook his head. "I don't know why you're so bitter." After he said it, he squeezed his eyes shut and covered his face. "I didn't think that through."

"No, you didn't." I mumbled, trying not to cry in this populated space.

"Look, Pop." He grabbed my left hand, running his finger over my ring. "I was miserable after I moved out here. I didn't date, I didn't hang out with friends. My whole life was studying. Olivia is the first girl I have dated since you. I'm sorry you feel like I'm rubbing my happiness in your face, but you're being selfish."

I shrugged. "So be it."

Annoyance flashed across his face. "I'm sorry that Pete died. But I am not the one who pulled the trigger. I am not the one to blame." He rubbed his neck. I felt a tear drop down my face. "I'm sorry. You can have the place if you want. Olivia isn't over a lot but she is over. I can cut that back until you feel better."

"I'm not chasing you out of your home." I yanked my hand away from his. "It's getting late."

"You changed a lot in these years." He said, his voice bitter. "What happened to you?"

"Grief changes a person."

Drew stared at my lips, then looked up to meet my eyes. "I notice you don't wear pink anymore. What happened?"

"It's not my favorite color anymore." I looked down at the table. "Peter loved red on me."

He reached across the table to take my hand again. "At least consider staying with me. We can compromise."

I rolled my eyes. "I'll think about it."

He flashed his perfect teeth in a smile. "That's all I can ask."