The Difference

Chapter 34

I wake up the next morning feeling better than I have in a long time. I open the curtains to my city-view hotel window and smile through the sun blinding me. I throw on jeans, a pale pink sweater, my checkered pea coat and knee-high boots, knowing the sun's rays are deceiving me about 20 degrees.

Packing up the few things I brought with me, I leave a tip for the housekeeping staff and make my way to the lobby to check out. I am thankful my hotel has a parking garage right down the street and I make my way to Starbucks before I head home.

Standing in line, I notice a tall, blonde man checking me out. I give him a wink and he smiles. I'm starting to like New York Rosemary, I think to myself. Embracing this new side of me, I order an iced matcha instead of my usual macchiato. Baby steps. I am making my way out of Starbucks when I notice a billboard smack dab across the street from the corner I'm at with a huge poster of Troy and Isabel. I roll my eyes and skip the headline on it before doing a double take to Isabel in the photo; then I realize my eyes didn't deceive me the first time.

She's wearing my necklace.

I cringe at the sight of that beautiful handcrafted piece of jewelry meant for me, back in one piece, on the neck of the fiancé to the man who I expected to be my fiancé. I freeze and let the billboard hit me with one final blow by reading the headline, which announces "Royally Stunning Engagement Photos!"

I roll my eyes again at the corny headline. I wonder if I'm being dramatic and before I can confirm or deny, my phone rings.

"Rosemary? Hey, it's Michael," my new-found friend echoes through my phone.

It's enough of a distraction for me to start walking to the parking garage and snap back to reality.

"What's up, Michael?" I ask politely.

"Hey, I just finished my morning run through Central Park and you'll never believe what I saw on a billboard," he says.

I cut him off. "Oh, I believe it cause it just smacked me right in the face as I was leaving," I admit.

"Oh shit," he says. "I'm sorry. I would've called sooner, but-" he trails off.

"It's fine, don't be silly! I'm actually heading back home now, for the time being. Another week of classes and I'm on spring break," I say casually.

"Come visit on your break!" he demands and I can't help but laugh.

"Maybe!" I say before we give our goodbyes. I retrieve my car and head home to tell Ava just how annoyed I am that I saw Troy and Isabel's billboard. I hope Brad isn't at the apartment, but either way, I'm sure she'd still tell him to let us have a moment. I smile, thankful I at least have Ava to help me through all of this.

My ride home feels shorter than usual as I pull into the back of the apartment instead of the front. It's raining, and the steps get slippery when it rains, so I decide to just go in through the patio outside the kitchen instead. I see Ava's blonde hair sitting on the far side of the table with work papers in front of her.

"You'll never believe what shocking thing I saw in New York!" I yell, pushing through the door with my bag, purse, and empty Starbucks cup. I toss my keys onto the counter and throw my cup in the recycling bin before turning around and seeing Troy sitting at the table as well, with Brad and Mrs. Marigold next to him. "It wasn't as shocking as this," I admit, crossing my arms in front of me.

"I can explain," Ava says, jumping to her feet. Troy shuffles papers in his hands and one falls out at my feet; their wedding invitation. It's rose gold with peony accents on the border, the exact style I've been telling Ava I've wanted for years. I expect myself to start crying, but instead, I'm furious.