The Next Best Thing: Part II

Fourteen

Rae and Tyler took the news much better than we expected; Ty basically threw herself over the table to squeeze Min and Rae managed not to have a melodramatic moment.

This preceded Min informing of her breakup with Lyle. She still looked devastated and too upset to divulge further so we, myself included, didn't pry.

"I just hope it didn't end badly for your baby's sake," Ty had said. They both felt sorry for us because they didn't understand what we were going through, any of us - both their relationships were still intact.

Rae altogether avoided any mention of Cameron. She thought it selfish to blush about how amazing he was and gloating about her beautiful love life; whereas Ty was unhappy with hers. Alternately, she was unable to end things because she felt like she needed to be "punished for my adultery".

"You aren't married to Luke, Ty. You don't owe him anything. And it isn't adultery, it's promiscuity," Rae argued.

"I still promised to be faithful to him. The naughty scenes running in my mind when I see or I'm with Harry need me to go to confession. Multiple."

We enjoyed our first dinner without any of us bursting into tears or any depressive conversations. Rae convinced me to smile at the waiter servicing our table, a charming guy with the cute glasses and a quirky grin. He eventually asked for my number and I blurted out that I had a boyfriend. Dumb reflex.

"She isn't very smooth, is she? Just wait for her to blossom then you can pick your apples anytime." Rae, that witty bitch, always had to be so confident around total strangers.

The poor boy was embarrassed and Tyler was flabbergasted. Min and I laughed at the confused looks from the surrounding diners - they were not used to such colourful personalities. They would sure love my boyfriend. My ex-boyfriend to the real world.

Min finished with the announcement of us moving in together and being the elusive lesbian couple everyone would be gossiping about. Rae was glad we wouldn't be curled on her couch anymore and Ty upset that her personal slave chef was emancipating herself.

"Can't we just form a commune? Rae would provide the hippies and chill vibes," she whined.

"My daughter isn't going to be born stoned, thank you very much. Besides, you two are messy and immature adults that should seriously consider growing up," Min sassed, her insult game clearly much stronger than ever.

We talked about Min's house and what we needed to make it the perfect start of her new life as a sexy single mom. Rae recommended the interior decorator that had done her apartment, a feisty Californian native she boasted had a similar taste to Min.

Marjorie Taylor, decorator extraordinaire, managed to fit us in at a moment's notice the next afternoon. Before long, she had a pretty good idea of what Min's style was and she suggested that we go furniture shopping immediately.

For the next two hours we visited most of the hippest stores for all household necessities: sofas, dining room chairs, the perfect curtains and plush carpets. Running on a tight schedule, Marj ordered everything Min liked and approved of, negotiating with the stores to deliver as fast as humanly possible.

We looked at crockery, kitchenware, bathroom necessities and all the works, the correct colours, appropriate textures and creative patterns. Marjorie clearly knew what she was doing - we didn't spend more time than necessary at any place, efficiently going through the list she had written up for Min.

Eventually, she had a feel for the home Min envisioned and promised to fulfill it the best of her ability. Marjorie finished up whilst we met with Tyler to brainstorm ideas for a surprise housewarming party for Min.

Min had a doctor's appointment which she insisted on going to alone, a luxury I couldn't afford her. "I'll be fine. Don't you worry one bit, sweetpea. You kids have fun now," she urged in her mock motherly Southern accent. "I'll see you at home."

Tyler was waiting for us at a local Starbucks in her neighbourhood, dressed in a comfortable parka ensemble. It was a little chilly out, cold Hudson breezes getting ready for fall. She had come down with a flu, and this allowed her time off from her never ending work schedule and provided her an excuse to avoid her boyfriend.

I offered to order our drinks: one soy mocha, one pumpkin spice latte and one chai tea for my sickly friend. I stood in line behind two teenaged girls engaged in an interesting conversation.

"My mom says I have to work harder this semester if I want to go anywhere," the tall redhead told her friend.

"Mine said I spend too much time on the internet and I'm wasting my life away," her blonde friend countered. "Speaking of, Callie called me at one in the morning today and she was having a major freak out. She sent me this link and told me to call back when I saw what it was."

They leaned over Red's phone and her best friend gasped a little too dramatically. They reminded me of myself at that age, most people I knew actually.

"...guy said he was dating Paisley Reiner. She's bae goals."

Paisley? Wait, what!

"Yeah, well apparently he was dating this Zoe girl and he's proper in love with her. She's a nobody though so that gives us hope."

They purchased their orders and it was my turn at the front of the line.

"One soy mocha, pumpkin spice latte and chai tea for Zoe, please."