Are You The One?

Chapter 2

“Yes. You made coffee,” Brit said appreciatively grabbing a mug from out the cabinet and pouring herself a cup. “Why are you up so early anyways? Today is our day off.”

“I was woken up by a good morning text,” Tara said with a grin.

“Would this be from the tall handsome stranger at the party?” Brit asked with a knowing smile.

“Yes and his name is Eric. Eric Walker.” Tara replied loftily.

“Eric Walker. Why does that sound so familiar?” Brit said wrinkling her nose.

“I don’t know. He works in real estate,” Tara answered with a shrug as she plopped down onto the couch.

“No that’s not it. Who knows. Maybe it’s because I saw his name on the list last night,” Brit said sitting across from her.

“We didn’t get off the phone until after two and I’ve been on the phone with him since seven this morning.”

“Who the hell is up at seven on a Sunday?” Brit asked shaking her head.

“He was leaving for a business trip and wanted to say goodbye before he left,” Tara explained.

“I see,” Brit said with a grin.

Tara propped her foot up on the coffee table and began painting her toenails happily humming.

“Is that why you’re so happy this morning?”

“He asked me out to dinner.”

“And you said?” Brit teased.

“Yes of course. He’s hot and he can hold a good conversation.”

“Where are you going?”

“Utopia,” Tara replied.

“Nice. I’ve been wanting to go there forever. Order something big so you can bring some back,” Brit said half-jokingly.

“I wonder how he even got a reservation? That place has been booked solid for months,” Tara mused.

“Hello?  He was a guest at a Stefan soiree. You know the guy has connections. Now if he can get us a reservation at Jade Orchard then I know he has pull,” Brit stated.

“Maybe for our second date,” Tara ventured.

“Maybe.”

“Or maybe the third. In any case I need something fantastic to wear on my date and I saw this black Marissa Holden number but I don’t know if I can splurge on a new dress,” Tara sighed fanning her freshly painted toes.

“A Marissa Holden? Why not? You should definitely spend your check on another little black dress. For all we know this could be ‘the one’ and the right impression is everything,” Brit said in mock seriousness.

“You think?” Tara inquired, not catching on to Brit’s sarcasm. “We had a really great connection. Our eyes met at the party and I felt a shiver down my spine.”

“Stefan does keep the gallery exceptionally cold. I might start wearing a sweater.”

“Brit!” Tara protested. “Stop being so negative. Maybe he is the one. I guess we’ll find out Wednesday night.”

Brit convinced Tara not to blow her check on a new dress, and despite her worry about not looking perfect, Tara and Eric indeed hit it off on their date. For the next few weeks they were in the honeymoon phase of their relationship. She spent all her free time with him. Brit was happy for her friend. Eric seemed to be the perfect catch. Smart, handsome, funny and attentive. The only downside to Tara’s new romance was that she felt guilty about leaving Brit all by herself.  Since moving to LA the year before they only really had each other. Sometimes Tara gave her an apologetic look when she left for the evening and asked if Brit wanted her to stay at home instead. Brit could tell by the look on Tara’s face that she really hoped she wouldn’t take her up on that offer. So she smiled and told her not to be silly, to go and have fun.

If she was being honest with herself, of course she wanted her to have fun but she was also a little bit jealous of Tara. She hated sitting at home lonely while Tara went out with Eric. It wasn’t so bad being single when she had her best friend to commiserate and eat butter pecan ice-cream with. It was downright tragic when you were single and alone, polishing off an entire pint in one night.

She didn’t want Tara to feel bad or guilty so she continued to feign happiness for her friend and spent her evenings with the television on. Not really watching, just surfing through the channels. She found herself waiting up for Tara to return so she could hear all about her date. Fun vicariously.

In her lonely state she had even considered calling up her ex friends with benefits but he had ended things to date someone else seriously and she didn’t want to appear desperate. It did make her want a scone however and she indeed gave in to that temptation.

Then about three weeks after Tara and Eric started dating Brit started seeing Tara less and less. Eric lived over an hour away so Tara began spending the night over at his place for convenience. Of course she saw her at work but then Tara would take off to Eric’s. On their days off she would spend Sunday and Monday with him as well. That meant there were some days that Brit was stuck at home alone and bored.

In the lonely hours when Brit’s mind went into overdrive she wondered if there was something wrong with her that made relationships so impossible. She hadn’t been in a relationship longer than six months since her high school boyfriend. It wasn’t that she wasn’t interesting because she was, and funny. Well once she let someone get to know her. The problem was she rarely let that happen.

 It’s just that she was a bit of an introvert and seldom made new friends.  She had Tara and that was good enough for her. Except it really wasn’t. For the first time since moving to L.A. she was lonely. She found herself wishing for some kind of distraction.

She was just arriving to work one Thursday when her phone rang. She had forgotten to turn the ringer off.

“Hello,” she answered.

“Brit! Thank goodness you answered. I’m running about thirty to forty minutes late. Can you please clock in for me?” Tara pled.

“You know I can’t do that.”

“Please. I can’t be late again.”

“Fine. Stefan’s car isn’t here yet but if he gets here and you’re gone you have to tell him you left for a few minutes,” Brit sighed.

“Will Allison sell me out? I should be there before John and Stefan,” Tara replied.

“Allison is cool,” Brit assured her.

“Okay thanks Brit.”

“But please hurry up,” Brit urged her.

“I will!”