Delia

‘Are you still at the office?’ I toss my phone down while I wait. I was able to take leftovers from the taste testing earlier, so I place them in a bag, along with two iced teas.

Ding, placing the packed bag on the kitchen table, I grab my phone.

‘Yes, it will be a late night. No need to wait up.’

UGH, it’s always a late night with him now. The closer we get to the wedding, the less I see him. At this point, I need to look at a picture just to remember what he looks like. Okay, so that’s a little dramatic.

Jeremy was supposed to meet me earlier at the caterers for our final taste testing for the reception menu. But he was a no show, just like he was for the cake tasting and for picking the flowers for the bouquets and the boutonniere Everything wedding-related he has missed. I guess I should make sure he knows when to pick up his suit since our wedding is only a month away.

Grabbing the packed bag, I head out the door of our condo.

With a quick hello to our doorman Ray, I walk outside to hail a cab.

Once I'm in I tell the cab driver the address to head to Jeremy’s Law firm. When the caterer let me take the leftovers earlier I had the idea that I would surprise Jeremy with dinner at the office.

Arriving, I walk into his office building. I don’t see Shelly, his receptionist at her desk, so thinking that she has already left for the evening, I walk straight back to his corner office. Not even bothering to knock, I let myself in, only to find my fiance is already eating - yup. Shelly is spread eagle on his desk before him making strange guttural noises and writhing under his touch. Well, I guess she hadn’t actually left yet.

The bag clatters to the floor as it slips from my trembling hand. They both freeze. Shelly, bless her heart, tries to straighten her skirt as she slips off the desk.

“It’s not at all what you’re thinking Lia baby” Jeremy quickly stands wiping his wet lips on his blue shirt sleeve.

I have always hated when he called me Lia and having him say it now when I clearly know what I saw, only pisses me off more.

“I hate that fucking name and you know it. My name is Cordelia. And I know exactly what it was I just saw, so fuck you, Jeremy.”

Throwing my engagement ring at him, “We’re done!” I snag the bag of food from the floor and hurl it at him. Containers spill out all over his desk.

"Lia." He exclaims as he jumps back trying to avoid getting hit.

Running out, I don’t stop to catch my breath until I am standing on the sidewalk. With no time to think, I hail a cab and head to Lindy’s house. Pulling out my phone I give her a quick call.

“You’re home right?”

“Sure am, what’s up babe?”

“I’m on my way over now, I’ll see you in a few.” Not wanting to give her a chance to ask questions I hang up.

What. The. Fuck. Just happened? Did I seriously just walk in on my fiance cheating on me a month before our wedding?

“We’re here, miss.” The cab driver breaks me from my thoughts.

“Thanks” handing up the cash, I get out of the car and despondently walk right into Lindy’s townhouse.

“Hey babe, what brings you by tonight?” She calls from the kitchen as she hears me close the door. Taking off my shoes and hanging up my coat, I pause and breathe deep before walking through.

I plop down on her couch and throw my head back, just as she walks out with two filled wine glasses. Setting my glass in front of me on the glass coffee table she finally looks at my face.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” Settling on the couch cushion next to me, she turns to give me her full attention.

“Well, for starters the wedding is off.” My head rolls to the side to look at her.

“Good.”

“Dammit Lindy!”

“What? You know my feelings for that dipshit. I know yours too. I don’t know why you even let it get this far.” Taking a sip of her wine she softens her tone “What happened?”

“He missed the taste testing today for the menu. He said he had to work another late night, so I went to bring him dinner.” I take a gulp of my wine and force out the words “Only I walked in on him dining on Shelly.”

“Dipshit. Babe, I’m sorry you are going through this. It's a stupid question, but how are you feeling?”

I stare at her tv for a few moments before I can reply.

“I’m- I’m okay I think?” I can hear the uncertainty in my own voice so her raised eyebrow tells me she didn’t believe me either.

“Seriously Lindy, I think I’m as okay as I can be with the wedding being called off and not marrying him. All afternoon I was griping about how he’s missed everything, and how I don’t even see him anymore.” folding my feet up under me, I down the rest of my wine and hold it out for her to refill. Once she’s back and my thoughts are sorted a little more I continue.

“I can’t tell you the last time we had a meaningful conversation or went on a date. What I wish out of all of this, was that he was a man about it and owned up to his fucking feelings and not cheat on me.”

“Do you want to stay here for the night? Or, however long you need I guess?”

Looking over at my best friend, I feel very grateful for her at this moment.

“Yes please,” I raise my glass and she meets me halfway to do a silent toast.

“I’ll go tomorrow while he’s at work and pack up all of my stuff, store the big items and bring back what I can. I won’t stay too long, don’t worry.”

She laughs, “stay as long as you need, it won’t be the first time we lived together.”

“Thanks, hun, you’re the best. Now, let’s drink some more wine and watch a good comedy.”