I knew Kendra would be delicate and fragile so I was constantly checking in on her. I planned on taking dinner and wine to her apartment on Thursday evening, but she insisted we go to happy hour. I met her at a lowkey spot near her office and by the time I got there she was halfway done with her grande margarita.

“Hi, hun,” I said gently. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine, Reese,” she said like I was being completely ridiculous.

“You are?” I gave her a skeptical look. “Have you talked to John?” 

“He came to get his things last night and we talked a little bit. He’s staying with his sister. He’s called me a few times today, but I haven’t picked up. I don’t want to talk to him.”

“Good. You’re way too good for that weird ass loser,” I said.

“Do you want a margarita? I’m going to order another one,” Kendra said, changing the subject.

I let her ramble on about work, her parents, her hair and anything else she could think of that wasn’t John. We talked about Halloween and even though I had a costume and plans, I told Kendra that I would stay home with her.

She waved me off. “I’m fine. I’ll still go out. I already have my costume so I might as well.”

I guess we really didn’t have set in stone plans – Brady and Chris’s friend was having a house party, Chris’s alma mater was having a party, Preston wanted to go to a costume contest at a gay club and I just wanted to drink.

Brady and I did end up doing coordinating costumes: a roaring 20’s couple, kind of Daisy and Jay inspired. I know it’s so last year, but I literally couldn’t think of anything. Plus I’ve been eyeing this amazing Art Deco inspired dress and wanted an excuse to buy it. I wore it with strands of pearls, an amazing intricate headpiece I had expedited from Etsy and my nude Rockstuds (if Daisy had the opportunity to get Rockstuds, she definitely would).

I picked Brady’s “costume” out myself too: black slacks, white dress shirt, suspenders, and a bow tie. The only thing I had to buy was the cool two tone hat. I’m not sure if his costume was accurate for that era, but he looked so fucking hot that I didn’t care.

The weather was absolutely disgusting on Friday so we all met at Brady and Chris’s and took an Uber to one of the parties. The place was decorated like a haunted house with spider webs and mirrors and red lights and shit. It was awful and that plus being miserably cold, I needed to be drunk ASAP.

The bartender was making all these ridiculous Halloween themed drinks like “Candy Corntini” and “Spiked Witch’s Brew Punch.” It was really quite childish (although that punch was delicious). We stayed there for a little while and drank and danced. I was happy to see that Kendra seemed to be having a good time and was even dancing with us. She hardly ever dances anymore. Maybe her and John breaking up isn’t so bad. 

After a while, we decided to head to the gay club so Preston and Dillon could enter the costume contest. Their costumes were pretty risqué I thought, but everyone there was practically naked. Brady and Chris only lasted half an hour before they were tired of seeing dicks everywhere and told us they would meet us at the bar.

Preston and Dillon didn’t win, but a zombie stripper did. His costume was really cool so I get it. We took a ton of pictures with everyone then headed down to the bar. We found Brady and Chris standing at the bar with four girls who looked like they were dressed as the Pussycat Dolls. Naturally, I was irritated and wanted to a. let them know that their costumes were tacky and overdone and b. tell them to stay their asses away from my man.

But Carly bounded over and introduced herself to the skanks and didn’t act confrontational at all. I need to be more like that. If Carly didn’t feel threatened and insecure then why should I? Plus, aren’t I supposed to be trying to be less jealous?

Carly continued talking to the girls and learned that one of them is from close to her hometown and they have some of the same friends. I tried to stand there being friendly for a while until I finally got bored. I grabbed Brady’s hand and pulled him into a corner for some couples time. Sometimes when we’re drunk, Brady and I like to have meaningful conversations about life/our future. We were in the middle of a deep discussion about where we thought would be the best place to raise our children when I felt someone grab my ass. It was Kendra.

“Hey lover,” I said, putting my arm around her. Then I turned back to Brady. “We can get so much more for our money in Texas. I just don’t see myself living in Chicago with children.”

For whatever reason, Brady just isn’t into the idea of moving to Texas and wants to stay in Chicago or move back to Massachusetts. Personally, if I’m going to have a bunch of little brats running around then I want a huge house where I can hide from them if I need to. Everyone knows everything is bigger in Texas especially the homes.

“And I don’t see myself living in Texas ever,” Brady said.

I scoffed, offended. “Why? You’ve never lived there. It’s a wonderful place to live and grow up!”

“I don’t think living in the northeast would be that bad,” Kendra spoke up. “I lived summers in Boston and New York City and it was really nice. You could get a nice charming house in the suburbs.”

I glared at her. “You lived there in the summer. Meaning you didn’t witness how it is in the winter. I bet it’s cold and miserable!”

“It can’t be any worse than Chicago,” Kendra pointed out.

“Chicago isn’t an option! That’s why I’m saying we should move to Texas!” I shouted.

Obviously we resolved nothing and the night started winding down a little bit later. The five of us climbed into a cab and I completely intended on dropping Kendra off at home then going home with Brady.

But Kendra said, “Reese, I’ll just spend the night with you.”

Ugh. And with everything going on with her I obviously couldn’t object so the cab dropped us off first. I have never been so sad to say goodbye to my boyf. We got up to my apartment and ripped our costumes off and heated up some pizza rolls. It was literally just like we were back in college.

Kendra confessed that she’d had so much fun and didn’t think about John at all until it was time to go home.

“You’re handling this surprisingly well,” I told her. “I know you’re strong and everything, but you and John were together forever.”

She shrugged. “I guess he really didn’t mean that much to me.”

I don’t know if I believe her.

On Saturday, Kendra and I hung out around my apartment for a few hours then we went to lunch, went shopping, got our nails and eyebrows done, then got Jamba Juice. I felt like I was babysitting.

Finally she said she had some work to do so she went home. Then I passed out on my couch for three hours. I woke up because Brady called and invited me to dinner. He said he would pick me up in thirty minutes so I got up and took a fifteen minute shower then put on black leggings, a huge cable knit sweater and riding boots. And then I spent almost forty minutes doing my hair and makeup. Oops.

After dinner, Brady and I went to his place and chilled for the rest of the night. We slept in on Sunday and laid in bed for a while. We were just laying there talking when Brady suddenly looked at his phone and said, “What the fuck?”

“Hmm?” I wondered.

He was quiet for a moment then turned his phone to show me. On the screen was what looked like a zombie bride and groom complete with a veil, bouquet and blood everywhere. There was so much face makeup and blood that the people were unrecognizable. 

“Hunter got married,” Brady explained after seeing my confused face.

Ohhhh.

“On Halloween,” Brady went on.

I gasped probably a little too dramatically. “That’s what they wore?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you know who the girl is?” I asked, even though clearly he had no idea.

Brady shook his head. “Hunter never mentioned even dating anyone. So I’m really shocked right now.”

“So he got married and didn’t warn anyone? He eloped?” I clarified.

“It seems. I wonder what my mom thinks about this,” he said.

I imagined the face Brady’s mom made when she found out Hunter eloped and the fact that they’d dressed as zombies. I couldn’t help bursting into laughter. She probably shit an entire brick. Brady got out of bed and said he was going to the kitchen to call his mom.

He was on the phone for literally one hour. When Brady came back in his room he said, “Well my parents know. So it must be official?”

“Oh my gosh, were they soo pissed?” I asked, eating all this drama up.

“My mom seems to be taking it well. She is just upset that she hasn’t met the new…wife.”

I nodded. “Mmhm.”

“But my dad is having a party in Boston next weekend and they are both going. Everyone will get to meet her then.”

And then Brady said that his mom wants me and him to go. Me! So maybe she doesn’t hate me? Anyways, I obviously said I would love to go and am already using that as an excuse to buy a new outfit. I can’t wait to see how this is going to play out!