Valentine and Valentine's Day

01. Valentine and Alexis

I stared at the empty chair in front of me and sighed. Taking a sip of my mimosa. I took a quick glance at my watch.

"No brunch is perfect, she said. No, we can meet at night, wouldn't want you to wake up early, I said. No, no I'll be there on time. I promise. She said." I replay the conversation I had with my best friend, Alexis, last night trying to plan a time to meet and catch up over the phone.

Adjusting myself in the wooden chair outside of our usual brunch spot I spot the familiar flash of box red hair dye rushing towards me.

"I'm not late! You're early!" Alexis greets me as she hugs me and places a kiss on my cheek.

"Mhmm, I'm early! I told you to just pick a time that you could actually make on time!" I scold her as I take another sip of my drink.

"Yeah, well whatever. I'm here now." She rolls her eyes and takes my drink from me, taking a sip she raises her hand to grab the waiters attention. "We'll have two more of these, please."

"Coming right up, ma'am." The waiter smiles and takes my now empty glass.

"So, spill. What's new?" I smile and await for Alexis to share and update of her life. After not seeing each other for six months, I'm sure I missed something.

"Well, mostly everything is the same. Well except...this!" Alexis squeals and puts her left hand up, showing a glistening ring perfectly wrapped around her ring finger.

"What! Oh my god! Alexander proposed!!" I grabbed her hand and began to squeal as well. "This is incredible!"

"Mhmm! And of course I didn't tell you sooner because I thought this was something to tell in person. And well...I wanted to ask you if you'd maybe want to be my maid of honor?!"

"Yes! A million times yes!!" Alexis got up from her seat and hugged me. "When's the wedding?"

"In January! We want to start the new year off as newly weds!" My smile gets bigger and bigger and feel beyond excitement. I just love weddings.

"Anyway, enough about me. How are you and Jeremy?" She raises an eyebrow and sips on her new mimosa.

"Uh, we're going through a rough patch lately. A little bit of a dry spell if I'm being completely honest." I slump in my chair in annoyance and embarrassment.

"What! No! You guys have only been married for like 2 years, this isn't supposed to happen until like year 4!" She leans into the table and asks. "How long?"

I bite my lip and cover my face. "A year."

"What!"

"A year!"

"You two haven't had sex in a year! What the hell!" I give her a look signaling her to lower her volume and she apologizes quietly.

"I know! But he gets home from work so tired and on the weekends he just wants to lay and do nothing all day."

"Wow, I wish I could help." I pucker my lips and shrug. "Well, Val, I hate to tell you this but.. find a new man. Jeremy is trash anyway, you deserve better."

"Just because we haven't had a good fUck doesn't mean I'm going to end my marriage. And you've never liked Jeremy so I'm almost positive you don't mean it when you say 'I hate to tell you this' but thanks for trying to fake it!" I give her a fake smile and raise my mimosa glass.