{Patrick}
I walk down the streets of Downtown Chicago, hands stuffed in the pockets of my grey shorts.
It's Sunday, July 31, about 11:30 in the morning.
Jonathan and I are getting together at a small coffee shop in Downtown Chicago, in a few minutes.
The main purpose of meeting up, is to tell Jonathan about Abigail and I.
Jonathan is one of the only guys on the team that doesn't know about the engagement of Abby and I.
It's odd, because you would think he would be the first guy I would tell.
But, I really wanted to tell him in person, and so we arranged this a few days ago, for exactly that.
I'm not sure how he will react.
I'm sure he will be happy, but he's also going to be surprised.
I look up at the skyscrapers around me, that line the streets of Downtown.
I'm walking down Michigan Ave, towards the small coffee shop at the corner.
I've been here a hundred times before, as it is so close to Trump Tower.
I walk here a lot, as this place has really good drinks, and a really nice atmosphere.
I look up at the sky, and notice that there are only a few fluffy clouds up there.
For the most part, the sky remains clear, and the sun shines beautifully.
The breeze is pleasant and warm.
The streets are busy, but calm.
It's Sunday morning, and Chicago is at peace.
After a few minutes, I reach the entrance to the coffee shop, and pull the door open.
The strong aroma of coffee greets me.
It's somewhat busy in here, and the workers are buzzing around busily to try and satisfy their customers.
I scan the coffee shop quickly, and locate Jonathan sitting at a table near the window, his back towards me.
I swallow, and make my way through the coffee shop, reaching the table he is sitting at.
He is wearing a black polo shirt, with grey shorts, and a backwards Chicago Blackhawks hat.
"Hey man." I say, approaching the table.
"Hey bud!" He says, standing up, and bro hi-fiving me.
"Been a while since I last saw you, how have you been?" Jonathan asks, as I take a seat across from him.
"I've been pretty good. Abigail and I spent a week in Buffalo about two weeks back. It was really nice being back home, and seeing my parents and sisters again." I say, nodding.
"Oh, I bet." Jonathan nods, looking across the table at me.
"How have you been, man?" I ask, leaning back in my chair.
"I've been good. I went back to Winnipeg for about ten days. Saw some family, and hung out with some old friends there, so that was great. Other than that, I've kind of just been hanging out with Natalie a lot here, and just enjoying the city." Jonathan explains, smiling.
I smile down at the table.
"Did she go with you to Winnipeg?" I ask.
He shakes his head, crossing his arms on the table.
"No, she had to work." Jonathan says, nodding.
I nod, smiling.
"I already ordered our drinks, just so you know." Jonathan laughs, adjusting the hat on his head.
"Thanks man." I laugh.
Right then, the barista walks over to our table, two drinks in hand.
"Two black coffees?" She asks, looking at Jonathan, me, and then back to Jonathan.
Her jaw drops slightly, but she quickly closes it.
She recognizes us.
I laugh to myself.
"That's us." Jonathan laughs.
The barista politely places our drinks in front of us.
"Thanks." I say, looking up at her.
She smiles back at both of us.
"Enjoy." She says, before turning on her heel and walking in the other direction.
A few moments pass, before I speak again.
"How's Natalie doing?" I ask.
"She's doing well. She's been out a lot lately, and I'm not really sure where she's been going, but she's doing well." He laughs, smiling.
I know where Natalie has been.
She's been out with Abigail, wedding shopping.
But Jonathan doesn't know that.
Yet.
"How about Abigail?" Jonathan asks, sipping his coffee.
"She's busy, but good." I smile, thinking about how jammed our schedule has been since I proposed.
"Busy? Didn't she take the summer off?" Jonathan asks, furrowing his eyebrows.
I take a deep breath, looking down at the table.
I then look up, and my gaze meets Jonathan's.
"Jonathan, I brought you here today to tell you something," I say, keeping my eyes on his.
His eyes narrow, and he tilts his head slightly.
"What's up?" He asks.
I take another deep breath, looking out the window.
A few people pass by outside, busy in their own lives.
"Abigail and I are engaged." I say, exhaling deeply.
My eyes flicker back over to Jonathan's, watching his reaction.
His eyes widen, and his jaw drops slightly.
His breathing is steady, and he closes his mouth suddenly.
He looks down at the table, and then back at me, his dark eyes still wide.
"You're what?" He asks, his mouth partly open.
"I proposed to her, just over ten days ago." I say, nodding.
He exhales, looking up at the roof.
"Wow." He says, shaking his head.
He's truly speechless.
In this moment, Jonathan can't find the words needed to speak.
He looks back at me, a small smile on his face.
"That's amazing, Patrick! Congratulations buddy!" He finally says, a large smile on his face.
He stands up, and so do I.
He bro hi-fives me again, patting my shoulder a few times.
"Pat, that's amazing! I'm so happy for you!" He laughs, sitting back down.
"Thanks Jonny." I laugh, running a hand through my blonde curls.
Jonathan shakes his head.
"Wow. I can't believe this," Jonathan laughs.
"Where and when?" He asks, his eyes moving to me.
I laugh, looking down.
"Chicago River Night Cruise, and July 17." I reply, quickly.
"Smooth." Jonathan laughs, shaking his head.
I smile down at my drink, taking a sip from it.
A few minutes pass, and Jonathan and I sit in silence, allowing the thoughts of marriage to intrude our minds, suddenly.
It's all so scary.
It's all so certain, and maybe that is why it's so scary.
There is no going back now.
I'm excited for Abigail and my's future.
I truly, truly am.
When I look back up at Jonathan, his gaze is fixed at something in the distance, as he stares out the window.
The reflection of people walking by outside the shop moves in his dark eyes, and he has a small, bittersweet smile on his face.
His eyes are glossy.
In all honesty, I knew that this was going to be his reaction.
Something deep inside of me told me that he was going to be somewhat saddened by the news.
A part of him was going to drag him back to his memories with Ally, and he's going to start wondering what would have happened if she were still here.
If it was possible for him to marry her.
"Jonathan," I say, my voice quiet.
He looks back at me, and his eyes are evidently teary-eyed.
The bittersweet smile remains on his face.
"I know this was something that you wanted with..." I say, trailing off.
I shake my head.
"With Ally." I force myself to finish.
His eyes meet with mine at the sound of her name.
And in this moment, I notice the passion burning in his eyes.
The passion that becomes evident even at the sound of her name.
It's the same passion that he used to get in his eyes when he would talk to her.
I used to see it all the time.
I still remember it, because it was that significant.
"Patrick, I don't want this to be about me. This is about you." He says, shaking his head.
I shake my head.
"I know you wanted this with her. And I'm sorry that it can't be that way. I truly wish it could be, and you know that." I say.
He nods, looking back at me.
"It was just something I always pictured myself doing. But, only with her. Only with her," He shakes his head, his eyes moving out the window once again.
"But there are things that cannot be. And this is one of them. No matter how much I wish I could change it, it's impossible, and I know that." He says, nodding.
A tear escapes his eye, but he quickly wipes it away.
For a few moments, we sit in silence, and Jonathan keeps his gaze locked out the window.
The smile on his face, never drops.
It stays there, despite the few tears rolling down his cheeks.
After a few minutes, Jonathan's few tears have stopped.
I talk, changing the subject.
"Groomsmen." I say.
He looks back at me, a small smile on his face.
"So far, I have Sharpie, Shawzy, Saader, and Kyle Andrews, one of my best friends growing up in Buffalo." I say, raising my eyebrows.
Kyle has been one of my best buds for as long as I can remember.
Thankfully, he agreed to be one of my groomsmen.
Jonathan laughs.
"What a crew." He nods upwards, smiling.
I laugh, biting my lip.
"Jonathan, I want you to be my best man." I say, looking straight at him.
He looks back at me, his face glowing with true excitement.
"You're serious?" He asks, raising his eyebrows.
"Captain Serious, serious." I laugh.
He rolls his eyes, playfully, before speaking.
He then nods, his dark eyes meeting mine for a moment, before he speaks.
"I would be absolutely honored."