I was so grateful not only to be back home with Eric, but also because Adam and Ryan both insisted I take the rest of the week off. Since they took my original week off away from me, I didn't consider refusing the offer once.

My mom couldn't come back on short notice. Nevertheless, I was thankful Sasha was there and willing to help me complete some of the postponed wedding tasks. She had to work on Wednesday, but said she could get that Thursday and Friday off to help with whatever I needed to do.

Since Eric was still really busy prepping for his trial, I didn't really get to see much of him most of Tuesday when I arrived home. I wanted to tell him about the job offer Adam made me in person. When he got home, every time I'd try to bring it up, something would happen where he'd get distracted and couldn't give me the attention I needed. I even tried telling him Wednesday night when he arrived in bed, but he was so tired that he fell asleep while I was telling him about my day and leading up to it.

Sasha and I met for breakfast at a local cafe, first thing on Thursday morning. I ordered an omelet with cheese and all the veggies they could fit in it. Sasha had a waffle sandwich with extra bacon. She was only vegan when Becca was around. But whenever she and I met somewhere to eat, she'd devour anything with an extra side of bacon. It was her relief. It always made me smile, seeing her eyes roll in ecstasy whenever she'd take that first bite of the greasy, crisp strip of meat.

"You should really come clean to Becca about your love affair with Mr. Bacon." I sipped my mimosa.

Swallowing a mouthful of her sandwich, she gave a snide smile. "I promise I will when you tell Eric about your love affair with Ryan."

"I'm not having a love affair with him." I avoided meeting her all-knowing eyes.

"Right. So your little sexcapade, in Napa, wasn't an affair?" She wiggled her eyebrows at me, I blushed at her choice of words.

"It was one night." I held up my index finger. "So, no. I'd consider that more like a fling. Plus, now I know I can marry Eric without any wondering doubts," I said, trying to convince myself as much as Sasha.

"Whatever you need to tell yourself, sister." Sasha looked at her watch. "So, what's first on the agenda today?"

I was grateful she was changing the topic. I pulled out my mini heart-shaped notebook from my purse and flipped the pages to get to my wedding prep checklist. The transportation arrangements were already checked off, as was the ring order for Eric's wedding band and the flowers for the centerpieces, boutonnieres, and my bouquet. We still had to go get stationery to send out the invitations as well as shop for the ceremony and reception accessories.

The server came over to check on us and drop off the bill casually in the process. I thanked her and went back to my list to read through the tasks again. "We need to go to the stationary store Eric's mom suggested we visit for the invitations, ceremony programs, name cards, and so on. It's only a few stops away from here. Then we can go to Macy's to get the accessories we need. I think they have some good quality, yet inexpensive options."

"Sounds like a plan." Sasha looked at me seriously, though I couldn't help but laugh a little at the speck of food resting just under her lip. I tapped at my chin to indicate to her where to wipe hers. Instead of using a napkin, she proceeded to stick her tongue out to search for the morsel, which she succeeded in finding. "Vicky, I'm your best friend, right?"

"That's a stupid question." The tone in her voice made me instantly put up my guard. She was about to tell me something I probably didn't want to hear.

"I'll take that as a yes." She paused for effect. It was very Sasha-like when discussing sensitive issues. "And since I'm your best friend and your matron-of-honor, it is my duty to tell you the honest truth."

I wasn't going to like what she was about to say. No phrase like that from a best friend ever ends well. I put my fork down on my almost empty plate and crossed my arms, resting them on the edge of the table, waiting.

"I don't think you should go through with this marriage."

And there it was. The bomb was dropped. "Seriously? I know you don't like Eric, and I know I did some things I shouldn't have with someone else. But that doesn't mean I don't love Eric. I want to spend the rest of my life with him."

Sasha was flailing her hands around, using them to emphasize her points as she spoke. "Honey, please stop lying to me." Hand pointing to herself. "And yourself." Hand pointing to me. "You didn't even think," tapping her temple, "you guys were going to stay together after graduation. Hell," raising both hands in the air and back down, "right before my wedding, you told me you were thinking about ending things with Eric because you didn't feel that spark with him anymore." 

It was true, I was thinking of ending things with Eric before he proposed. He was a great boyfriend and all, but I didn't want to go off into the real world with anyone. I wasn't like most girls that died to get married to their college boyfriends. I initially wanted to focus my time and energy on rising up in my field, and then eventually finding someone. But when Eric and I had so much fun at Sasha's wedding, and he asked me, I didn't want to say no. Then when he asked me again the next day with his family's ring, saying no, didn't even cross my mind.

The server came back as Sasha waved her over to hand her cash to pay the bill. "Thank you," I said, while I was still also processing my thoughts on Eric. "I couldn't possibly end things with him, Sash."

"That's a bunch of bullshit. So you'll lose out on some of your deposits." Sasha shrugged.

"My parent's money is in those deposits," I corrected.

"You'll pay them back." How Sasha could have such simple answers to things was beyond me.

"So what? I just break up with Eric and move on to Ryan? Is that what you suggest I do?" I questioned, feeling flustered.

Sasha stared at me with a clearly annoyed look. "You know that's not what I'm suggesting." She went to say more, but the server came back with her change. Sasha felt it was best to continue this conversation as we made our way to the stationery store. I agreed as I could tell the server, and a few other patrons around us were listening to the tidbits of our conversation and seemed somewhat interested in my life's current drama episode.

I pulled on my faux-fur coat, black leather gloves, and cashmere scarf that had been hanging on the back of my chair. Sasha did the same, though she was wearing a white, puffy ski jacket, with matching black wool gloves, scarf, and beanie. As we stepped outside, our outerwear kept everything but our noses shielded from the freezing gusts that made their way down the avenue. I was definitely missing L.A. weather at that moment.

It was too cold and windy to talk much while we walked. We made our way to the subway entrance at the corner of the block we were on. The heat of moving bodies underground, made me want to take off my coat, but we were only going a few stops, so I knew it wouldn't be worth the hassle to take it off, just to put it back on.

The train was pulling up just as we reached the platform. It was mid-morning now, so the trains were not as crowded as they were during the morning rush. We sat on dusty-blue colored benches. The doors closed moments later, and it went on its usual path. I loved the sound the clanking rails made as the train wheels soared over them to its next stop.

"What I am suggesting," Sasha said, picking up where the conversation left off at the restaurant. "Is that maybe you just stick to your original plan you had in mind. Be single. Rise in your career. There will be someone else in the future. And hey, if you and Eric are meant to be, then he'll wait until you're ready. I'm sure Ryan would too, for that matter."

Work on my career? Stay single? I hadn't been single since I started dating in high school. The longest I was single was during my first semester of freshman year in college. "Well... I am getting the chance to rise up in my career already. I told you that Adam is offering me an apprentice position because he can see how valuable I am or whatever he said."

"Do you honestly think," Sasha raised her arms to show the exaggeration of her words. "Eric will allow you to work nights and weekends and constantly travel for work? Especially when you're married?"

"Allow me? Sasha, I'm going to say the same thing to you that I said to Adam. Eric is not my keeper. I guess if I ever get the chance to tell him about the job change and he throws a fit about it, then I have my answer and will call it off right then and there." I crossed my fingers over my chest to show Sasha I was making a promise.

"Well, I suggest that you tell him soon. Perhaps before we send out the invitations. It would suck if we worked on stuffing all the envelopes and sending them off to the guests, just for you to turn around and send out canceled event letters." Sasha quivered at the thought of the task. She hated doing repetitive work and always did what she could to avoid it.

The train arrived at our station. We walked out and made our way back up to the outside world. "Okay, I'll force him to talk to me tonight."

"Good. You better." Sasha held the door to the stationary store open and let me lead the way in.

*************

That night, I was pulling out a casserole from the oven, when Eric arrived home. He greeted me as he inhaled the smells that engulfed the apartment and followed up with a light kiss. I wasn't huge on cooking, but I enjoyed making a meal at home every now and then. Especially easy dishes, that my mom had me help her with when I was growing up. She insisted casseroles were the simplest things to make and always tasted pretty decent too. They were my go-to when I was getting bored of takeout or delivery. Luckily, I never had any complaints from Eric, either.

"You always know how to treat me well." Eric removed his trench coat and hung it in the closet near the front door. He proceeded to remove his suit jacket as he walked past me to the bedroom to change into more relaxing clothes. "So how was your day with Sasha? Did you get a lot done?" he asked from the bedroom.

"We did! Ouch!" I yelped, having accidentally touched the hot glass pan with my pinkie as I was scooping out portions onto the dinner plates.

Eric came back out as I was running my finger under the cold water at the sink. He looked at me sadly, then grabbed my hand and guided it up to his lips. He kissed my finger lightly. Though it was the wrong one, it was still a kind gesture that made me smile lovingly at him.

"Would you like a glass of wine with dinner?" I removed my hand from his grasp and went to the wine glass rack, that Eric had installed under the cabinets when we first moved into the apartment together, almost a year ago.

"Yes, please." Eric took our plates that I had dished up and moved them over to our small cafe-sized square table.

We ate dinner and talked briefly about his stress with the trial prep and about my day with Sasha and shopping for the wedding. As we were finishing up, I knew there wasn't a better time than now to bring up my job change. I don't know why I felt so nervous about telling him. I guess the concern Adam and Sasha shared were starting to cloud my judgment of him. Which wasn't fair to Eric, but I couldn't stop the thoughts of uncertainty.

"So..." I ran my finger along the rim of my wine glass, making it whistle slightly. "I have been wanting to talk to you about something serious."

"Okay?"

"Well, the thing is, right after you left the Upton's, Adam wanted to talk to me," I started. "He and I took a walk in the vineyards, and he mentioned he had no idea that Ryan wasn't treating me well. He apologized on behalf of his brother."

"Good to hear," Eric interjected.

"Well, he then followed up by offering me a new job position. To work for him instead."

Eric studied my face with interest. "That means you'd be his assistant instead of Ryan's? I think that's a good move, to be honest."

I shook my head back and forth. "No, not his assistant. He was thinking of making me more of an apprentice. Which I guess is just a glorified assistant, but I'll be able to really learn from him instead of just taking his calls and handling travel bookings and so on. He wants me more involved like I was with the clients during the trip. Which means I'd probably be busier than I am now. Which means I'd be working more nights and weekends. Plus, more traveling around the country too."

"Whoa, slow down, Vic." Eric gestured with his hands moving up and down in the air like he was pumping the imaginary brakes that were attached to me in that moment of nervousness. "So let me dissect what you just said, so I can be clear we're on the same page."

I nodded and kept my mouth shut.

Eric took another sip of his wine, placed it back down in its original spot on the table, then proceeded to lean back in his chair slightly. "So Adam is going to essentially take you under his wing to help you grow in the company, right?"

"Yes."

Eric nodded in understanding of my simple, one-word answer. "And that means you'll be working under someone who actually treats you with respect?"

"I hope he's better than Ryan." I had some doubts after learning about what Adam thought of me before he even knew me.

"I know Adam. He's always been the nicest of the three," Eric reassured. He scratched his temple. "So, I don't understand why you're so nervous about telling me this?"

"I'm not nervous," I said, almost too defensively.

Eric chuckled. "You ramble things off when you get nervous about something you're unsure of. Which you just did when you were telling me about your awesome advancement opportunity."

"Do you support this move?" I don't know why I was shocked by his response.

"Victoria Ashcroft, soon to be Walton! Why wouldn't I support you in this? This is why I fell in love with you. And why I wanted to marry you. I need a strong woman who knows what she wants. A woman who won't break her future plans or change herself into what society thinks a wife should be. I want us to be the same power couple my parents are. While you are sexy as hell, you're more than just a trophy wife. If I wanted a wife that would just stay home all day baking and raising my kids, I wouldn't have asked you out the first day I saw you in that art gallery."

I knew Adam and Sasha had Eric all wrong. He reacted exactly how I thought he would.

Then why didn't I feel happy with his positive and supportive response? Why did I wish at that moment that he'd break things off with me? Why did I want an excuse to go running to Ryan?