“Gwen, you coming?” Alison asks and Gwen glances up, seeing Alison and the rest, standing near the door, coats in their arms. Gwen nods and shoulders her bag, gathering her sweater in her arms. She follows everyone out of the building, lost in thought. 

“Alison… C-could I ask you something?” Gwen blinks, snapping into focus as Melanie speaks. Alison nods, frowning slightly.

“What’s wrong? You look nervous.” Alison says and Melanie lets out a breath, shrugging.

“I am… A little.” Alison’s eyebrows furrow and she reaches for Melanie.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, really. I just… I need to ask you something.” Beside Gwen, Joseph stiffens, gripping his jacket tightly, his face pale. Melanie slowly eases herself onto one knee and Alison gasps, her hands flying up to her face.

“Melanie…” She breathes and Melanie smiles up at her, pulling a box from her pocket.

“Maybe this isn’t how you had hoped, or even where you’d hoped, but… I… I just… I just need to ask. Alison… Alison, will you marry me?” Melanie asks, her voice shaking. Alison nods, tears dripping off her chin.

“Yes. Yes, of course.” She says and Melanie stands, sliding the ring onto Alison’s finger. Gwen smiles and claps along with everyone else, seeing Joseph slip back inside from the corner of her eye. She follows, finding him in the break room, hunching over the table, hands pressing against the wood.

“Joseph--”

“Ever tell you that Alison and I were engaged?” He says, cutting Gwen off.

“No. You didn’t.” Joseph lets out a laugh and straightens, running a hand through his hair.

“We were… We were in the church… When I… I fucked up. Before we were in the church, I fucked up so bad.” Gwen swallows, hearing the tears in his voice.

“What’d you do?” She asks and he sighs heavily.

“I… I got drunk during my bachelor party and… I fucking…” He trails off, placing his hands on his head. He begins pacing, his face hidden from Gwen.

“I slept… God, how could I be so fucking stupid? I slept with someone while I was drunk and… I couldn’t remember. Then… I don’t remember what it was.” He says, his voice shaking.

“The fact that… That Alison… She trusted me? Or… That her parents trusted me? No… I think it was that Alison trusted me and I… I broke that trust. So, I… I called it off.”

“While you were in the church,” Gwen says and Joseph nods.

“Yeah. She was… God, she was pissed and she had every right to be. I had… I had taken her trust and broke it because I was stupid.” Gwen clenches her jaw.

“Melanie is better for her.” She says and Joseph turns, looking at her.

“Yeah. She is.” He says and turns away, grabbing his jacket from the table.

“You know who you remind me of?” Gwen asks and Joseph shakes his head.

“Who?”

“My father.” Silence drifts in between them and Joseph turns his head, looking at her over his shoulder.

“Your… Your father?” He asks, his voice a whisper. Gwen nods, her eyes narrowing at Joseph.

“Yeah. You know, because he got drunk and slept with a co-worker of my mother’s and he got that woman pregnant.” Joseph shakes his head.

“I’m nothing like your father.” He says, turning to face Gwen fully. Gwen scoffs.

“Sure.”

“I loved Alison. I still love her. More than I love my own life.”

“Are you implying that my father didn’t love my mother? That’s why he went and got another woman pregnant? Wouldn’t you be the same? My father got drunk, so did you. My father slept with another woman, the same as you.”

“He got that woman pregnant, I didn’t. I’m nothing like your father. I love Alison and I will always love her, no matter what.” Gwen frowns, her jaw set.

“My father loved my mother.” She says and Joseph scoffs.

“Right, why’d he cheat then?”

“Hypocrite.” Joseph’s face turns into something of a mask.

“I loved Alison since day one of our relationship and I still love her, even though our relationship ended. Can you say the same for your parents?” Joseph hisses and Gwen’s hands tighten around her sweater.

“They loved each--”

“So you keep saying, but why, then, if they loved each other so goddamn much, would they spend days, weeks even, apart from each other, letting you get taken care of by your aunt?” Joseph’s words made Gwen go silent.

“Yeah. You forget you told me that?” He asks and Gwen swallows.

“I loved Alison and I still love her, regardless if she hates me. She deserves to be happy and right now, I’m pretty sure Melanie is the one to make her happy. I couldn’t do it, maybe Melanie can. She seems to be doing a pretty good job so far.” Joseph says and Gwen doesn’t speak, mulling over Joseph’s words. Joseph brushes past her on his way from the room.

“Have a good night, Gwen.” He says, spitting the words in her direction as he leaves her behind in the empty room. Gwen bites her lip and pulls her phone from her pocket. She dials a number and presses the phone against her ear, shutting her eyes, feeling tears roll off her cheeks.

“Hello?” She lets out a breath.

“Hey.” She says.

“Hey! How was work?” Harvey asks and she can almost hear the smile in his voice.

“It was good. I’m on my way home right now. Just wanted to let you know.” She says and he hums.

“Sounds good. You want anything specific for dinner tonight?” He asks and Gwen shakes her head, brushing the tears from her cheeks.

“No. Whatever you want.”

“Alright. Pizza and a movie sound alright with you?”

“Yeah. Sounds wonderful. I’ll be home soon. I… I’ve missed you.” He chuckles.

“Me too. Oh, my parents called. They were disappointed that you weren’t around. They wanted to talk to you. You’ll call them when you get home?” He asks and Gwen hums.

“Of course. It’s been a while since I’ve talked to them. How are your dads?”

“Oh, you know. The same. They haven’t gotten any weirder since last time.” Gwen chuckles, brushing the fresh tears from her cheeks.

“And your mom? Has she had enough of them yet?” Harvey chuckles.

“I’m surprised she’s still with them, to be honest, but don’t tell her I said that. She’d have my head.” Gwen laughs softly, running a hand through her hair.

“Alright, I won’t. I’ll see you soon.”

“Gwen, it’s ok to not be ok,” Harvey says and Gwen nods.

“So you say.”

“It’s the truth, Lynn. You can’t keep everything bottled up inside.”

“I can try.”

“You shouldn’t, that’s what I’m saying. Let it out once and a while so you aren’t overwhelmed.”

“Harv…”

“I know. You don’t like being told how to live, but… Gwen, I’m here for you. You can talk to me. I don’t mind.” Gwen sighs.

“I know, Harv. I just… It’s difficult.”

“I know it is. Took me years to feel comfortable with talking to my parents about anything. But, trust me when I say I’m here for you, Lynn.”

“I do. I trust you with my life, Harv.”

“Same goes for me. I love you.” She can hear the small smile in his voice and hums.

“I love you too. I’ll be home soon.”

“I’ll keep the couch warm.” He says and she bites her lip.

“Thanks. Talk to you later. Bye.” She hangs up and slides her phone back into her pocket, wiping her eyes.

“God, stop crying.” She scolds herself, setting her bag down on the table. She pulls on her sweater and tucks her nose into the collar, taking a deep breath, breathing in Harvey’s stale cologne. She hears slow footsteps behind her and she wipes her face, turning slightly.

“Joseph said you were in here. Everything ok?” Alison asks and Gwen nods.

“Yeah. I’m ok. I… I just needed to call Harvey, tell him I’m on my way home.” Alison frowns.

“He told you, didn’t he?” She asks and Gwen nods slowly.

“Yeah. I’m… I’m really sorry.” Alison shrugs.

“He’s a jerk, calling off the wedding for no goddamn reason right when we’re about to get married,” Alison says and Gwen frowns.

“No reason?” Gwen asks and Alison nods.

“Yeah. We were at the altar and he suddenly says that he can’t go through with it. He walked out without saying anything else to me, not even an apology. My parents were furious, although now that I think about it, they didn’t really like him much. Guess they were right about him.” Alison says, shrugging. Gwen swallows, feeling the weight of Joseph’s words on her shoulders.

“Tell her.” The little voice in Gwen’s head urges and she shakes it away.

“What? Do you think they were wrong? They told me he’d break my heart. How is that wrong?” Alison asks and Gwen shrugs.

“He… Joseph still loves you, Alison. Trust me.” Alison scoffs, looking down at her shoes.

“Bullshit he does. I believe he did love me, once upon a time. I could tell by the way he looked at me. He doesn’t look at me like that anymore. He looks at me like I’m an inconvenience to him, like meeting me was just a big mistake.”

“Or maybe he made a mistake?” Gwen asks and Alison glances up, meeting her eyes.

“What’re you talking about? Maybe the only mistake I’ve ever seen Joseph make was probably in dating me… Unless… Did he tell you something? Something he didn’t tell me?” Alison asks and Gwen shakes her head, deciding that Joseph should tell her.

“Why would he tell me? I’d probably be the last person he’d tell anything to. I mean, who tells personal shit to their boss?” Gwen asks and Alison’s lips part as she goes to speak.

“Alison? You in here?” Melanie calls, poking her head into the room. Her lips curl up into a smile upon seeing Alison and Melanie walks into the room, walking to Alison.

“You coming?” She asks, taking Alison’s hand in hers. Alison turns her head to Melanie and Gwen clears her throat, drawing their attention.

“Have a good night, you two. Congratulations, by the way.” Melanie beams.

“Thanks. Tell Harvey I say hi.” Gwen nods.

“Of course. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Gwen says and moves from the room, brushing past Alison, who frowns at her. Gwen pushes the door open, the cold autumn air swirling around her, making her wish she’d brought a jacket instead of just a sweater. She shivers and makes her way to her car, seeing Joseph leaning against his truck in the faint moonlight. Something glows in his hand and Gwen frowns, walking over to him.

“Is that a cigarette?” Gwen asks and Joseph doesn’t respond, lifting it up to his lips. Gwen plucks it from his fingers and flicks it to the ground, grinding it out under her heel.

“What the hell, Gwen?” Joseph protests and Gwen levels a glare at him, making him fall silent.

“When?” She asks and Joseph glances to the side, rubbing his lips with the back of his hand.

“Joseph, answer me.” Gwen snaps after a couple of minutes of silence. She hears Melanie and Alison behind her and tunes them out, focusing on Joseph. He lets out a breath and lifts his head, his eyes watery.

“They’ve… They help. With… With the pain.” Gwen narrows her eyes.

“After I called off the wedding. I… I needed something and… My dad was an alcoholic and I didn’t want to end up like him.”

“So, obviously cigarettes are the better choice.” Gwen snarks and Joseph glares at her.

“Joseph, there are much better ways of dealing with pain than killing yourself through smoking.”

“Like what? Bottling everything up and only letting it out once in a blue moon?” Joseph snaps and Gwen swallows.

“Why didn’t you tell Alison the reason? She says there wasn’t a reason for you calling off the wedding. Why didn’t you tell her?” Gwen asks and Joseph goes quiet, looking down at his shoes.

“She already sees me as an asshole. I’d rather not ruin that by telling her the reason why I did what I did.”

“Did what?” Joseph stiffens, Alison’s voice right behind Gwen.

“He called off--”

“A party. I called off a party.”

“For who?” Alison asks and Joseph lets out a breath.

“You don’t know him. A friend.” Joseph says and pulls open the driver’s side door of his truck.

“Didn’t know you had friends,” Alison says and Gwen notices Joseph’s hesitance to speak back.

“Have a good night, you guys. Congratulations, Melanie. Alison.” He says and slides into his truck, pulling the door shut. Alison watches his truck pull out of the parking lot and turns to Melanie, taking her hand.

“Shall we?” She asks and Melanie nods, smiling at Alison.

“Have a good night, Gwen. Drive safe.” Melanie says and Gwen nods, watching them walk off to their car.

“You too,” Gwen calls after them, Melanie waving in response.