Xavier tapped his fingers against the steering wheel as the traffic lights flicked from red to green. His mind wasn't really on the road—it drifted lazily to the wedding plans, the guest list, the last-minute calls he'd need to make.
The kind of good busyness that people talk about.
He parked outside a quiet café, the one he and his best friend, Tobi, usually met at when life got too loud.
Tobi was already there, feet up on the empty chair across from him, sipping from a tall glass. He grinned when he saw Xavier approaching. "Well, well, the soon-to-be married man."
Xavier laughed, sliding into the seat opposite him. "You're acting like I'm going to disappear after the wedding."
Tobi raised an eyebrow, playful. "Am I wrong though? You've been ghosting me. I guess love does that to people."
"I've just been busy."
"With Lilian, right?" Tobi leaned forward, lowering his voice like they were sharing some national secret. "So… you're excited?"
Xavier shrugged, but a small smile crept onto his face. "Yeah. I am."
Tobi studied him carefully, the teasing fading just a little. "Not nervous?"
"Not really. Lilian's…" Xavier paused, searching for the right word. "She's good. Supportive. She makes things easy."
"Hmm." Tobi tilted his glass lazily. "Easy is good."
"It is."
There was a silence, but not the uncomfortable kind. The café buzzed around them with the quiet clinks of spoons, soft music playing somewhere in the background.
Tobi broke the silence first. "Do you love her?"
Xavier blinked, caught slightly off-guard by the directness of the question. "Yeah, of course."
Tobi's grin returned. "Good. Because I was ready to throw your whole engagement in the bin if you hesitated."
Xavier laughed, shaking his head. "You're a terrible friend."
"I'm the best friend you've got," Tobi said, raising his glass like a toast. "I just had to check. Sometimes people get caught up in the comfort of things. You know, ticking boxes, doing what's expected."
Xavier leaned back in his chair, watching the lazy swirl of cream in his coffee. "No, it's not like that. I've made the right choice."
"You sound like you're convincing yourself."
"I'm not," Xavier said quickly, almost too quickly.
Tobi didn't push further. "Okay, okay. I'm just messing with you."
Xavier smiled, grateful for the lightness of the moment. "You'll be there, right? I'm counting on you to keep me sane through all the family drama."
"You know I wouldn't miss it for anything," Tobi said, resting his feet back on the floor. "Besides, I have to see if you actually survive this whole thing."
Xavier rolled his eyes but felt something warm settle in his chest. This was good. Life was good.
As they talked about old school memories and ridiculous wedding customs their families were trying to force on them, Xavier's phone buzzed with a message from Lilian.
Lilian:Hope your day's going well. I miss you already 💕.
Xavier smiled without thinking and texted back.
Xavier:Miss you too. I'll call you later.
Tobi peeked at his screen. "Ah, lovebirds."
"Shut up."
"I'm happy for you, man. Really."
Xavier nodded. "Thanks."
For the rest of the afternoon, they lingered at the café, just two friends catching up, no drama, no big emotions. Just life.
And if, later that night, as Xavier laid in bed, his mind briefly flickered to the calm girl at the dress shop who barely spoke but somehow left a quiet impression—he didn't think too hard about it.
It was nothing.
Just a passing thought.
At least, that's what he told himself.