16- Desperately Searching for a Date

Nicky put off asking anyone to attend Wade’s wedding with her because she knew she could always find a date at the last minute. But now, the stakes were higher. Nicky couldn’t bring just any stranger or guy to Tara’s wedding. He had to be weighted high on the bachelor scale. This man had to be a trophy date, and Nicky knew exactly what she wanted. He had to be handsome, tall, funny, sharp, tan, quick on his feet, and successful. He had to come from an established family with deep roots to the Northeast. He had to be on the same level professionally as Nicky, and he must live in the City, meaning Manhattan. Nicky would prefer an Ivy League education, like her background, but she would settle for a guy with an MBA from an established state school.

Nicky was in her office at work, skimming through a spreadsheet that had details of the men she had dated. Most of the profiles on the spreadsheet were assigned a number, which she joked to friends, was their overall ranking. Nicky was up to the M’s on her list when Alex Garcia poked his head in the door as he walked by.

“Nick, just making sure we’re still on for next Saturday,” he said.

Nicky didn’t answer. Alex could tell she didn’t remember, so he swirled around all in one move, and stopped at her office door. He crossed his arms and leaned on the door.

“You do remember that you and I are going to a Wedding next Saturday,” Alex said.

“Of course I remember.” Nicky clicked on her computer calendar to make sure Alex’s wedding was on it. “This Saturday, right? I’m your date.”

“No, next Saturday. The 16th,” Alex said.

“That’s the following Saturday,” Nicky said.

She forwarded the seven-day schedule a week. There was already a wedding entry for that night. Nicky had never entered Alex’s wedding on her calendar.

“I’m so sorry, I have a commitment already,” Nicky said.

Alex rolled his eyes and walked away without saying a word. Nicky got up to follow him. She approached him at the copy machine. In heels, Nicky was slightly taller than Alex.

“I’m sorry Alex. Where is your wedding?” Nicky asked.

She put her hand on his at the copy machine, but he pulled it away. Alex continued making copies, without looking at her.

“It’s in Tarrytown,” he said.

Nicky pulled her hand up to her heart, and let out a screech.

“Tarrytown, Westchester? I have friends getting married that day at Castle on the Hudson.”

She stared at Alex, waiting for a response, but he didn’t react.

“My friends are getting married at Castle on the Rock,” he said.

Alex walked back to his cubicle, but forgot his original papers inside the copier. Nicky grabbed the documents from the copier and followed Alex to his cubicle. She handed him the originals.

“You mean Castle on the Hudson. Alex, you and I are going to the same wedding.”

Nicky brought her hands up to her mouth, trying to contain the excitement.

“How do you know? I haven’t even told you the names of my friends.”

“There’s only one Castle in Tarrytown,” Nicky said. “You know, Empire State Building, Grand Canyon, the White House, Castle on the Hudson.”

Alex was sitting down, sorting the copies on his desk. Nicky leaned over his cubicle wall, while she talked. Her left leg lifted up in the air.

“Of course it’s the same wedding,” Nicky said. “Don’t you know your wedding locations? Castle on the Hudson has only one wedding a night because it knows the importance of this day for a bride. It’s the most intimate wedding location along the entire East Coast. Bridal Magazine ranked it the most romantic spot to get married in the United States.”

Nicky walked into Alex’s cubicle and clicked on his internet. She brushed aside the copies he was sorting with the mouse.

“Look at its website,” she said as she typed in the web address on his computer.

She read the home page to Alex: “It’s the highest point in Westchester County, and the castle overlooks the Hudson. You can see the river for miles.”

“And to think I just thought it was a castle,” he said.

“It is a medieval castle, Alex,” Nicky said, still clicking on the scenic pictures. “I can’t believe we know the same people. Do you know Tara or Wade?”

“I know them both,” Alex said. “Wade and I went to the same prep school. I met Tara shortly after they met. Tara is one of the sweetest, most considerate women I know. They deserve each other.”

Nicky pushed the mouse away as she heard Alex compliment Tara. She walked outside of Alex’s cubicle, giving her space between her and Alex.

Hearing Tara’s name come out of Alex’s mouth made Nicky want to shriek, like she had licked a lemon, or scraped her fingernails on the chalkboard.

Did she actually hear him say that Tara was the sweetest woman he knew? How could he say that? I’m supposed to be the sweetest woman he knows, Nicky thought. I can’t believe how inconsiderate that statement was. Who does he think he is? He’s known me for almost ten years. Why would he put another woman in front of me?

For the first time since high school, Nicky found herself jealous of another woman. She wouldn’t care so much what others thought of Tara, but Alex? In her mind, Alex belonged to her, and Nicky wasn’t ready to share him with anyone. But Nicky didn’t express the thoughts that were ravaging inside her head.

“See, it all works out. We’ve both got a date to the wedding,” Nicky said. “What are you going to wear? Have you picked out a suit yet?”

Alex had a better fashion sense than most men, but better fashion sense wouldn’t work for this wedding. He had to have the best fashion sense in Nicky’s mind.

“I don’t know. I’ll figure it out that day,” Alex said.

“No, no, no you don’t. You can’t do that,” Nicky said. “This isn’t something you just wing. This is a big wedding. Let’s go shopping tonight.”

“Seriously?” he asked.

“Of course, you are my knight in shining armor, and I want to make sure you enter that castle like royalty.” Nicky said.

She emphasized the words, “my knight” when she referred to Alex.