Xavier
What did he do this time?
Avery
To start with, he stayed out all night.
Avery
I called every single friend of his that I have in my phone.
Avery
I tried the hospitals. Even the jail.
Avery
Nothing. I couldn’t find him anywhere.
Xavier
Where the hell was he?
Avery
At noon, he drags himself back to our apartment with a hickey on his neck!
Xavier
That piece of scum. Did he tell you what happened?
Avery
Yes, I finally got it out of him.
Avery
Turns out he slept with Lydia the shot girl!
Avery
Yes, the one who wears lingerie to work and pours liquor down people’s throats!
Xavier
Oh man. Clearly being a brand representative for a tequila company isn’t working out for him.
Xavier
You don’t deserve to be treated like this, Avery.
Avery
I mean, we’re supposed to be getting married in FIVE FUCKING WEEKS and he pulls this crap?
Avery
He had the balls to try and blame it on her.
Avery
Can you believe that?
Avery
Like it was all her fault that he slept with her.
Avery
And he said it wasn’t as big of a deal because he used a condom.
Avery
I feel sick to my stomach.
Xavier
Are you at work right now?
Avery
No, I called in sick.
Avery
I’m sitting in our apartment…
Avery
Looking at our engagement pictures and wondering what the hell I was thinking when I agreed to marry him.
Avery
He had to go to work…
Avery
He said we could talk when he gets home.
Avery
I begged him not to take that job…
Avery
I knew it would lead to trouble.
Xavier
Avery, come over here right now.
Avery
I don’t want to throw all of this on you.
Xavier
Avery Winters, you’re my best friend.
Xavier
And you shouldn’t be alone right now.
Xavier
What you need right now is a shoulder to cry on. Mine.
Avery
What did I do to deserve you as my best friend?
Xavier
I’m the one who’s lucky to have you in my life.
Avery
I just called a Lyft. I should be there in about twenty minutes.
Once she’s in the Lyft, Avery texts Xavier again.
Avery
I have to tell you something else.
Avery
It’s so embarrassing.
Avery
This isn’t the first time…
Avery
It isn’t the first time he’s cheated on me.
Avery
He did it one other time.
Xavier
Are you kidding me?
Avery
It happened before we got engaged.
Avery
He promised it would never happen again.
Avery
He said it was a pointless one-night stand.
Xavier
I’ve never liked that cocky son of a bitch.
Xavier
Now I just plain hate him.
Xavier
Are you calling off the wedding?
Xavier
You don’t want to marry someone who’s cheated on you twice!
Avery
I know it’s hard to understand, but I do love him.
Avery
We’ve known each other our entire lives, and we’ve been together for five years.
Avery
He can be really sweet…
Avery
He sends me flowers sometimes, with little handwritten notes.
Avery
He cooks me dinner once in a while.
Avery
Plus he likes camping as much as I do.
Xavier
Lots of people like camping.
Xavier
You deserve better.
Avery
But my parents have spent over 100k on the wedding.
Avery
If I call it off, they won’t get that back.
Xavier
They’ll understand, Avery.
Avery
Seriously, they’d never forgive me if I broke things off with Hunter.
Xavier
You’re upset and I shouldn’t be trying to tell you what to do.
Xavier
When you get here I’ll shut up and listen.
Avery
I can always count on you.
The Lyft driver drops Avery off.
Xavier opens the front door to his apartment and gives her a big hug.
Xavier
I’m so sorry he did this to you.
Avery wipes a tear from the corner of her eye.
Avery follows Xavier into his apartment.
Xavier
Ice cream or wine? Or both?
Xavier
I have some chocolate ice cream in the freezer.
Xavier
And I also happen to have a bottle of your favorite Merlot.
Avery
Oh, um, how about wine first? And ice cream later.
She hops up on to his counter and watches as he pours wine for both of them.
Xavier
How are you holding up?
Avery
I’m completely heartbroken.
Avery
I feel betrayed, angry, and above all, I’m at a total loss.
Avery
Why would he do this to me?
Xavier
I should know, I am one.
Xavier
He’s in a league of his own.
Avery takes a long sip of her wine.
Xavier
Avery, you know that I’m a big believer in the whole, “Things happen for a reason,” thought process, right?
Avery
Where are you going with this, Xavier?
Xavier
Maybe this is your warning?
Xavier
A big heads up before the wedding?
Xavier
This isn’t the first time he’s hurt you.
Xavier
He’s stayed out all night and done a lot of stupid shit to upset you.
Xavier
Listen, Avery, I know I said I’d just listen, but I have to say it one more time.
Xavier
If I don’t, I’ll never forgive myself.
Xavier
Maybe this is a sign to break things off before the wedding?
Avery
Xav, it’s complicated…
Xavier
Love shouldn’t be complicated.
Xavier
It should be straightforward and honest.
Avery takes another sip of her wine.
Xavier steps forward and tucks a fallen lock of hair behind Avery’s ear.
Xavier
You deserve better, Avery.
Then he does something he’s been wanting to do for the last five years.
He kisses Avery on the lips.
They don’t stop kissing for a very long time.
Xavier
You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.
Xavier starts unbuttoning the buttons on Avery’s blouse.
Xavier
You’re so beautiful.
Xavier
Come to the bedroom with me?
He kisses her lips, her neck, her chest.
She can’t help but respond.
Xavier
You don’t owe him anything.
He runs his hands through her hair and nibbles on her earlobe.
He wraps his arms around her waist and helps her off the counter.
Reaching for his outstretched hand, she follows him into the bedroom.
