Chapter 5: The Best Advice

"Finally, we get a fun evening together," said Kelly as Anna walked into Kelly and John's small and tastefully decorated home.

Anna and Kelly had been inseparable friends since childhood, going to the same school together and both now teaching at that same school, but for the past few years, Anna's complicated relationship had given Anna and Kelly less leisure time together.

Anna's marriage to Alan Shangle had been a difficult time for their friendship as Alan made more and more demands on Anna's time. Kelly always suspected that Alan did that just to keep Anna isolated, away from the positive influence of Kelly's friendship. After the divorce, Anna and Kelly spent more time together, but as Kelly's relationship bloomed with John, Anna always wanted to be sure to leave space for that relationship to develop. She knew John and Kelly were the perfect match.

"I'm so happy," said Anna as she sat down in her friend's living room, "and I have so much to talk over with you."

"Oh, that sounds like a handsome-new-man-is-in-town-and-I-want-him sort of talk, and I can't wait!" Kelly brushed her long, straight blonde hair away from her face. "But first, we need some girl's night snack food. I can't talk about men on an empty stomach."

Anna laughed. "I agree. Let's get a few snacks first. I require salt and sugar immediately."

Both friends laughed together as they headed toward the kitchen. Anna started rummaging through Kelly's cupboards as if they were her own as Kelly pulled out some dishes. Eventually, they had bowls of pretzels, potato chips, and candy-coated chocolates arranged in bowls on Kelly's kitchen table, where they both sat down.

"Well, not exactly health food, but who cares? It's our night to have fun," said Kelly.

"Remember that dinner party we planned when you first moved here? This reminds me of that. The menu sounded like heaven for a kids' sleepover." Both friends giggled at the memory. A few years ago, they'd hosted their first adults-only party. They had both planned it for months but realized only a couple days before the event that the menu of pizza, hot dogs, chips, and cookies sounded like something kids would make raiding the fridge when their parents weren't home. Anna and Kelly laughed as they reminisced about the party and some of the other good times they'd spent together.

"Okay, stop stalling," Kelly said. "Let's get to the dirt on you and Mister Gorgeous."

"I'm not stalling, I was getting there," laughed Anna.

"M'hmm, sure," Kelly said with a smile.

"Anyway, there's no dirt. Zero dirt. But he asked me out."

"Oh, my goodness! Well, that would be dirt, my friend," laughed Kelly. "What did he say? How did he say it? Tell me before I die of curiosity!"

"He didn't say anything. He sent flowers with a card."

"Flowers, oh, my god that's so romantic." Kelly smiled broadly, happy for her friend.

"Red roses."

"Wow, big spender. Even better." They both laughed.

"He gave me his number," Anna added.

"So, what did he say when you called him?"

"Nothing, I haven't called."

Kelly almost dropped the pretzel she had just grabbed from the bowl. "What? Why not?"

"I don't know if I'm ready," answered Anna.

"Ready. Ready? Oh, my greatest friend of all friends, how is it that you're not ready to date a gorgeous man who sends red roses? Did I mention that he's gorgeous?" Kelly plopped the pretzel into her mouth.

"Well, gorgeous isn't the only thing in the world."

"Yes, yes. He's also a big spender," Kelly teased.

Anna laughed. "And money isn't all there is in life, either. I just don't want to go jumping into something like a crazed schoolgirl just because a handsome, muscular man asks me out."

"Oh, those muscles," said Kelly, turning her blue eyes up and plopping her chin on her hand. "I mean, I love John and he looks great, but oh, the muscles on your guy. D*mn that man is built."

"Well yeah, of course I did notice that, but still," said Anna, shaking herself before she started on another daydream about Ethan's good looks, "I need to know I'm not going to get hurt."

"My dear Anna, you know I love you," said Kelly, her demeanor turning serious "I'm your best friend in the world, and I don't ever want to see you hurt. But if you don't take a risk and take a chance, you'll hurt in the end because you missed out on something in your life. I want the best for you, so I want you to take this chance. You need to call this man right away."

"You're right. I'm just scared."

"You've been daydreaming about him, haven't you?" asked Kelly.

"Ugh, you have to stop reading my mind. You know that's scary, right?" Anna said, forcing a smile so her friend wouldn't worry.

"Too bad, we're forever joined in the mind. Once you're daydreaming, I know you're serious about a guy. And I know you've also been sitting in your house stewing about all that wasted time with Alan, too." Kelly said.

"I wouldn't trade our friendship for anything. You're right. I've been thinking about Alan, and I don't want a repeat of that disaster."

"Neither do I. But I've seen this new man around town, and he seems so nice with everyone. I just have this feeling that he's different, that he's right for you. I really want you to give him a chance," Kelly said, then paused. "I don't even know his name. What's his name?"

"Ethan Greenfield."

"Ethan Greenfield," Kelly repeated in a dreamy voice. "Well, this Ethan Greenfield is about to get a phone call. Do you have his number on you?"

"Yes, I put it in my phone. I just haven't had the guts to call him yet," answered Anna.

"Well, you'll get no more snacks from me," Kelly said, pulling back the chocolate dish, "until you get on that phone and call that beautiful man." Kelly smiled, knowing that her friend just needed a little push to do something she was nervous about.

"Stop that. Okay, fine, you win," Anna laughed. She paused for a few minutes to think of what she would say to Ethan. Then she took her cellphone out of her purse, found her new contact, and clicked on it, closing her eyes as the phone rang on the other end.