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“Uh… Well… there’s no easy way to say this, Tabby”

“Say what?” I ask, thoroughly confused now

“I’ Robbie”

“Robbie?” I ask, still not understanding

“Robbie Stedman,” she says, her voice quiet

Her voice is too quiet to be delivering the blow she just gave me

Robbie Stedman

I hadn’t allowed h school sweetheart He was the football quarterback toto raced the halls of Perryville High He was my first real kiss, my first real date and my first… yeah that first

Unfortunately, he was also my first real heartbreak When I told him I wanted to move away froo to school… he du our options, there was no talking about continuing our relationship

He ended it

He told me that he wanted the best for me, but that he wanted to see what else was out there for hiuess I never realized what else was out there would be er sister

“Are you there, Tab?”

“Yeah, I’m here”

“Don’t be mad, Tab We didn’t mean for it to happen It just… kind of did”

“I’m not mad,” I tell her, and I’m not I’m not sure how I feel I don’t care for Robbie He killed that years ago, but… I’m the older sister

Shouldn’t I be getting married first?

Shouldn’t I already have a husband and kid?

I never thought about it I’ve been busy establishingabout it I mean, I don’t care I’m happy with my life—or relatively so Still, I kno eneral is, and I knoat h school They won’t see a single, independent career woman who is happy They’ll see Hilary’s older sister, practically a spinster at the ripe old age of twenty-six, showing up at her sister’s wedding single and alone