I Couldn’t Decide on One Lyric, So Go Listen to the Song from Friends →
TAGGING → Erik Garner & Emerson Ellington-MacKenzie
LOCATION → ShakeShack; Upper West Side
TIMEFRAME → Thursday, February 5, 2016
NOTES → Eric has important things to discuss with his best friend.
Lunch dates between Emerson and Eric are rare these days. It used to happen once a week at minimum, but then it slowly dissipated. Emerson usually does lunch meeting and when he’s not, he’s spending lunch with his husband. The rare times he does have a free lunch, Emerson’s been barely able to drag Eric away from his newly found relationship.
Of course, Eric doesn’t see this as a problem. He’s too enraptured by his love for Katelyn to really care. Though, it does bother him, that they haven’t hung out very much since, well, since Emerson got married.
It was a pleasant surprise to find them both free when Eric asked Em out for lunch, at Shake Shack of all places. They’d just sat down; Em with his ‘Shroom Burger and Root Beer Float and Eric with his SmokeShack and lemonade, an order of cheese fries between them.
“This reminds me of how we used to hang out after practice,” Eri says taking a bite of his burger.
“Except we’re missing Danny, Jakob and Gray. And it was Wendy’s, but yeah. Okay,” agrees Em, though it’s sarcastic.
Eric rolls his eyes. “We didn’t always go out with them.”
Emerson picks up a fry, twirling the cheese around it. “A lot’s happened since those days. Danny and Jakob have been married for like six years. Bella’s four already. She’s getting so big. I don’t remember the last time I even saw them, I bet she’s even bigger now. Last I heard, Gray was in Germany doing some sciencey stuff.”
Eric grins. “Yeah, I think he’s dating a local. And I spoke to Danny just before Thanksgiving, they were going to his sister’s place, but they’re thinking about adopting another kid. A boy this time.”
“Really? Good for them. I should probably get in touch with them again. You know, now that I’m sober. I kinda miss them. God... I still remember you assholes daring me to ski naked in Aspen. Assbutt.”
“Dicklick.“ He laughs, eating a fry. “You’re married now, Em. Your anniversary is what March?”
“April fifth,” he corrects. “God, I know. I was starting to think it was never going to happen. Cam’s been my saving grace.”
“Never thought I’d ever see you in such a healthy relationship. You have a kid on the way. You’ve come around. I’m proud of you, Em. Pissed because you forgot my birthday because you got married, but mostly proud.”
Emerson grins. “Yeah, I’m not the only one that’s had some major changes. Who would’ve thought you’d go from hiring your roommate to pose naked for you to illustrating a popular children’s series.And you’re dating my baby momma.”
Eric blushes, a brilliant smile lighting up his face as he looks down at his food. “That’s actually why I wanted to do lunch. I wanted to talk to you about something.”
Em’s brows furrow. His head tilting the slightest bit. He makes a motion for Eri to continue when he realizes he wasn’t.
“I want to ask Katelyn to marry me,” Eric says, biting his lip.
Emerson nearly chokes on his float, but grins nonetheless. “Really? So soon?”
“It’s been...almost two months,” he replies defensively. “And you have no room to talk. At least Katie and I have known each other longer than four months. Plus it’s not like we’re going to elope in Vegas. Although if you look at the track record for our group of friends, 60% percent of us got married in Vegas.”
“Shut up. Don’t knock it. I’m just not used to you being proactive in a relationship, I guess.”
Eric shrugs. “I’m tired of waiting for what I want, Em. I waited everyday for five years for the moment that I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Alison. And it never came. But with Katie...there’s never not been a moment where I didn’t know I wanted to spend my life with her. I see my--our future in her smile, hear it in her laugh, feel it in her touch. She’s The One, Em. She’s the only one I want.”
“You really do love her,” Emerson points out. “More than you ever did Ali.”
“I do. With everything I have. She’s my soulmate.”
Em smirks. “You realize you have to tell Cameron, right? He’s gonna make your life hell if you don’t give her the perfect proposal. He’s fiercely protective of her.”
Eric laughs again. Em loves the sound. It’s light than it’s been for years. Something he hasn’t heard since they played for NYU. “Yeah, I know. I wanted to talk to my best friend first. Get a feel for how he felt.”
“I approve, Eri. You’re a lot happier than you’ve been in a while. Katelyn’s a lucky woman.”
A lot’s happened in the last six years. Both boys have gone through a lot. They’re nearly thirty, Eric will be come April. Both have had terrible relationships and times where the only person they could rely on was the other.
But now things are looking up.
They’re starting new chapters in their lives. Em’s on motherhood. And Eric, hopefully, on marriage.
They couldn’t be more proud of the other. Of themselves.