She swallowed hard, the sharp edge of her anger from the night before dulled by the memory of his grief.Yesterday must have been unbearable for him, and as much as she resented his silence, she couldn’t ignore the weight he carried.This is what marriage is,she thought, her chest tightening.It’s staying, even when it’s hard.
With a heavy heart, Ashley scooted closer, her hand reaching out to comfort him.She imagined his broad chest, the hard planes of his abdomen, the familiar strength of him beneath her touch.But instead, her hand curled around something small and soft–a narrow waist and… was that a breast?
A sharp gasp startled her fully awake.
“Ash!Get your paws off me!”a female voice shrieked.“I know you’re upset about Charlie, but there are limits to what your BFF can do for you!”
Ashley scrambled back, her heart pounding.“Sarah?!”she choked out, her voice incredulous.
Sarah sat up, her messy strawberry-blonde hair falling around her freckled face, her deep green eyes glaring with mock offense.“Yes, Sarah.Who else would it be?”She threw up her hands.Ashley blinked, her confusion deepening.“I thought you went home!And why are you suddenly remembering Charlie?”
“Uh, because you spent half the night crying about him?”Sarah huffed, smoothing down her oversized sleep shirt.“You made me drive us all the way here from Yale, and we ate cookies until we couldn’t move.Ring any bells?”
Ashley stared at her, her brain scrambling to catch up.This wasn’t right.Sarah wasn’t supposed to be here.And this Sarah… this Sarah was missing a few wrinkles.Her face was smoother, her freckles brighter, and she looked… young.
“Sarah,” Ashley began carefully, her voice shaky.“What exactly happened yesterday?”
Sarah tilted her head, her green eyes narrowing.“Charlie dumped you over the phone like the absolute jerk he is.And honestly?You should’ve seen it coming from a mile away.”She paused, her freckled nose wrinkling.“Are we in the denial phase now?Because if not, I’m officially concerned.”
Ashley’s chest tightened as dread settled in her stomach.She glanced at the phone on the nightstand.It wasn’t her phone.Her heart raced as she grabbed it, the familiar weight and outdated design sending a chill through her.
“Come on, we’re going to be late,” Sarah said, hopping out of bed and pulling on a pair of sweatpants.
“Late for what?”Ashley asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sarah shot her a bewildered look.“School.Earth to Ash, what is going on with you?We’re almost done with the semester.”
“School?”Ashley echoed, her voice rising.
“Yes, school.”Sarah rolled her eyes.“You’ve been acting weird all morning.Did you cry so hard you erased your memory?”
Ashley didn’t respond.Her hands were shaking as she clutched the phone.It wasn’t just the phone.The walls around her were painted a different color, the books on the shelf were textbooks she hadn’t touched in years, and when she stumbled to the mirror, the reflection staring back at her was painfully unfamiliar.
She was thinner.She was at least ten pounds lighter than yesterday, her hair darker and shorter, and her face missing the subtle lines that had come with time.She turned to the side, her breath catching.
Her stomach was flat.
“Where’s the baby?”she whispered, her voice trembling.
“What baby?”Sarah asked, her tone sharp.She gasped.“Were you dumb enough to let Charlie get you pregnant?Are you insane?!”
Ashley spun around; her eyes wide.“What are you talking about?”
“What areyoutalking about?”Sarah countered.
Ashley ran her hands over her stomach, panic bubbling in her chest.“Where’s my baby?Where’s Cole?”
“Cole?”Sarah repeated, staring at her like she’d grown a second head.“Cole, who?”
“Cole Westwood!”Ashley snapped, tears pricking her eyes.“Who do you think who?”
“Wait.”Sarah’s expression shifted into something both horrified and amused.“That jerk?What does this have to do with him?Did you guys hook up or something?”
“What?”Ashley felt like the ground was slipping out from under her.
Sarah crossed her arms.“You’re spiraling.It’s the breakup, isn’t it?Sit down before you faint.”
Ashley shook her head, trying to steady herself.“Sarah, I need you to be very, very specific.Tell me exactly what happened yesterday.”
