“Naw, I’m good. I’d rather stay over here and try to blend into the wallpaper.”
“Liam Knight. Cocky, full of himself, but doesn’t like people. Runs a fashion business, but would do anything if it meant not having to talk to anyone.”
“Exactly. Now go have fun. Don’t tell anyone you saw me.”
I laughed as I made my way through the crowd, searching for Blake and Jamie. I nearly cried when I found her talking to Mr. Taylor, Jamie’s Mom’s next-door neighbor and her boss. I honestly didn’t realize how much I’d missed my best friend.
I approached as Mr. Taylor congratulated her on a promotion before walking away. When she turned to see me, I had to bite my lip to keep the tears from falling from my eyes.
We threw our arms around each other. Happiness filled every part of me.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I had to come home to support my friends. Congratulations, by the way. Apparently, for both an engagement and promotion.”
She giggled as she waved her left hand, now adorned with a beautiful diamond ring. “Thank you.”
I couldn’t stop myself from looking over my shoulder. I still felt like someone’s eyes were watching me. It was unnerving.
“Where is Elijah?” Blake asked. “Is he here?”
I looked back at her, frowning. “No. We had a fight. It’s just me.”
“Is that why you keep looking around like he might pop out of the shadows like the boogie man?”
“I can’t help it. Elijah has a way of surprising me, and it’s not always in a good way.”
She reached out and touched my arm. “Did something happen?”
My shoulders sagged under the weight of my emotions. Should I tell her? Be open with my best friend? “No. Yes. I don’t know. I’m just tired of everything. It’s like he’s not who he used to be.”
“It’s not uncommon to change during a relationship, and you two have been together since your freshman year in college. I can’t imagine it’s not something you can’t work through. though.”
I bit the corner of my lip again, unable to answer her.
Do I explain to her how, instead of thinking about Elijah, I was thinking about someone else? That another person was finally seeing me for who I was, while Elijah continued to push me into a cage of his own making?
It only took a moment before Blake’s gaze turned serious. “Tell me.”
“What?”
“Cadence Copeland! What happened?”
I bit my lip before answering. “I met someone.”
Blake blinked a few times before taking a step closer to me. “I’m sorry. I think I misheard you. Can you repeat that?”
I took a deep breath. “I met someone, Blake. Someone who makes me see things I didn’t before.”
She leaned in close to me and whisper-shouted, “Did you cheat on Elijah?”
“God no! Geez. It’s not like that. We’re… friends. It’s just…” I couldn’t put words together to describe what we were.Friends seemed like such a simple word, and we were beyond that.
“Well, damn.”
“What?”
“It’s rare you’re rendered speechless. This must be a big deal. You like him. Let’s get a drink and talk. I want to hear every detail.”
