“Best friends,” replies Anaya with a loving grin. “We’ve known each other since middle school.”
“Lovely.”
“All righttyyyy,” Rosalie sings, rounding the corner while tapping on her phone. “I found a perfect café just across the street withrealscrumptious food. Let’s roll!”
Iris clears her throat, drawing Rosalie’s attention.
Rosalie’s head pops up, locking her gaze with mine and immediately growing dark.
I suppress a frightful shiver.
The head-to-toe black outfit of hers, combined with flaming red hair and maroon lips, adds to her intimidating aura. She possesses no other color in her wardrobe, which Bianca always used to tease her about.
It takes all my inner power not to cower as she approaches us.
“Hi, Rosalie,” I say, mentally patting myself on the back for not stuttering.
“Arya,” she says coldly.
Iris pinches her arm, earning a scowl from Rosalie. A secret message passes between them before Rosalie focuses on me, and boredly says, “How have you been? Finally married?”
“Ro!” admonishes Iris.
But Rosalie is all fired up and taunts, “When are you gonna grow a pair and come hash it out with your sister? I didn’t know you had a heart of stone.”
The tears return with a vengeance.
Anaya steps forward, scathingly replying, “Oh, like Bianca has a heart of gold? Did she bother to let Arya explain herself?”
“Why?” scoffs Rosalie. “Does your best friend live in the dark ages and doesn’t know how a phone works? And yes, Bee does have a heart of gold, diamonds, rubies… EVERYTHING!”
Iris and I look at each other in panic just as our best friends go toe to toe. We both step between them at the same time and tug them away.
“Anaya, let it go.”
Rosalie glares at me, angrily accusing, “You didn’t even invite her to your wedding, Arya. Do you realize how much that hurt her? She was devastated for weeks before eventually giving up hope that you’d call. I get your parents probably had a hand in it, but you could’ve at least texted that you were engaged. She found out online. After everything she did for you, that’s how you treat her? Shame on you!”
“Bianca cut her out of her life,” hurls Anaya. “Don’t go jumping to conclusions when you don’t know what it’s been like for Arya.”
Rosalie makes a derisive noise.
“I am ashamed of my selfish actions, Rosalie,” I say. “I’m sorry for everything. I’ve wanted to reach out to Bianca, but I wasn’t sure she wanted me in her life.”
“Oh, sweetheart, she does,” Iris shares.
My muscles freeze. “S-she does?”
“Of course.” Crossing over to me, she takes my hand between hers. “She doesn’t blame you or think you’re selfish. Bianca misses you so much.”
“Really?” I whisper past the emotions clogging my throat. “She’s not angry with me?”
“No. She’d love to have you be a part of her life.”
My chest expands with a sudden gust of hope. Have I been scared for no reason? I peek at Rosalie for confirmation through blurry eyes. Despite being mad, she reluctantly gives me a curt nod.
“I… I want that too.”
“Then come see her someday.”
