Maggie
I’m sorry I kept you in the dark about Rowan. I was just honoring the agreement.
I feel like a shit friend. These girls have been nothing but supportive. Why couldn’t I open up to them? Maybe because deep down I knew this thing between Rowan and I would end. I’ve never deserved him.
Blair
We understand. But you need to fill the details in when you’re ready.
Isla
Especially once you two hash things out.
I somehow magically think a solution will come up and fix everything, but by the time I’m dragging my suitcase to my sister’s tenth-floor apartment, I still got nothing.
Andreea opens the door and immediately pulls me into a hug. Her pregnant belly is so much more pronounced than it was a couple of months ago. “Andi, you look so cute,” I say, tearing up.
“Aw, thank you,” she says, tucking my hair back behind my ears. The gesture reminds me of Rowan and I can’t stop the floodgates. “Oh, honey,” she says. “At least come inside and cry on the couch.”
I fall face down on her plush decorative pillows and she pats my back. “I’ll get you some water,” Andreea says.
“Where’s Max?” I mumble, not wanting more people to see me like this.
Andreea hesitates, taking a deep breath. I sit up and watch her over the back of the couch. She adds some crushed ice and a slice of lemon to my water and walks back towards me. “You’re not going to be happy with my answer,” she says, handing me the glass. I take it and gulp down half the contents in one go.
“What did he do? Do we need to murder him?”
“No, Max is not the issue. He’s out hanging out with Dad right now,” she says, coming around and sitting at my feet. Her expression is apologetic while mine is confused.
“Max and Dad are hanging out? Why?” I ask, not able to grasp what she’s saying.
She shrugs, placing a hand on her belly. “Something about wanting to reconnect for the sake of our family. He’s actually putting in the effort. He even got a small condo nearby and has been staying in the city,” she says, watching me wearily.
My eyes are wide and might actually bug out of my head. “Dad is actually trying? He’s being nice to Max?” I ask, dumbfounded.
She nods sheepishly. “I know you two still don’t talk, but I don’t know, something has changed recently. He even comes to dinner once a week.”
I blow out a breath. Where was this version of my dad when I needed him? When mom was packing up and leaving us behind with him. He did everything he could to throw himself into work and barely paid any attention to his daughters.
I don’t say anything to my sister. She already knows all of this and has clearly chosen to forgive him. Or at least to allow him to make amends.
“Well,” I say, swallowing hard. “That’s really great, Andi. I’m glad you’re happy.” I reach out and squeeze her hand.
She curls her fingers around mind and smiles. “Do you want to talk about the tabloids?”
“It’s so much more than the stupid tabloids,” I groan, resting against the couch and tilting my head up to the ceiling.
“What did Rowan say about all this? I’m surprised you didn’t bring him,” she says, frowning.
“Well,” I say, shifting uncomfortably, “you already know about my agreement with Rowan, so I might as well tell you the rest.”
I fill her in on the last few years, how things have shifted between me and Rowan and how I’ve been in love with him for the longest time. I even tell her about Italy and that perfect week we spent together in our delusional love bubble. I tell her about the Bahamas and how I considered ending things then. How scared I was of people finding out.
“In the end, it didn’t matter, I guess. All the hiding, for what? Now the whole world knows and I don’t know how to deal with it,” I say, shaking my head, disappointed in myself.
“So, let me get this straight,” Andreea says, looking at me like I’ve grown two heads. “You broke up with himaftereveryone found out? The cat’s out of the bag now, so, why not actually be together?” she asks, confused.
“You don’t get it,” I say, standing up and pacing. “This is like Mom and Dad all over again. The media would be in a frenzy, constantly watching us, waiting for one of us to slip up. Rowan could be visiting his mom and they’d say he’s having an affair in another state or some bullshit,” I say, chest heaving.
