“Again?”It had happened a couple of times over the last month.“Maybe you should see a doctor.Make sure it’s nothing serious.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes darting to the floor.“It’s nothing.”
I leaned in my chair and crossed my arms.“You know your body better than me,” I said, though that was a lie.I knew every single curve, every dimple, freckle, and scar.I knew if she ate too much garlic, she’d get nauseous.If she didn’t drink water all morning, she’d be shaky by noon.“What did you want to talk about?”
“Chris and Cynthia’s bachelor and bachelorette parties and Jaylen and Gwen’s wedding.”
“What about them?”
“We both already RSVPed.”
“I’m aware.”
“As a couple.”
Oh.I hadn’t thought about that.We had the same friend group.All from college, and every single one of them seemed to be getting married, having babies, and forcing us to endure event after event.
“Do you not want to go?”
“No, I do.I just…”
Her big eyes met mine and lingered.Her lips parted, but she didn’t say anything.She didn’t have to.
“You don’t want to tell them about—” I couldn’t bring myself to say it.The omission hung between us; silence spread like an uncomfortable humidity.
“I don’t want to take the attention away from their big day.”
“Us breaking up would be big news.”
“The biggest,” she said, but her words were barely audible.
I blew out a long breath, rubbing the back of my neck.“So what are you saying?You want to go… together?”
Her gaze flicked to the window, then back to me.“As friends,” she clarified quickly, though even she didn’t sound convinced.“Just to keep things simple.Everyone will be expecting us there, and it’s too late to change the seating chart or the room arrangements.”
I nodded, trying to ignore the tightening in my chest.“Right.Keep up appearances.Sure.”
“Wy—”
“It’s fine,” I cut in before she could finish, because if I let her keep talking, I might actually fall apart in front of her, and I wouldn’t do that.“We can fake it for a weekend.We’ve done harder things.”
Her lips parted as if she wanted to argue, but she just nodded.“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me,” I muttered, forcing a laugh that sounded more like a sigh.“I’m just trying not to make things worse.”
Another small, awkward silence spread across the office.She picked at the hem of her sleeve, and my eye caught the tremble of her fingers.Rose never sat still; she fidgeted, adjusted, but this… this was different.She was fighting something.
“Hey,” I said gently.“You sure you’re okay?You look pale.”
“I told you, I’m fine.”She stood too fast, steadying herself against the desk for a second.I started to get up, but she straightened and plastered on a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.“I should probably get to the shoot.Don’t want to hold things up.”
I nodded even though everything inside me screamed that something wasn’t right.“I’ll be there soon.”
She hesitated in the doorway, one hand gripping the frame.“Thank you, Wyatt.For this.I know it’s weird, but—”
“Rose,” I whispered, cutting her off again.“You don’t have to explain.I get it.”
She gave a faint dip of her chin, then slipped out of the room, her vanilla and coconut scent haunting the air like a ghost after she was gone.
