“If you’re going to continue arguing out there, I’m going to shut the door.You’re letting the bugs in.”I started to ease the door closed, and Chardonnay smacked the wood, pushing it open.
“We’re done.”She stepped inside dressed in a tailored to perfection pair of black dress pants with a thin belt and a neatly tucked-in short-sleeve white button-up.
Sherry was just as well put together but opted for a cute short-sleeve navy blue dress with a collar and gold buttons.I love raiding their closets, but pretty soon none of their clothes will fit me.
I resisted the urge to press my hand to my stomach and wandered into the kitchen, knowing they would follow.
“I’m guessing you’re here because word has officially spread?”I asked.Char knew, she told me as much, but when the truth was finally free to fly, it was a whole new ball game.
Sherry handed me a coffee cup, and I knew without even tasting it, it was my favorite.Which meant it wasn’t decaf.I read conflicting things about consuming coffee when pregnant, and I didn’t know what to believe.I took the cup, but didn’t take a sip, and smiled.“Thanks.”
“Wyatt called Ben not that long ago,” Sherry said.
“Oh.”
“He asked if he could stay at his place for an undetermined amount of time.”
I traced the rim of the cup with my thumb, watching the steam curling upward from the dark liquid.
“Are you guys really broken up?”Sherry asked, and my attention swung tentatively to Char, who gave me a knowing smile and nodded her encouragement.She knew.I had a feeling Sherry knew too, but she wanted to hear me say it.
“We are.”My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat in a sad attempt to cover it up.I wasn’t fooling anyone, especially not the two girls who knew me best.
“What the hell happened?”Sherry pulled out a chair and plopped into it.Even she couldn’t hold herself up at the news.
I slid into the chair across from her, placing my coffee in front of me, wishing I could guzzle it down.“I realized I want to get married, and he doesn’t.”
The chair squeaked across the floor as Chardonnay pulled it out and sat.She took my hand and squeezed.
“He could change his mind,” Sherry said.“You both could.Heck, you did.You never wanted to get married, and now here you are.Maybe he will, too.”
“He won’t,” I said.“He all but told me he hoped the next guy would give me everything I wanted.”
“No fucking way,” Sherry said.“Wyatt would never.He loves you too damn much.”
“Which is exactly why hewouldsay that,” Char said.“He’s only ever wanted you to be happy.He’d do anything to make it happen, even if that means giving you up.”
“I know.”
“No!”Sherry exclaimed.“This is ridiculous.”
“Sher,” Char warned, but Sherry ignored her.
“I have never met two people more compatible with each other than you two.You don’t just love each other.Youloveeach other.The kind of love people search for their entire lives.Before Ben, I was jealous of what you two had.I wanted it for myself so badly.”
“And now you have it, and I’m so happy for you.”I smiled, but Sherry rolled her eyes.
“Give me a break.”
“Sher!”Char’s voice cut through the kitchen with force.
“Shut up, Char.You’re thinking it too, but for some reason you’re playing the nice sister.”
“I’m not here to tell Rose how to feel.Frankly, it’s none of our damn business,” Chardonnay said to Sherry.“She has to figure it out on her own, just like I had to figure out my shit with Brady, and you had to figure out your stuff with Ben.”She leaned back in her chair and took a sip of coffee.“We’re here to listen.Not lecture.”
Sherry huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.“Fine.I’ll shut up.But if this ends with both of them heartbroken and single for the next fifty years, an ‘I told you so’is coming.”
I let out a breathy exhale that was less humor and more relief.“Duly noted.”
