I hate the panic in her voice.
Juliette’s always seen Dillon and me as a power couple. And she would’ve been right, two years ago. The look in her eyes tells me she’s bracing for devastation, and I just can’t fake it anymore. I’m not devastated. I’m…scared? Maybe. Relieved? Yeah, that one’s way closer to the truth.
I take a deep breath, trying to keep the mood light. Because,honestly, if I don’t, I might just crack. And if I start crying, I’ll never stop. “We just…grew apart. Ten years is a long time, and people change, you know? We were kids when we started dating. I think we just realized we’re not the same people we were back then.”
It’s the cleanest explanation I’ve got but even saying it out loud doesn’t make it any less heavy. And it’s believable, right?
Judging by the look on Juliette’s face? Nope. Not really. She’s not buying it.
“I won’t push you because I know that doesn’t do any good,” she says, her eyes holding a quiet understanding I’m not sure I deserve. “Whenever you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here. Always.”
I nod, grateful for the offer, but the burden is already sinking deeper. How do you tell someone, your best friend, that you can’t fully trust the person they’ve been rooting for all along? The guy who, just days ago, turned into someone else entirely. The guy who’s not who they think he is. The guy who’s been lying, and you’ve been too afraid to admit it to anyone.
It’s easier this way, right? To keep up the facade and let her hold onto the version of him she’s always known. I’m protecting him in her eyes, even if it means burying the truth.
Though, I’m protecting myself, too. Because once I say it out loud, once the truth is out there, I can’t take it back. And then what?
“I know,” I say, giving her hand a squeeze, trying to force a little sincerity into it. “Thank you. I’m okay, though, really.”
Lies.
She doesn’t press. She just nods, offering a quiet smile that hits way too close to home. She’s already seen through the surface and knows something’s off, but she’s giving me the space tokeep pretending.
I don’t know how to make it better. I don’t know how to make any of this better. So I do what I always do when things get too real. I push it down and bury it.
“Back to you, though. Tell me what you’re envisioning for this wedding.”
She knows exactly what I’m doing. Fishing for a distraction, hoping to drown out the heaviness creeping in. Without missing a beat, she starts laying out a detailed plan, making it crystal clear she’s been thinking about this for a lot longer than she’s let on.
I settle back, letting her enthusiasm wash over me. It’s a nice, calming thing to focus on. My beautiful friend’s eyes sparkle as she talks about flowers, color schemes, and everything else she’s dreamed up for her big day. I can almost see it all, like a little vision coming to life.
“Let me guess,” I say. “Red velvet cake?”
“You bet. And you’ll be my maid of honor…again?”
Her voice is full of that hopeful light, as if there’s any chance in hell I’d say no. This is Juliette we’re talking about. My sister from another mister. The one who’s been there through every twist and turn and who’s earned every bit of happiness coming her way. She’s the one who always makes everything feel just a little brighter. So hell yeah, I’m going to be there for her.
She was engaged before, but we both know that wedding wasn’therwedding. Her ex-fiancé let his mom take the reins and plan the whole damn thing, like Juliette’s dreams didn’t even matter. Thank god it never happened.
“Duh! It’s going to be beautiful, J. I’m half tempted to drag you wedding dress shopping right now so I don’t miss any of it.”
She tosses her head back in a laugh. “I promise whenever I go shopping, I’ll make sure you’re not working so we can video chat.”
“Deal,” I reply with a wink, feeling the pull of a smile that’s been stuck all day finally breaking free.
Then, the sound of heavy footsteps thuds against the porch, the unmistakable sign that Knox is home. Their cat’s excitement is immediate, the furry little thing darting off the couch like a bolt of lightning, heading straight for the door.
As soon as Knox walks in, his eyes immediately find Juliette. And the moment they do, the air between them shifts. I can’t help but watch the way they exchange smiles, so quiet and knowing, like they’ve built their own little world around each other. It’s the kind of look that only comes when two people are completely wrapped up in each other. The kind of look I used to think would never stop being a part of my life.
And then, the massive man bends down and picks up the cat, cradling it against his chest with the kind of tenderness I didn’t know Knox even had in him. He strokes the fur gently, his face softening in a way that catches me off guard. It’s a side of him I don’t think anyone really gets to see. Most certainly not the Knox everyone else knows.
I roll my eyes at the utter perfection of the scene in front of me, unable to stop the smirk that tugs at the corners of my mouth. “Juliette. You’re a lucky bitch. If I didn’t love you guys so much, I’d hate you.”
She chuckles, shaking her head. She absolutely knows she’s guilty of setting the bar too high. She twirls the ring on her finger, clearly still getting used to the feel of it. “I am lucky. Very much so.” She pauses for a second, then her eyes light up. “Oh! You’ll stay for dinner, right? I think Callan and Lucy are coming, too.”
“Of course! I’ve got nowhere to be.”
I’ve been trying to keep busy, to not dwell on things I can’t change, but seeing Callan today? That’s a whole other ball game. Last night was…a lot. More than I was prepared for. I was glad to be on the back of his bike, the wind in my face, the world rushing by without any expectations. It was the closest I’ve come to feeling free in a long time.
