***
“I can’t even remember the last time I saw you laugh with him, Vienna.”
Lydia holds her wine glass in her hand while resting her arm against the side of my couch. My eyes drift over her sunken face and the scarf wrapped around her head as dread fills my chest. But I can’t deny that I’m having trouble recalling an instance to placate her. “The fact that you’re still trying to come up with an example is telling.”
“We’ve just…both been busy. Work is stressful for him, and—”
She cuts me off. “Why is it always about him? When’s the last time you got to choose what you wanted to do, like your job? Why does your job have to be about what he wants?”
“We agreed it’s what’s best for us right now.”
Lydia shakes her head. “No, Vienna. It’s what he thought was best. God, I—” Her frustration is growing and I know I’m about to get hit with a hard dose of reality from my best friend. But maybe that’s what I need. She leans forward in her seat. “Look, you know I love you. You’re my ride or die, but I’ve been holding my tongue for far too long because I didn’t want to be that friend, the one who criticizes your decisions and tells you how to live your life. But guess what? I won’t be around to look out for you…”
Emotion clogs my throat. “Lydia…”
She drains the rest of the wine and sets the empty glass on the coffee table before leaning forward and reaching for my hand, pulling me closer to her. “I’m done acting like your marriage is okay. Cole is a shitty husband.”
“Wow. Okay, tell me how you really feel.”
“I am. And since you married him, you’ve become a shell of the woman I’ve called my best friend for fifteen years.” Her words sting as my eyes fill with tears, but I don’t say anything. “That man has slowly shown you his true colors, and I’m not sure if you’re just oblivious to them, or you’re choosing to keep on your rose-colored glasses.”
“Lydia…”
“I know you made vows. I know you’ve been with him for almost ten years, but a part of you has slowly slipped away since you two got married, and given that you haven’t been able to…”
“Marriage isn’t easy.”
She releases my hand and sits upright again. “You’re right. It’s not, and I don’t have the firsthand experience to relate. But I also know that it shouldn’t be like what you’re living in right now.” She lowers her voice. “You used to think that he was just overprotective, but now I see it more as jealousy and a desire to control you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Jealousy feels a lot like love until you experience trust, Vienna.”
I want to argue with her, but something stops me. Maybe it’s the fact that her words are so powerful, they’ve rendered me speechless. Or maybe it’s the way she looks as if she’s gearing up to tell me more.
“Look, I didn’t want to do this tonight, but there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Is it about your scan?”
She inhales deeply. “Yes.”
“No…” My eyebrows draw closer and my eyes start to sting. “Lydia?”
“I’m not getting better, Vienna.” She inhales deeply and then says, “And I’m not sure how much time I have left.”
Chapter 9
Rhonan
Plumbing, Piercing Talk, and a Car Wash
“Hold that still.” I motion for Elliot to keep the new showerhead stable on the connector from the wall while I grab my wrench.
“I can’t believe you called me over here on a Sunday to fix a fucking showerhead for your neighbor.”
I wrap the wrench around the pipe and start turning. “Was I just supposed to let Vienna go without a shower?”
“No. But why didn’t she just call the landlord?” He arches a brow at me.
