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The shrill ringing of my phone jars me awake. It’s morning, sunlight streaming in through the gaps in the bedroom curtains. I groan, reaching for the device and squinting at the screen. It’s my father.
“Hello?” I mutter, my voice thick with sleep.
“Have you seen the internet this morning?” he demands, his tone sharp and disapproving.
I frown, pulling myself into a sitting position. “No, why?”
“Because you’re all over it!” he snaps. “There are pictures of you at some club last night, surrounded by women, and Lily is nowhere in sight! What were you thinking?”
I wince, feeling a surge of guilt wash over me. “Dad, listen?—”
“No, you listen,” he interrupts, his voice steely. “You’re engaged to that girl, and yet you’re out gallivanting around like you don’t have a care in the world. Do you have any idea how this makes her look? How it makes our family look?”
“I didn’t mean to?—”
“Get your act together, Felix,” he growls.
The line goes silent, leaving me to stare at my phone in disbelief. He’s right, of course; I should have been more considerate of Lily, especially given everything we’re dealing with.
I sit there a moment longer, my father’s words ringing in my ears. The truth is, I thought I wanted the freedom to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Travel constantly, visit new clubs, never be tied down. But now, faced with the reality of it all, I’m not so sure anymore.
There’s a whole world out there, and yet somehow, none of it seems important anymore.
CHAPTER 23
LILY
The second I open my eyes, I almost wish I hadn’t.
Sighing, I pull the covers tighter around me, trying to ignore the silence of my phone on the nightstand. It’s been one day since I told Felix about the pregnancy, and he hasn’t reached out to me yet. My heart aches at the thought, but I force myself to push it aside. This is what I wanted, after all. A family, even if it means marrying someone I don’t truly love.
I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, determined to make today a good day despite the gnawing feeling in my chest. Meg is picking me up soon for a shopping trip, and that should help boost my mood.
As I get ready for the day, I feel like an outsider in my own life. My mind drifts back to Albavarre, its colorful awnings and friendly people. When we were there, everything felt so light. I was actually able to forget for a while about what Felix and I don’t have. Instead, I was able to focus on everything that we do.
I just need to get back to that place, and I’ll be all right.
Soon, I’ll be a mother. My biggest dream will be fulfilled. If that’s not something to be grateful for, then what is?
Meg arrives right on time, her bright smile easing some of the tension in my shoulders.
“Hey, girl!” She envelops me in a tight hug. “Ready for a fun day out?”
“Absolutely,” I reply, grateful for the distraction.
We drive to the mall, chatting and laughing about old memories from our high school days. The familiar sights and sounds of the mall bring a sense of nostalgia, and for a moment, I almost feel better.
“Remember how we used to come here after school and get pretzels?” Meg asks, grinning. “Let’s do that again.”
“Sounds perfect.” My mouth waters at the thought. It’s only ten, but the breakfast I had feels like days ago.
As we munch on our warm, salty pretzels, we wander through the mall, stopping to admire jewelry in store windows. It’s another blast from our past when we used to look at the displays and fantasize about what sort of rings our future husbands would get us.
“Look at this one.” Meg points to an intricate necklace with a stunning emerald pendant. “It would bring out the green in your eyes.”
“Maybe,” I say absently, my thoughts drifting back to Felix.
