My eyes fly to hers. Fresh tears spring to my eyes. “Shut the fucking front door, really?” My hands grip the envelope as my heart balloons in my chest.My best friend is finally getting her happily ever after.
She nods, words failing her as tears fill her eyes. I throw my arms around her.
Auntie Hayleigh.
I kiss her cheek and whisper. “You do realise I’m going to be the fun aunt, don’t you?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re also the only other person who knows. We want to keep it as quiet as possible until my second scan.”
I pull back from her, chuckling. “You do realise what family you’ve married into, don’t you? I can guarantee those boys already know.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “Yeah, they probably do.”
We sit together for what feels like a good hour, crying and hugging, and I realise it was something I needed. That release to let it all out, maybe I should have done this sooner.
Emmy strokes the back of my hair. “Good job, I didn’t wear any makeup today.”
We both snigger, which then turns into us belly-laughing so much we can’t breathe. I sit up and wipe my eyes as Emmy does the same.
“God, Emmy, you must think I’m such a bitch.” She pinches my arm in response. “Ouch, what was that for?”
She waggles her finger at me. “No. No more of that. I don’t want to hear anymore of you thinking you aren’t a good enough friend. Do you not think I’ve tried to coax things out of you all this time while still trying to keep my distance, soyouhave space?”
“I never thought of it like that.” I pick at my nails as I take in what Emmy is saying. Not once did it ever occur to me that she was giving me time and space to figure things out.I should have known better than to jump to the worst conclusions.
She sighs. “You wouldn’t, you’ve been so locked away you didn’t realise you were in pain from all this just as much as I was, only I had Cas, and you didn’t. If anything, I’m the one who’s been a terrible friend.”
I pinch her arm back and waggle my finger at her. “Nope, none of that, remember. Let’s make a pact never to hide anything ever again, and I’ll tell you all about how I made your brother-in-law come in his pants.”
Emmy laughs so hard I think she’s going to burst, and then we hear Cas’s deep timbre. “Oh, holy Christ on a bike. Is it possible to scrub my brain of things that have been said?”
I choke back a laugh when I look over my shoulder as Cas walks in. “Donottell your brother what you just heard.”
Cas backs away slowly. “No, of course not.” Then he darts off up the stairs.
I look at Emmy. “Has he?” She nods. “Shit.” Stifling a giggle, I grab my phone and open up my messages.
Me
For the record, I was talking to Emmy, and Cas walked in!
He doesn’t type, but is Cas cackling upstairs.
Then three little dots appear.
Nate
Hayleigh…
I look up at Emmy and see her fighting for her life behind her hands.
Me
I mean to be fair, I tell her everything so…
Nate
Clearly! Do you know what they’re calling me in the group chat right now?
