“If you weren’t sick, I would be upset that I had to force Fallon to give me your address. But now I can see why. Why didn’t you tell me you were loaded? After all those lunches I paid for, I should send you a bill!”
Drea laughed, and it felt so good to hear it again. “I’m not sick. And I don’t like anyone knowing where I live. I try not to use my family’s money if I can help it. This house was a gift when I moved to the city. I was afraid people would get the wrong impression or try to use me for what my family has. That’s an issue I have to work through, which I am, but I’m sorry I kept it from you.”
“Well, you look good. You gave us a damn heart attack!” Cara laughed softly.
Drea grinned, and I was just glad nobody was yelling. “I’m doing a lot better. I had a really good nurse.” Drea turned to me and rubbed my thigh. I smiled at the familiar warmth and placed my hand on hers.
“I can see that. Listen, I’m sorry about?—”
I shook my head, cutting her off. “No, Cara, you have nothing to apologize for. We should be the ones apologizing. Well, I can’t speak for Drea, only myself, but… I hid an important part of my life from you and risked your business. That was fucked up, and I know I can’t take it back. I need you to know that I had no intention of any of this happening. Falling for Drea was never part of the plan, nor was hiding it. You’re my best friend, and I wanted to tell you from the moment I started feeling something for her. At the festival, I?—”
“The festival? You told me nothing happened, Blair. Was that another lie?”
I shook my head, determined to get her to believe me. “No! Of course not. Technically nothing happened. You called before something might have, though, but I should have told you everything anyway. We don’t keep secrets, and I kept a very big and important one. I knew it would complicate our working relationship, and that it was selfish of me to hide it from you. I know words can’t fix things, but I really hope you will forgive me someday and give me the chance to earn back your friendship. You are my best friend, Cara, and you mean the world to me.”
I sat there while Drea caressed my thigh, waiting for a response. I wasn’t sure what she would say, or if she would walk out on seven years of friendship. I’d said all I could say. Now it was just time to wait.
After several agonizing seconds, she finally spoke. “It did hurt, but thank you for owning up to everything and apologizing. I do have to apologize too. I was angry and hurt, and it wasn’t fair to take away your livelihood because of petty feelings. It wasn’t even the fact that you were together. I’ve been trying to get you to get along for years. Sitting here seeing you two together, I can see it’s real. It was more that I considered you both friends, and I was hurt that you hid a part of your life from me and lied while everyone else knew about it. I promise that in our new contract, I’ll be sure to add a ‘no pettiness’ clause,” she said with a smile.
“Again, Cara, I am so incredibly sorry for lying to you. You mean the world to me, and I—Wait, so does that mean?—”
“Yes. If you would have me, I would really like tocontinue representing my best friend... on one condition.”
I nodded. “Anything!” I said eagerly.
“You have to promise to always be honest with me.”
“Of course. You got it!”
She smiled and stood up to hug me. “And promise to take care of this one,” she said, pointing to Drea. “She has proven she literally can’t live without you.”
I sobbed out a laugh. “I promise. She’s not going anywhere if I have anything to say about it.”
“If this reunion is over, can I have my chance at begging?” Drea stood up and rubbed my back.
I looked at Cara, who nodded. I returned to my spot on the couch to give her the floor. I wanted her to have her own moment with Cara.
“Cara,” Drea started. She looked like she might fall down, so I rushed to her and tried to make her sit on the couch, but she stopped me. “Honey, I’m fine. Please sit down and relax. I swear if she has her way, I’ll never pee alone again.” She laughed when I swatted her arm gently.
“I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know, my love.” My chest warmed as she turned to Cara. I would never tire of that nickname. I knew she called almost everyone in her life “love,” but I was the only one who got the “my” in front of it. I was her love just as much as she was mine.
“Drea, you don’t need to?—”
“Yes, I do. I directly lied to you about Blair and that was fucked up. We have been friends for years, and you didn’t deserve that. Part of it was because I made a promise to Blair not to say anything. We didn’t want to complicate things or make you upset. But the other part was because I was scared. I don’t typically get too close to anyone, and I felt like I was getting too close too fast, and if I acknowledged it out loud, then it would have made it real and it would have gone away, just like it did for my parents. But I couldn’t deny it. I was falling for Blair the longer I spent time with her, and it was as real as it got. To be honest, I think I started to see her differently at the festival. Seeing how she was with everyone and how she handled herself on that stage—you should have seen her, Cara. It was the most real thing I have ever witnessed, and it was beautiful.”
I didn’t have words. I mean, I’d known she was going to kiss me, but I’d figured it was just to see how I would react. I didn’t think…
Drea was sounding like she was on the verge of tears, and I had to force myself not to reach out to comfort her. She needed to get through this on her own.
“I also need to apologize for keeping you at arm’s length. Not only with Blair, but with myself. No one outside of my family and close friends, and now you two, knows where I live or why I keep this part of my life hidden, not even Kaia, but she will soon enough. Skylar knew, but only after a year of being together. I honestly don’t have a reason for not telling you. Maybe if you’d asked, I would have told you, but maybe not. I consider you a dear friend, and I am sorry that I was blinded by my own issues to tell you how much I appreciate you and let you into that part of my life. I will do anything to show you that.”
“I appreciate your honesty, but I’m going to need a lot more groveling than that. You two have put me through hell for the past three and a half years! For starters, you owe me a wine bottle from the wine tasting, and several expensive-ass lunches!” Cara laughed, and I sighed in relief. I wasn’t stupid enough to think we could all become best friends right away, but I hoped with more time and more groveling, it would all be okay.
“That sounds fair enough. You can pick any bottle from my wine cellar downstairs, and how about I take you to lunch next week?”
“You have a wine cellar?!” Both Cara and I yelled simultaneously before taking off down the hall.
We laughed as we ran, but I stopped, forgetting something in the living room. “Hold on, Cara, I’ll be right back.”
