Page 55 of All I Feel

As soon as we were alone, Olivia and Savanna had said what we were all thinking. Chloe was doing so much better. Considering it had been mere weeks ago that she was in the hospital fighting for her life, the simple fact thatshe was sitting up, laughing, and talking with us was a tremendous improvement.

“Thanks, ladies.”

“Well, I’m not surprised you’re doing so well,” Lark declared. “I mean, how could you not be with the way that man has been looking after you?”

Chloe’s lips curved into a smile. “In case you didn’t notice, Hawk has been doting on me nonstop.”

“We noticed,” Harper assured her. “I called to check in on you the one day, and I asked him what you needed. You’d been sleeping, and Hawk insisted he had it all covered. It’s so sweet.”

Mia sighed dreamily. “I love the way he loves her.”

“And I feel awful now,” Chloe said. “Because Hawk has been amazing. He’s been doing everything he can to help me out and make me happy. He even baked that cake in the kitchen with me. He’s trying so hard, and I feel like all I’m doing is giving him grief.”

“He adores you,” Savanna said. “I don’t think he minds that you’re having a tough time coping.”

Chloe nodded. “I know. He’s been so patient. And to know he made it so you all could visit with me here today has only made me fall that much harder for him. I don’t think I could love him more if I tried.”

“And I don’t think we could be happier for you if we tried,” Olivia told her.

Chloe smiled appreciatively. “I’m glad for that. But there’s one thing that’s been bothering me.”

“What is it?” Harper asked.

“Your birthday party.” Chloe sighed. “I’m so bummed I missed it.”

My sister waved her hand in the air dismissively. “Please don’t worry about it. I had a good time, but I can assure you it wasn’t the same without you. Plus, we’re all together now.”

“Which is why I was hoping to hear about it.” My friend’s eyes met mine, and something washed over her expression. “I heard that something happened that night, and I wasn’t there for you.”

I let out a deep breath. “I didn’t tell any of these girls that night. Lark didn’t know until we were back at work on Monday.”

“What happened?”

“I found out that Ryan was cheating on me.”

Chloe’s fingertips flew to her lips. “I’m so sorry, Tessa. How did… How did you find out?”

I swallowed past the painful tightening in my throat and took in the concerned and loving faces of the women around me. Harper and Lark knew what had happened, and while the others knew something had gone down, they didn’t know the full story. I wasn’t upset that they knew, that the news had traveled without me sharing directly. That’s just how things were in this group, and these women cared about me. So, I decided it was time to share.

For the next little while, with the women who were all like sisters to me, I shared the truth of what happened the night of Harper’s birthday. Unsurprisingly, they interjected with gasps of horror or words of anger when I’d shared certain specific details. And when I’d finally shared all of it—all that pertained to Ryan and his infidelity, that is—they didn’t hesitate to offer words of encouragement and support.

“Oh, Tessa. How did you not say anything that night?” Savanna asked.

She’d barely gotten her question out when Mia said, “I can’t even imagine how devastated you must’ve been.”

Nodding, I said, “It was certainly a shock to the system, considering I foolishly believed he was the one.”

“Not for nothing,” Olivia began. “But I’m glad you appear to be in such good spirits. You’re doing much better than I would’ve expected.”

“Agreed,” Chloe added. “God, if Hawk cheated on me now, I think I’d be lost.”

“Probably because heisthe one.” I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, my gaze dropping briefly to my lap. “I think what I’m realizing is that Ryan wasn’t that man for me.”

“Whatever you’re doing now to heal seems to be working,” Savanna said. “Just keep that up.”

Maybe it was time I shared the rest with them. They were likely going to find out anyway. “Well, I really can’t take all the credit. I’ve had help.”

“Lark,” Savanna stated, clearly believing it was my best friend who’d gotten me here.