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“Totally. You know, tonight’s card night,” Elsa added. “So if you need moral support to help you forget the asshole who broke your heart and treated you like shit, we’ll do it as a group.”

As I looked between them, I realized she meant every word. It was hard to quantify just how much it meant to have good friends, friends I knew really would be there for me. As much as what had happened with my ex and my former best friend had hurt me, it was so healing to connect with women I knew I could trust.

They hurried off, and I took the call, spinning into my usual busy day. The worst part for me emotionally wasn’t the betrayal from my ex, but more what my friend had done. I was constantly trying to figure out what signs I’d missed, how I couldn’t have guessed she would ever betray me the way she did.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chloe

The call

With denial being a highly effective, okay maybe unhealthy, coping skill for me, I kind of forgot about worrying as the afternoon wound down. Unfortunately, my luck ran out.

“Heartfire Falls Resort, how can I help you?”

“Chloe,” my ex-friend said.

The mere sound of her voice caused panic to churn in my chest as nausea rose in my throat. I blinked rapidly, resisting the urge to hang up, because even though I wanted to shatter the phone, part of me needed to hear her out.

“How can I help you?” I experienced the tiniest jolt of pride that I managed to speak without my voice shaking.

I’d wondered if Lara would track me down eventually. “Please, just hear me out.”

Maybe it was self-flagellation, but I guess I needed to hear what excuse she was going to come up with for having that long of an affair with my ex, getting pregnant, and planning a family and a life with him. Oh, and lying to my face for years.

“I don’t know what I was thinking,” she began. I stayed quiet, letting my silence do its work. “I guess part of me was jealous, because you two seemed so happy. But then he started reaching out to me, saying things like how he felt more connected to me than you, that he wasn’t sure you were his forever. I know it doesn’t make sense to you, but I really believed that what we had was special, and that he just didn’t know how to tell you about it.”

I was honestly incredulous. My knuckles almost ached from my grip on the phone, while my chest burned with anger and betrayal. “So you had a years-long affair and thought it was going to work out for you?”

“Chloe!” she burst out. “I know I’m an idiot now. I should’ve known better. Obviously. Can you ever forgive me?”

“Honestly, that’s none of your business.”

“Huh?” She was surprised at that.

“It’s not. I’m never going to be your friend. I’m never going to trust you. This was too much, too big. Let’s face it, you wouldn’t be calling me right now, chasing me around, if he hadn’t screwed you over too. You were part of all of it. You had the affair, you got pregnant, you lied to me for years. You married him and had a baby after what I went through. Our friendship was your sacrifice for all of it. It was nothing but bullshit.”

“Obviously, I’m not happy about your pain, but I understand now. He cheated on me too,” she said.

Oh. My.. God.

“Maybe you think you know what it feels like to be betrayed, but you have no idea what it was like for me. None. Because at least it wasn’t with your best friend.” A stifled sob filtered through the call. “All of it is karma.”

“No one talks to me now,” she said softly, her voice small.

“What do you expect? You’re that friend now. The person that everyone knows can never be trusted.” She sniffled. “I’m sorry, but if I forgive you, which to be honest I haven’t, it would never be about being your friend again. It would be about letting go of the hurt so I can move on.”

The sound of her swallowing was loud, followed by another sniffle. “I’m so sorry. I’m really, really sorry.”

“I hear you. Thank you for letting me know.” My voice was stiff, but I honestly didn’t know what to say.

“I’m glad you found somebody,” she said softly, and I knew she was fishing.

“My life is none of your business. We’re not going to be friends. Please just take accountability for yourself and realize what it means. I hope, and I can say this honestly, I hope you never go through the kind of pain that I experienced because of you and him.”

She was really quiet, and I had to listen to another sniffle. Even though this conversation hurt, the tight, sharp knot of pain tucked in the corner of my heart eased for the first time since this all happened.

“I hope you know I’m sorry,” she said.