AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Levi
“You want to come back to my place?” I asked. I quickly added, “For the test, as we talked about earlier.”
Anna looked tired.
Our sisters had planned a long day. After brunch, there were games in the garden that lasted for several hours. A late lunch was served. And then speeches by it seemed like everyone who had ever met us had just wrapped up. Emily said we were free to leave, or at least she’d told the crowd that. I prayed it included us as well.
“Uhh sure,” Anna said. “Let’s say goodbye to everyone.”
“Of course,” Levi said.
I had already thanked Irene and said goodbye to my family, but I hadn’t spent much time with Anna’s family, something I felt bad about even though technically, we weren’t getting married.
“You leaving?” Emily asked as she munched on a chocolate covered strawberry.
“Yeah, I’m tired,” Anna said. “But today was so much fun. Thank you for planning it.”
“Yes, thank you, Emily.” I felt bad. That’s one reason I avoided everyone. They did all of this for us, and it was fake. All this money, all this work… for a lie. I felt like such a terrible person.
“Of course! I’m just so happy for you guys,” Emily said. “Don’t forget the gifts. James can help carry them to your truck, though it seems most people gave you money.”
My heart dropped.
“Gifts?” Anna and I both choked out at the same time.
“Yes… people often give gifts at engagement parties.”
“We didn’t need any gifts, though,” I stammered.
Shit. People gave us gifts and money. For a fake engagement. I would never forgive myself.
Anna looked over at me and her face showed concern. She was not smiling or putting on a fake happiness.
“Is everything okay?” Emily asked.
“It’s just– well, what if–” Anna stumbled over her words. “I don’t know, what if the wedding doesn’t happen for some reason? You know what I told you earlier and–”
Emily put a hand on Anna’s arm. “I have faith in you two, and I trust you’ll work it out. Whatever happens, I believe in your love, and the people who gave you gifts do too.”
Anna and I looked at each other, then stared down at the ground.
We said our goodbyes to others, and before leaving, Emily started piling our arms with gifts. I couldn’t even look anyone in the eye after that, even as they stopped and congratulated us on the way out.
This had gone too far.
Anna and I walked to my truck with our arms full, silence our third companion. Even the drive back to my place - complete with a stop in town to pick up a pregnancy test - was quiet. I gripped the steering wheel and kept my eyes straight ahead. Rage seethed inside me, but I only had myself to blame for letting it get this far.
When Anna and I got to my place, we lingered a bit in the living room, staring at the gifts.
“We’ll keep the name tags with the gifts and return them to everyone when we call this off,” Anna said. “The money too. It will all go back to them.”
“But people went out of their way to buy us gifts, Anna. They’re invested in this.” I shoved my hands into my pockets and just stared at the brightly colored packages.
“I know,” Anna said. “And trust me, I feel bad too. But what else can we do?”
“I don’t know.” I grabbed the bag from the pharmacy and handed it to Anna. “Can we do this? I’d like to know the results before we go any further.”
“Why? What does it matter if it’s positive?” Anna asked. “What does it change?”
