AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Who was worse?”
“Aidan fucking Callahan.”
Viv blinked in surprise. “Worse than Collin?”
Alex leapt out of her chair so fast Viv squeaked, shoving to her feet and moving behind the chair to put distance between them. She silently cursed herself when her purse fell to the floor with a thunk and her phone with it.
“Of course he was worse. You were trapped! In a loveless marriage with a man who only wanted to breed you.” Alex’s lip curled. “I was trying to save you. But then you went and did what you always do.”
Viv swallowed at the fury in Alex’s eyes. “What’s that?”
“You fell in love with him. It would be sweet if it wasn’t so pathetic,” she spat. “Because all he did was turn around and hurt you like all the others. I would never hurt you like that, Viv.”
When Alex took a step forward, Viv took one back, glancing down the hall. “Of course not, Alex. You’re my friend.”
“We could have been more than that. But you wouldn’t notice me.”
Viv’s breaths went ragged, and she tried to fight off the panic threatening to choke her. She had to keep her head and figure out how to get out of here. She had no idea what Alex was capable of.
“I’ve always loved you,” Viv promised. “As a friend. As a best friend.”
She took another step back and felt the tickling brush of the plant Alex kept against the back wall of her living room. One more step and Viv would be flush with the wall, all but backed into a corner. On instinct, she took a slow step to the side, forcing Alex to pivot to stay in front of her.
“We could have been more than friends. I know you would have loved me the way I love you if you had only given me a chance. We could have been great together.”
“I’m sorry, Alex.” She took another step to the side and tried to think of the right thing to say while her pulse pounded in her ears. “You’re right. I should have seen you sooner. How much you loved me. But I was afraid.”
Alex’s brow furrowed, and she shifted. “Afraid of what?”
“Afraid that if you found out how I really feel, it would ruin our friendship.”
“How you really feel about what?”
Viv swallowed hard. Fuck, she hoped she was saying the right things. “About you. I wasn’t sure if you loved me as much as I loved you. If you noticed all the little things I did just for you.”
Viv took another step toward the door, eyeing the knife on the tray next to Alex. No. She had a better chance of making a run for the door. She just had to get a little closer.
“Things like what?” Alex demanded.
“Like wearing your favorite color.” She could hear the tremor in her voice, but Alex didn’t seem to notice, her eyes brightening. “Blue, right?”
“You wore blue to the restaurant when we all had lunch.” Alex’s voice lost its hard edge and filled with hope. “You did that for me?”
“Of course I did. I only married Aidan because I had to. But now that we’re finished, what if we tried to start over? Just you and me.”
Alex’s face lit up in a smile, then her eyes dropped to Viv’s stomach, and the smile fell away, replaced by a hatred that made Viv’s heart squeeze. “We can’t,” Alex spat.
“Why not? I…I want to.” God, a few more steps, and she might be able to make it.
“Because!” Alex gestured wildly at Viv’s stomach. “You’re pregnant with his brat. And I would do a lot for you, Viv, but I won’t raisehisbaby.” She paused, and the thoughtful look Viv knew so well smoothed out her brow and scrunched up her nose. “If you want this to work, you’ll have to get rid of it.”
“What?” Viv jerked to a stop, hands flying to her stomach. “Get rid of it?”
“Yes,” Alex said with a curt nod. “Get an abortion, and then we can start over.”
“You know I can’t do that. This baby is innocent.”
“That baby is tainted,” Alex said through clenched teeth.
