AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“But it’s different,” he had to add, just in case Rachael remembered this when she was sober and felt the need to relay the message to Sofi. The last thing he needed was for his best friend to think he was pining for her. She’d probably be disgusted and never speak to him again. And if she wasn’t disgusted? That would be even worse. Because Austin did love Sofi, and he hadn’t ever loved another woman outside of his family. He was beginning to wonder if he didn’t have the capability. So for Sofi to move into a zone where he’d never been able to love? He couldn’t do that to her. To them. Their friendship meant too much to him. “I dated you,” he added. “I cared for you in a different way.”
Rachael nodded, her head slipping, and Austin reached out to catch it.
“It’s so heavy,” Rachael complained about her head.
“Yeah, I can imagine. I think I need to get you home,” Austin replied as he stood up, pulling Rachael with him. The woman was slight and Austin had no problem moving her as he put an arm around her waist and led her back to his truck.
He had considered the ride share for about a minute before deciding Sofi would have his head if she knew he’d abandoned her friend in her time of need. So Austin would play rideshare for the night. There wasn’t a role he wasn’t willing to play for Sofi’s sake.
“Could you ever love me?” Rachael asked, her eyes round and full of desperation.
Austin had no idea what to say. He doubted it. Hadn’t he just admitted he wasn’t sure he could love any woman in that capacity? And he hadn’t thought of Rachael in that way since they broke up. So what could he say?
“He says he loves me, but he’s not here. You are. Does that mean you already love me?” Rachael continued and Austin decided he wasn’t needed in this conversation at all. He’d just get her home as she answered all of her own questions.
“No, because you love her. She’s special. I know she’s special. She’s one of my best friends. But you’re special, too. And I’m special. So you could love me because I’m special,” Rachael continued as Austin got her into his passenger’s seat.
“Put on your belt,” he told her as he ran around the car and got into his seat. He started the car and then drove down the road that would lead them to Rachael’s house. Thankfully his memory was pretty impressive and he had no problem recalling where Rachael lived from the times he’d dropped Sofi off there in the past few years. Unless she’d moved?
“Do you still live in the same place?” Austin asked Rachael.
“Ever since college,” Rachael replied, sounding a little more alert than before. Maybe that bite of protein bar was paying off.
Quiet enveloped the cab for a few blissful minutes before Rachael turned in his direction and asked, “Why did you break up with me?”
This really wasn’t a question he wanted to answer, especially now that he knew it was more likely Rachael would remember what he’d said. So he kept quiet.
“Austin?” Rachael pushed.
Austin barely refrained from swearing. She wasn’t going to let this one go.
“We weren’t right together. And thank goodness I did, or you wouldn’t be getting married.” Austin tried to sound bright despite the fact that the woman had just told him she was planning her divorce. But pretending her marriage was a good thing seemed the only option since he really didn’t want Rachael to be both drunk and crying.
“Yeah. Married.” Rachael turned in her seat so that she was facing Austin. “What if I told you I still love you?” she asked abruptly.
Austin gripped the steering wheel harder, willing her house to just appear so that he could be done with this car ride.
“You’re getting married, Rachael.” Austin swallowed.Please let that be enough.
“You don’t love me, I get it. Because you love her.”
Austin wasn’t about to explain that his love for Sofi wasn’t what she was asking for either, but decided to let it go. He’d rather tell Sofi the truth later if Rachael remembered any of this than go into it with Rachael now.
“But would you do something for me?” Rachael asked, gripping Austin’s arm so tightly that he had to start driving with just his left hand.
“Rachael . . . ” Austin didn’t feel like now was the time to be making her any promises.
“Please?” she pleaded, and Austin glanced over to see tears starting to drip down her cheeks. No, anything but crying.
“Sure,” Austin replied, hoping that would dry up whatever was going on in his passenger’s seat.
“You need to stop my wedding,” Rachael said.
“What?” Austin blinked, hoping he’d misheard her.
“You know when they ask if anyone objects to this union? I need you to stand up and object.”
Yeah, that wouldn’t be happening.
