AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Alex bumps my shoulder, a smirk on her lips. “You get the beers and I’ll order the pizza, because if I have to listen to them argue anymore about pizza toppings without actually having a pizza in front of me, I’ll go mad.”
This time my laugh is genuine. I busy myself with grabbing the beers from the refrigerator before following Alex back into the living room. Meghan and Ben are still arguing over what pizza topping is the most superior.
“No, you have to have a barbecue base with all the meats. It’s the new thing.”
Meghan holds a hand over her mouth and dry heaves. “Gross. That’s a crime against pizza. It’s got to be a tomato base.”
Ben turns to face me, and I make the mistake of making eye contact with him. “Come on, Van. You have to agree with me.”
My brows lift as my eyes widen. I head to the chair opposite the couch, taking a swig of my beer to buy myself some time. “No way am I arguin’ with a pregnant woman. And anyway, Meghan is right. It has to be a tomato base on pizza.”
“I can’t ever win around here.” Ben pouts and we erupt into a fit of giggles.
This is just what I needed. To be surrounded by my friends, drinking beer and eating good food.
* * *
My stomach is full and a little bloated from all the pizza I’ve eaten tonight. Add in the four beers I’ve had and I look and feel like a beached whale.
The conversation has been flowing nicely all evening and we’re currently wearing the sheet masks that Ben brought. Alex put some ‘spa music’ on and the calming sound of the rainforest fills the room.
Meghan shuffles herself further into the couch, one hand resting on her belly and the other holding her mug of tea. “So, Sutton, tell us, how long have you and Noah been together?”
Momentarily, I close my eyes, before I open them again, looking around the room. Alex’s knowing gaze assesses me and I fight against the urge to look away. I told Alex about the bathroom incident, but she doesn’t know anything beyond that. Nobody in this room knows anything about my past with Noah.
Sutton takes a long sip of her beer before she replies, “Just over three years.”
“Do you think you’ll marry him?”
Ben’s question catches me off guard, and I choke on the sip of my beer I’ve taken.
A twisted part of me wants to know the answer. As if it will solidify their love and I can then switch off my feelings for him. But I’m not sure my heart could take the finality in the truth.
Coughing, I mutter something about my drink having gone down the wrong way and excuse myself to the bathroom. The sounds of chatter I can’t quite make out follow me down the corridor. Like a ghost haunting and mocking me with each step. I lock myself in the bathroom as my eyes sting with unshed tears.
What is happening to me?
Almost in a daze, I stand in front of the mirror, my eyes roaming over my reflection. I look composed and as normal as a person can with a sheet mask on. But the swirling and churning inside of me tells a different story.
I operate on autopilot, removing the mask and massaging the residue into my face. It does nothing to quiet the rushing noise deafening me. With perhaps too much force, I turn on the faucet, splashing the cool water on my face, as I pray for the tightening in my gut to ease.
A soft knock sounds on the door followed by Meghan asking, “Savannah? Is everything okay?”
Grabbing a towel off the bar, I pat my face dry before pasting a smile on my face and opening the door. “Sorry, do you need to use the bathroom?”
Meghan looks at me quizzically before her eyes narrow into slits and she replies, “I do, but that’s not why I came down here.”
Taking a step to the side, I make room for her. She remains in the doorway, her hand rubbing over her bump absentmindedly. Her focus is on my face and it’s almost as bad as when Alex assessed me.
I need to put on a show.
I’m supposed to be an actress for goodness sake. It’s my job to play pretend.
So why is it so hard to do now?
On the edge of breaking, I send up a silent thank you as Meghan steps into the bathroom, allowing me the room to escape.
“Oh, by the way,” she pauses, waiting for me to turn to her. “She said no. She doesn’t think she’ll marry him.”
