Page 124 of Unfaithful

"Thank you," I replied softly. "How are you?"

"I'm good, thanks."

It was only then that he seemed to register Archie standing beside me. His gaze shifted, and he gave him a nod.

"Cole," Archie acknowledged, his tone calm but beneath it, there was a hint of nostalgia. I knew he missed his best friend.

"Are you buying a bed?" I asked, guessing that it might be for Elena.

He nodded. "Yeah. Elena's birthday is coming up, and she wants a new bed, so that's what I'm getting her."

"This one's adorable," I said, pointing to the bed he had been looking at. "Any little girl would love it."

"That's what I was thinking, too." He glanced at it again before turning back to me. "And you?"

"We're shopping for the nursery," I said with a smile.

"Right," he replied, his voice slower, thoughtful.

For a moment, our eyes met, and I could have sworn I knew exactly what he was thinking. The past, the what-ifs, the unspoken thoughts that hung between us like a whisper. That this could have been us. That in another life, maybe it would have been.

But the past belonged in the past. And I wouldn't trade my present for anything.

Sometimes, I still thought about him, wondering if he was doing well and if life had been kind to him. Because despite everything, I wanted the best for him. Deep in my heart, I hoped that if he hadn't already, he would one day find the kind of happiness that felt whole. The kind that stayed.

And then, a woman approached us, stepping up beside Cole with an easy familiarity. She had golden-blonde hair that cascaded over her shoulders, striking deep brown eyes and stood about my height. She was beautiful—model-like gorgeous, with striking features that made it impossible not to notice her. There was a quiet confidence in the way she met my gaze, not quite a challenge, but more like a silent acknowledgment, as if she understood exactly who I was and the history I shared with Cole.

She slipped naturally into place next to Cole as if she had done so a hundred times before.

My eyes flickered between her and Cole, who seemed to need a moment to shake himself out of his daze before finally glancing at her.

"Um... this is Katya," he mumbled, his voice oddly unsure. "And this is Sara... and her husband, Archibald."

Katya turned to Cole, her eyes narrowing slightly at his hesitation—something unspoken passing between them. But with effortless grace, she shifted her focus to me, extending her hand.

"Call me Kat. It's nice to meet you, Sara. I've heard a lot about you."

"Oh," I murmured, my gaze flickering to Cole, who suddenly found something else to look at, evading my eyes.

I took her hand, offering a polite smile. "Nice to meet you too, Kat."

She then turned to Archie, shaking his hand before her attention snapped back to me. Her eyes widened in surprise as they landed on my belly.

"You're pregnant!" she exclaimed, her voice light with enthusiasm. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you," I said, instinctively resting a hand over my bump.

Her eyes flickered to my face, studying me for a moment before she smiled. "Your baby is going to be gorgeous, just like you," she said, her tone sincere.

I felt warmth in her words, even as I became more curious about the dynamic unfolding.

"Thank you," I replied with a smile.

An awkward silence settled between us, stretching just a beat too long. None of us seemed to know what to say next.

Cole was the first to break it. "Umm... I better go place an order for this bed—"

"Oh, so now you're choosing this one?" Katya interrupted, exasperation in her tone. "That's what I've been trying to tell you! But you said it's too fluffy."

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