Page 25 of Be Your Forever
Silence fills the other end of the phone. I feel myself wanting to jump to conclusions, but I know she needs a moment to think.
“Huh? Oh, no, you didn’t. My emotions have just been all over the place lately. A lot has happened, and there’s so much I need to tell you.”
I let out a sigh of relief and I drill it into my mind that what Avery is going through is not my fault. I repeat the mantra,I didn’t do anything wrong. She’s not mad at youover and over in my head. If I say it enough times, maybe it’ll stick.
“Oh, well are you doing anything now?” There. I did it. I’m making progress with getting my old life back.
“Oh.” Avery sniffles, and now we’re both a hot mess for a second time during this phone call. These tears are the healing kind, lettingout everything we’ve been holding onto. I guess what they say is true. Sometimes you need to fall apart before you can find yourself again.
“I, um, you can come over if you want. We can watch a movie while eating junk food. Just like old times.”
“I’m already on my way. See you soon. Love you, babes.”
“Love you, too.”
Avery pulls into the driveway about thirty minutes later using her key to enter my home. The second we see each other, we’re in each other's arms, rocking back and forth. Tears are a steady stream down my cheeks, and I can feel Avery shake with silent tears of her own. If I pay close enough attention to my heart, I can feel a small piece of the shattered organ snap back into place.
“I’m so glad you called.” Avery lets out a watery chuckle.
“Me too. I’ve missed you so much. I promise to try harder. I’m, uh, also sorry about pulling that stunt at your wedding. I should have formally said my goodbyes, but I snuck out the back like someone sneaking out after a bad one night stand.” My throat is raw from all the crying. I hug Avery tighter before letting her go.
“Bee. You’ve had a lot going on. You were there for me with everything that happened with Cas and I. Everyone heals in their own way. I’m just glad you called me. I don’t care how long it took you to do it. As for my wedding, I was just happy to share my day with you. I don’t care about how you left. I understood it then. I understand it now.”
This is one of the reasons I love this woman. She’s still here for me after an extended period of radio silence. Every person needs a best friend like Avery; she’s absolutely incredible.
“I’m so glad you're my best friend. Now, let's load up on junk.”
“I’m glad you’re my bestie, too, now lead the way,” Avery says, a grin plastered across her soft features.
“What did you bring us?” I reach down to pick up the bags, and when I look at what she brought, it's very…interesting.
“Um, Aves?” My eyes move from inside the bag to her face. Avery looks like she’s holding back a grin. Wait—is she glowing?
Avery just shrugs her shoulders before brushing past me and into the kitchen.
“Avery!” I shout-laugh as I follow after her. But like, what the fuck? Inside the bag is a giant jar of peanut butter, a bag of pork rinds, a giant jar of pickles, and a bottle of red wine vinegar. The other bag has our usual silly face masks, purple and baby blue nail polish, and a few chocolate bars.
I enter the kitchen shortly after Avery and find her already sitting down at the dining room table, a giant grin on her face. I place the bags down, eyeing her suspiciously as I do so. I watch as she digs through her purse for a few seconds before pulling out a tiny, rectangular box. It’s coveredin a soft, dusty cedar wrapping paper with a white ribbon wrapped along both long ends and tied in a pretty bow in the center.
The paper feels smooth underneath my fingertips. I look at Avery with a questioning expression, but she nods her head while pushing the box closer to me. As much as I don’t want to destroy Avery’s impeccable wrapping job, curiosity gets the better of me, so I tear through it aggressively.
The moment I see it, I drop the box onto the table. My hands fly to my mouth as my gaze flickers from her to the box then back again. My eyes sting with tears, but I blink them back. We’ve already cried enough today. But oh my God.
My best friend is pregnant.
Holy shit.
The chair screeches as I pull it back to rush over to hug my best friend while we simultaneously scream. Everything in my life takes a back seat to the pure joy I’m feeling.
“Avery. Oh my God! I can’t believe it. You’re pregnant?” I shout at her.
“I am. I couldn’t be happier. We couldn’t be happier.” Avery’s ear splitting grin speaks for itself.
“How did this happen?” My voice shakes with excitement. My best friend is having a baby? The promise of a new life, a new beginning, dims the sadness that seems to cling to me.
“Well, Bri. When two consenting adults decide to get together and have this thing called sex—” I playfully slap her arm.
“Shut up. I mean, like, were you guys planning it? Was this a surprise? Forgive me, but my brain is trying to process everything. Y’all just got married.”
