Page 24 of Be Your Forever
“It’s obvious Bri will be the godmother. And since you’re most likely going to marry my sister, it makes sense for you to be the godfather.” Max just shrugs like he didn’t just say I’d be marrying his sister.
“What the fuck makes you think I’d be marrying your sister? For all we know, I could marry…I don’t know, Giselle.” Max glances at Cas before they both burst out laughing.
“You and Giselle? Yeah, good one.” Max is laughing so hard hestarts to wheeze.
“Nah. You and Bri are endgame. You both know it, yet don’t do anything about it.” Max is too observant for his own good.
“I mean, do I like Bri? Yeah, of course I do. But will I marry her? She doesn’t think of me in that way.”
Max and Cas look at each other again before speaking simultaneously, “She does.”
My heart flips in my chest when I think of a future with Bri. I’d love to be her forever, but I can’t get my hopes up.
Max, Cas, and I spend the rest of the time talking, laughing, and just hanging out. It's nice to just be with the guys. But if I’m being honest, I miss hanging with a certain curvy brunette that’s taken my mind and heart hostage. She can hold onto both for as long as she wants, because truthfully? I don’t want either of them back. My heart and soul are hers to keep.
When I’m at home and alone in bed, I replay all the events from today.Bri and I.God, I’d give anything to make that a reality. The day she chooses me to be the one she falls in love with will be the second greatest day of my life. The first being the day I fell for her. Because if she does give me her heart, I’ll treat it like it’s the most important thing I’ve ever been gifted. Because she’s the most precious person who has ever entered my life.
Brianna
Now is not the time for self-deprecating
May2026
I stare at Avery’s contact photo for what feels like forever. It’s a photo of both of us, cheeks pressed together with matching, cheek-splitting grins. Fuck, I miss my best friend. I miss our sleepovers and our at home spa days. But what I yearn for the most is talking to her. My head is a complete clusterfuck, and I need my bestie's help. Of course, whenever I gather the courage to reach out, intrusive thoughts pull me back into their darkness.
She hates you. Who ignores their best friend?
Why does my mind have to always kick me when I’m down? I already feel like shit ghosting my best friend, but my anxiety likes to constantly remind me. I tug at the loose collar of my sweatshirt, overcome with the feeling of being suffocated. My heart gallops like a wild stallion inside my chest.
Be brave, Bri. You can’t keep letting your anxious thoughts win.
I hit the call button, our faces illuminating the entire screen. There’s no time to contemplate what I want to say because the sweet, musical voice of my best friend sounds through the other end of the phone after one ring.
“Oh my God, Bri. H-Hey, how are you?”
How am I? I’m not sure how to answer that question. I don’t want to lie to her nor am I wanting to tell her the ugly details of my current mental status. So, I go with a basic ass answer.
“I-I’m doing okay.” I take a slow, deep breath to collect myself. “Aves, I’m so fucking sorry. I’ve been the worst friend. You probably hate me. I mean, I would hate myself, too, if I was being ghosted. I—”
“Brianna, stop. I don’t hate you. I couldneverhate you. I just…Well, I miss you.”
Avery’s tears set off a chain reaction, and now we are both a blubbering mess ofI’m sorryandI miss you.
I don’t know why I expected anything else from Avery; empathy oozes from her pores. But my mind hasn’t been the kindest to me as of late. Despite my toxic mental health, I’m able to admit how I’ve been feeling, and I’m damn proud of myself.
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve lied saying everything was great, I could put a nice downpayment on a new car. Speaking of driving, I need a new car since mine was totaled. I have the means to get one. My car wasn’t fully paid off, so the insurance company issued a decent size check for a future new car. But thinking about driving still has my brain spiraling.
Getting a new car feels like a fuck you to my brother. And then getting a new car means actuallydrivingsaid car. And then if you drive, then you’ll have to drive past the scene of the accident.
Yeah…Driving is still a no for me. I’ll tackle that item on my list…eventually. Maybe this is something my therapist can help me with.
“Bri?” Avery asks, interrupting my downward spiral.
“I’m here. Sorry, I got lost in my head, what did you say?”
“You don’t have to apologize for that, I get it. I just said I’m so glad to hear your voice again. Y-You sound better.” Avery’s voice quivers on that last word.
“Avery? Are you okay? D-Did I say something to upset you?”
