A Friend’s Honesty [POV: Abigail]
Vincent had his hand on the small of my back as we stepped through the grand entrance of his house—our house now. The space was nothing new to me, but it felt different this time. Before, it had been Hannah’s house
But now, he had made it ours.
The nursery was already set up—soft cream walls, a rocking chair by the window, a crib placed perfectly in the center. I ran my fingers along the railing, my heart hammering against my ribs. It was beautiful. He had thought of everything.
“You like it?” Vincent asked, wrapping his arms around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder.
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “It’s perfect.”
He kissed my temple, then whispered, “Go to the garden. I have a surprise for you.”
I turned to him, brow arching. “A surprise?”
His lips curved into a knowing smile. “Someone who doesn’t like me, I’m sure. But someone you’d love to see.”
I hesitated. Evie.
Of course, it was Evie.
I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or nervous. She had always been my voice of reason, the one person who could call me out on my bullshit without hesitation. If anyone was going to judge me for running back to Vincent, for marrying him in secret, it would be her.
Still, I didn’t hesitate as I made my way through the house and stepped into the garden.
And there she was.
Evie stood in the middle of the pathway, arms crossed, an unreadable expression on her face. Her presence alone had my stomach twisting into knots.
For a second, I couldn’t move.
Then, she arched a brow and said, “Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to face the music.”
I let out a breath, stepping forward. “Evie.”
She didn’t move, didn’t offer a smile, just studied me like she was assessing the damage.
Then, with a dramatic sigh, she shook her head. “I should be so mad at you, you know.”
I winced, because I knew she should be.
“I’m sorry,” I said, the words tasting heavier than I expected. “I know you wouldn’t like what I did.”
Evie let out a sharp laugh, placing her hands on her hips. “You bet I wouldn’t. What the hell did you do, Aby? What about Nate? The poor guy was clueless
I pressed my lips together, guilt settling deep in my chest. “I know.”
Evie narrowed her eyes. “Do you?”
She shook her head, stepping closer. “Do you know what you left behind? Because, from where I stand, you ranbetrayed
I looked away, unable to hold her gaze. “How is he?”
Evie sighed, and for the first time, her tone softened.
“Well, rumor has it he’s into alcohol now. Drowning himself in whiskey like it’s water,” she muttered. “You really broke him, Aby.”
The words hit harder than I wanted them to.
I inhaled deeply, pushing a hand through my hair. “I should talk to him.”
Evie studied me for a long moment, then her eyes dropped to my left hand. Her brows shot up.
“Oh my God, you got married?”
I glanced at my ring, suddenly feeling the weight of it pressing against my skin.
“I—” I hesitated, not knowing how to react. I hadn’t even processed it myself, let alone prepared to defend it.
Evie exhaled loudly, rubbing her temples. “Jesus, Aby. What am I supposed to say to that?”
I shrugged. “I know it’s stupid, right?”
She sighed, then grabbed both of my hands in hers. “You’re the only person who knows what would make you happy. As your friend, my job is to be there for you. No matter how stupid that decision is.”
A laugh bubbled out of me before I could stop it. “That’s… strangely comforting.”
Evie smirked. “Yeah, well, don’t get used to it. I still think you’re a dumbass.”
I nudged her shoulder playfully, grateful for the familiarity between us.
After a pause, I took a deep breath. “Will you do the honor of being my baby’s godmother?”
Evie’s eyes widened.
Her lips parted slightly, as if she wasn’t sure she had heard me right.
Then, she grinned.
“Are you kidding me? Of course, I will!”
She pulled me into a tight hug, and for the first time in weeks, I felt like I had a piece of myself back.
Maybe I had made mistakes. Maybe I had hurt people.
But right now, in this moment, I wasn’t alone.
