MARA’S POV
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Evie’s face. Not the fact that she was standing in the doorway, not her hand that was gripping the doorknob so tightly her knuckles started turning white.
Her face. I have never seen her look at me like that before. She looked broken. My stomach dropped.
I was still in Silas’s arms, his body pressed firmly against mine, one hand at my waist and the other against the side of my face. I became painfully aware of how this must look from where she was standing. My face went pale.
“Evie, I...”
Silas moved before I could finish and steps in front of me. “Evie, listen to me, this isn’t what it looks like.”
“Mara,” my name left her mouth so quietly that it barely sounded like her. “It’s not what you think,” I told her.
She finally tore her eyes away from me and looked at her father. There was something unreadable in her expression. Then, her gaze returned to me.
“How long has this been going on?”
My lips parted but nothing came out. I couldn’t answer.
Her eyes glistened, and when she spoke again, her voice cracked.
“How long have you been fucking my father?!”
Three months earlier...
“Can you believe it?”
I stared at the graduation certificate in my hand and grinned. “I actually did it.”
“You did more than do it.”
Rob’s voice came from across the apartment.
I was finally free. Four years of sleepless nights, assignments, exams, essays, and enough caffeine to cause a cardiac arrest had finally brought me here. I just graduated. And not only did I just graduated as salutatorian. I still couldn’t believe it.
I turned towards him. He was still wearing the suit he wore to dinner, though his tie hung loose around his neck and his sleeves were rolled to his elbows.
“You’re officially too smart for me.”
I smiled wider.
“You’ve been smiling since we left the restaurant.”
“Yeah, because I just graduated.”
“You’ve reminded me approximately nineteen times.”
“Nineteen?”, I gasp dramatically. “I thought it was more.”
He laughed and walked towards me. I barely had time to react before his arms wrapped around my waist.
“You were amazing tonight.”
He murmured against my neck and kissed it.
“You think so?”
I asked as I placed my hands on his chest.
“I know so.” Then he kissed the corner of my mouth. I laughed and gently pushed him away.
“You’re drunk.”
“I had just two glasses of champagne.” he grinned. “Exactly.”
I shook my head and kicked off my heels. My feet were killing me. Rob watched with an amused expression.
“Those shoes looked painful.” “They were.”
“And you wore them anyway.”, he added.
I rolled my eyes and reached for my clutch that I discarded on the couch. My phone was still inside. I pulled it out, expecting nothing more than the usual congratulatory messages waiting for me. Then my screen lit up. Evie was calling.
“It’s Evie," Rob smiled.
“Answer it.” He said. So I did.
“Hello?”
“MARA!” I pulled the phone away from my ear and laughed.
“Hi Evie.”
“Congratulations, my love.”
“Thank you.” I replied.
“I am so, so sorry I wasn’t there.”
“You already apologized.”
“And I’m going to keep on apologizing until you forgive me.”
“Evie, I told you, there’s nothing to forgive.”
“There absolutely is. You graduated as salutatorian and your best friend wasn’t there screaming your name in the front row.”
I smiled, lowering myself onto the couch. “I know you wanted to be there.” “I did.”
There was a slight pause, then she quealed. “I have news.”
“What kind of news?” I asked while sitting up. “The best kind.”
“Evie...”
“Williams proposed.” I froze, my eyes widening in surprise. “What?” “He did.”
“Oh my goodness, Evie! I’m so happy for you.”
“I can’t believe it, Mara, I’m getting married.”
“I know.”
“In three months.”
“What? Congratulations!”
“Thank you!” I could practically hear the smile in her voice. “I wish you were here.”
I looked down at my hands. “I wish I was there too.”
“But you will be.” I frowned, confusion written all over my face.
“What do you mean?”
“Marabelle Jacobs,” She began, “will you make me the happiest bride on earth and be my maid of honor?”
My heart melted, “Aw, Evie...” “Say yes.”
“Of course I’m gonna say yes.” “Really?”
I scoffed, “Obviously.”
She squealed.
“You’re ridiculous.” I said, laughing.
“You’re officially my maid of honor.”
“Indeed, I am.” She laughed, then went quiet. And somehow, I knew there was more.
“You’re doing that thing.”
“What thing?”
“The thing where you get quiet because you’re about to ask me for something.”
She laughed nervously and took a deep breath before letting out, “Okay. Fine.”
I waited.
“I need you to come home.”
My smile faded. Home. There’s only one place she could possibly mean. Westbridge.
“Evie...”
“Please, Mara. Just for three months.” I stared at the floor. “Three months.”
“The wedding is in three months, Mara. I need help. There are dresses and flowers and venues and invitations and I know it’s so soon, but I can’t do this without you here.”
“Soon? Evie, it’s insanely soon.”
“I know, Mara. But please. I need my best friend here.” My voice softened, “Evie.”
“Three months Mara, that’s all I’m asking.”
My fingers tightened around my phone. I haven’t been back to Westbridge in years. Five years to be exact. Five years since I packed my life into three suitcases and promised myself I would never look back. Westbridge wasn’t home anymore. It’s where my father disappeared. Where my mom died. But Evie was asking me to do this for her.
“You’re really serious?” I asked.
“Yes Mara, you know I can’t do this without you.”
I closed my eyes and sucked in a deep breath. I could survive three months. “I’ll be there.” There was a beat of silence, then Evie screamed.
I laughed, despite myself. “You’re impossible.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” “And, Mara?” “Yeah?”
“Thank you.” I smiled. “For you? Always.”
By the time we hung up, I was already mentally preparing myself for Westbridge.
Three months. Then I’d come home. Simple. At least that’s what I thought.
I showered, changed into an oversized tee and some shorts, and started packing. Rob helped from the other side of the bed, folding clothes with considerably less precision than I did.
“That does not belong there.”
He looked at the shirt in his hand and said, “it’s a shirt.” “Yeah, a white shirt.”
“So?”
“It belongs with the other white shirts.”
He stared at me and set the shirt down, then picked up one of my dresses. “Should I pack this?”
“Yes.”
“This?”
“Yes.”
“What about this?” “No.”
“Why?”, he asked.
“Because you folded it wrong.” He looked at me like I’d personally offended him. “It’s clothing, Mara, it doesn’t have a correct folding technique.”
“Yes, it does.”
He shook his head. “I’m going to miss you.”
I looked up, his expression softened. “I’ll miss you too.”
“Three months is a long time.” “It’ll go quickly.”
“You promise.”
“I promise.”
He leaned forward, kissed me, and said, “ I’ll be there a week before the wedding.” Then kissed me again and rested his forehead against mine. “You’re going to be okay.”
I smiled, “I know.”
And I did. At least, I thought I did.
A few minutes later, Rob disappeared into the bathroom to shower. I sat on the edge of the bed with my laptop and opened a flight-search page. The sooner I booked the ticket, the sooner I could stop thinking about it. I searched for the next available flight to Westbridge. Then, my phone vibrated on the nightstand. I glanced at it. Probably Evie. I reached over and picked it up.
Unknown number. I frowned, then opened the message. “Ask Silas Elordi what really happened to your father.”
My smile vanished as I stared at the screen.
Silas.
I read the message again. Then again. And again. My heart beating faster.
I typed, “who is this?”
Then I waited. Nothing. I tried calling the number, but the call didn’t even connect.
I tried again. Nothing.
This must be some sort of sick joke. I blocked the number and placed my phone facedown on the nightstand. Then returned back to what I was doing on my laptop.
My fingers had barely touched the keyboard when my phone vibrated again. I froze. Slowly, I picked it up. Another number, another message.
My stomach dropped.
“You have three months. Don’t waste them.”
I stared at the screen and suddenly, three months didn’t feel like enough time. It felt like a deadline.
