Page 24 of Almost
“Thank you. We’re more like sisters than friends at this point.”
I feel happy tears well up in my eyes because that’s exactly what Blake is to me.
When I pull back to wipe my eyes, Owen is smiling at me. Too nicely, though. It’s weird. I don’t like it.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“I have my own surprise for you too.”
“Well, what is it?” I ask bluntly, and he motions over my shoulder.
“It’s not a what. It’s a who.”
I turn quickly, and more tears fill my eyes when I catch sight of Chris standing there with his two-year-old son, Henry. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were my best friend, but you look far too successful and put together to be her. She’s a bit of a hot mess.”
“No way, you told me you couldn’t come when I invited you!” I say, moving quickly to hug him tightly. His deep laugh resonates through me, and I relish the familiar sound.
“It would have ruined the surprise.”
Chris and I had a rocky start to our friendship in college because he’s basically refused to put up with any of my shit. Once he figured out I wasn’t going anywhere, he made more of an effort to be my friend since he was still at Duke getting his master’s degree. He ended up becoming one of my best friends, until he moved down to Florida when Allie was offered a job there. We talk every few months to catch up, but he’s busy with his family and I’ve been busy travelingthe world. Scheduling phone calls is difficult with the different time zones and unpredictableness of life.
I crouch down carefully because of my dress to be the same height as Henry. “Hi, buddy, do you remember who I am?” I ask softly, and Henry nods once, a puzzled expression on his face. His dark hair is swept out of his face, and his little bowtie melts my heart. “I’m sorry I haven’t come to see you recently, but I have a book at my house that I got you from France last time I was there.”
Chris laughs again as Henry now beams at me. “Lia, he couldn’t even tell you where we live, let alone where France is.”
I stick my tongue out at him. “Well I’m going to make sure Henry is fluent in French.D’accord, petit bonhomme?”
Chris moves to hug everyone else as I lift Henry into my arms. I balance him on my hip, bouncing him slightly as he giggles quietly. “No Allie?”
“She said to tell you congratulations, but she had to work. It’s just us this time.”
“I’m really glad you’re here. I can’t believe you guys kept this from me!” I glare accusingly at Owen who simply shrugs.
“There’s been a lot going on. I thought you could use a good surprise,” he says, playing it off with a smile, but this means everything to me.
My parents are around here somewhere; Mom is probably chatting someone’s ear off, and Dad is most likely following her around quietly. Penelope is…actually, I’m not quite sure where Penelope is. I look around, trying to spot her dark hair among the crowd of people, but it’s become a little crowded in here.
I’ll find her in a little bit; she’s got to be somewhere around here.
“It was a great surprise, thank you, Owen,” I say, giving him a smile as I adjust my grip on Henry.
Chris smiles apologetically at Eric. “Hey man, I’m sorry, but I’m going to steal her for a bit if that’s okay? I think we’ve got some catching up to do.”
“She’s all yours. Thalia does what she wants, and I’m not going to try to control her. I’d hate to get punched like Bash,” he teases, and I roll my eyes as they all laugh. They wouldn’t find it funny if they knew what he said.
“Well, I guess that answers one of my questions already.”
My cheeks are burning red because of course he’s seen those stupid clickbait articles about Sebastian’s black eye. I set Henry on the floor gently, but he’s quick to reach for my hand. Baby fever is totally 100 percent a thing.
“I’ll come find you later,” I promise Eric, who only smiles, shooing me away with his hands. I glance around, trying to find a quieter spot that will give us a chance to talk more freely. I have a firm grip on Henry’s hand, but Chris eventually picks him up. “How’s Florida?” I ask as we work our way through, observing the portraits.
“Sunny, rainy, humid. I used to think there was nowhere more humid than here, but I was wrong. It’s not my favorite spot, and I wish I’d known that before Allie accepted that job,” he admits. I look at Chris in surprise, catching the almost resentful tone in his voice.
“Why didn’t Allie really come?”
Chris adjusts Henry in his arms, but he’s squirming, clearly wanting down. “We’re going through a rough patch right now. She needed the weekend to relax or whatever.Being a parent and married is harder than she thought it would be.”
“I’m really sorry, Chris.”