It’s been over a week since Shayla, and I parted ways again. I thought walking away from her before was hard, it’s even harder now I’ve realised I’m in love with her. I can’t believe what a mess I’ve made of everything. I’ve lost her. Every single night I jump out of my sleep to the sound of her anguished sobs. Watching her shed a tear was always hard for me, but hearing such despair and suffering in her cry still haunts me. I don’t know what I was thinking, keeping the engagement from her. If I just told her from the beginning, she would be with me right now, but I was worried about her reaction, and instead, she got blindsided entirely and thought I was lying to her—which I wasn’t. Christ, I’m a mess, and I’ve never felt so low in my life. As hard as it is to admit to myself, Aimee was right with what she said. After hearing Shayla sobbing and the look of defeat in her eyes, when I saw her that day in her apar

“Sophie's pregnant.”I stare at Cole numbly, while my fingers lose the grip I had on the glass, which slips and smashes on the tiled floor. Did he just say Sophie is pregnant? Did I really hear him, right? I don’t even think I was blinking while I just sat there staring at him like some kind of an idiot. I think I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.“Oh. Wow. Congratulations. I should, uh, c-clean the glass...” I mutter pathetically while I kneel on the floor attempting to pick up the shards of glass with my trembling fingers.“Shayla, what are you doing?” I hear Cole say as he hurries toward me, kneeling in front of me while I pick up the broken pieces of glass.“It just slipped out of my hand when you…uh, God, I’m so sorry.” I apologise.“Shayla, leave it. Stop, you’re going to hurt yourself, just leave it.” Cole frowns and reaches out to touch me, but

He closes his eyes and shakes his head. “No, I’m not. I’m going to fuck it up like I have everything else. I’m so fucking terrified Shay.”I lift my hand and stroke his jaw, “It’s okay to be scared, but you’ve got this.” I assure him, and he presses his lips to my forehead.“How do you still have so much faith in me after everything I’ve done?” He questions, pulling back and looking into my eyes with such devotion it stole my breath.“Because I love you, you stupid boy,” I whisper, and he smiles a little, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.“And I love you, you silly girl.” He whispers back and leans in kissing me softly on the lips. I sigh when he pulls back, and his eyes search mine for a moment.“You should go,” I tell him, and he shakes his head.“No, I’m not leaving. I’m staying with you.” He declares reta

I reach over and put the music on to drown out the silence in the car. I glance back at her through the mirror when a song we love comes on, and she looks at me briefly her lips curling into a smile as I sing the lyrics along to the music.Forty minutes and a lot of discreet stares later, we arrived at our destination. We walk through the crowd of people— it was more crowded this time than the last time we were here. Shayla was walking beside me with Josh on her left, and I had Sophie on my right. Sophie laces her fingers with mine and my insides recoil, but I let her hold my hand, she is carrying my baby after all. We weren’t even there five minutes before Sophie was complaining.“Oh, good grief. Like hell, I’m eating off those disgusting carts. This place is completely unhygienic. I can’t eat anything from here. I wind up getting sick.” She utters in distaste and Shayla, and I glare at her.“I think you’ll find t

I clear my throat interrupting their conversation. “Are you ready to go?” I ask Shayla and Josh, who look at one another just as Sophie comes back when the rain stops.“Actually, we’re going to stay a little longer. I’m still dying to try out more food, and the girls want to go drink some margaritas, they’ve kindly offered me a ride home so I’ll pick my car up from yours tomorrow,” Josh tells me, and I nod looking at Shayla who holds my gaze for a moment.“Girls, I’ll be right back. I just need to go give Rico something.” Shayla says, and I watch her as she walks off into the crowd.“I should go say bye to Rico, Sophie, you go to the car. I’ll be there in a bit.” I say and hand her the car keys. Sophie begins complaining once again and asks Josh to walk her to the car as I follow Shayla.I see her hand something to Federico and he nods winking at her. She smiles at him, bl