Love Her - Andrea Johnston Page 0,78

Did he ask about me? Does he miss me like I do him?

Commotion is all around us. Machines beeping, people talking in hushed voices. The nurse was in again, checking Ashton’s machines, making notes on her tablet. When I left work early today, I didn’t expect it to be this eventful. When Ashton said she didn’t feel well, she turned three different shades of gray and I thought she was about to pass out. Even after a little water, she began to shake and then the waterworks started. I had no idea what to do, but when she asked me through a quivering voice to take her to the hospital I didn’t hesitate.

“So, do you want to tell me about the ex-husband?”

Shaking my head, I sigh and sit back into the chair. The little room we’re squeezed into has nothing to distract our attention. Not allowing eye contact, I focus on my cuticles instead of making small talk with the one person in my life who hates me more than anyone else. Well, except Connor. He may be the front runner these days.

When she giggles, I can’t help myself and turn my attention her direction. I’m glad to see her smiling, even if it is forced. I know she’s nervous, scared for the doctor to come back with her blood work.

“What’s so funny?”

“This. Us. The fact that you’re here with me.”

“Is it the fact that we aren’t fighting and slinging insults at one another or that I didn’t leave you stranded at the store?”

Ashton scrunches her face like she just ate a lemon. Not licked but ate the entire thing. “Both?”

“Contrary to popular belief, I’m not a bad person. I may not be the nicest person all the time, but neither are you.”

Her eyes widen in shock, then she shrugs a shoulder. “Valid point. Why do we hate each other again?”

Memories of our interactions over the years overshadow the friendship we once had. The way we played together in elementary school, the birthday parties we attended together. I struggle to remember those moments, but I can vividly see the confrontations in the hallway at our high school and the way we would demean one another in front of others.

“I never hated you, Ashton.” She scoffs. I snicker. “Okay, sometimes I did but not at first. Mostly, I was jealous. Not just because I had a huge crush on your brother and he never knew I existed, but also because everything came so easy to you. Your friendships, your good grades, your singing. All of it was seamless and I had to work for everything. Did you know I would get up for school two hours early to get ready just so I looked perfect each day?”

“What are you talking about? You’re beautiful. An asshole but beautiful.”

Rolling my eyes I join her laughing. “I was always jealous of you, ya know?” She surprises me then and smirks at my shock as she continues, “Do you know what it’s like growing up in Lexington as Bentley Sullivan’s little sister? Torture. It was torture. My brother was perfect at everything and each year I had to hear from my teachers what big shoes I had to fill. If I didn’t love him so much, I’d hate him. You, though, gosh, you were just you and I envied that.”

If I wasn’t looking at her, I would think she was lying. There’s nothing but sincerity on her face and in her voice. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought she envied me at all.

“Can I tell you something?”

“Of course,” I reply.

“I took a home pregnancy test this morning. It was positive, but it was also a few years old. That’s why I was at the store, to buy a new one.”

“Ashton, that’s wonderful. Congrat—”

Before I can finish my statement, I see the fear in her eyes. Why we’re here. My heart aches for her. That fear. I’ve lived it. I know how she feels.

“Felicity, what if I’m losing the baby? I haven’t even told Jameson yet. I wanted to make sure.”

Taking her hand in mine, I squeeze it and lift my lips into a small smile. “I don’t know the right thing to say. But, I can tell you that no matter what happens, you’ve done nothing wrong and you have a husband who loves you.”

Wiping a tear she nods her head and then gasps. “Ohmygosh. Are we friends now?”

Laughing, I say, “I think friends may be pushing it. Maybe we could just