Chapter 60

"I’m pregnant." I splurted out the content from my mouth. It was disgusting and embarrassing. And I was glad I was wearing a dark outfit or it will stain. My eyes were wide like a saucer. The liquor was dripping from my mouth and it was such a sight to see. "Are you okay?" She asked in alarm. Her hand was on my shoulder seeming to comfort me. "God, Sierra. Why do you always say it when I’m in the middle of drinking?" She pulled back her hand with an innocent face. I wiped my mouth with a tissue. "Sorry." She said meekly. "So you two really did settle your differences. And now you’re pregnant. That’s great, Sierra. That means you two are together now. I mean aside from the fact that you’re married but that’s besides the point." I was excited for her. The baby is going to be so beautiful just like her mom and dad. Oh my god. My friend is going to be a mom. She shook her head with an emotion I can’t seem to figure out. I frowned. What the hell is going on? "You have no idea, Ave. Ashton and I... it’s complicated." She stared at her shake while playing the rim of the glass. "It’s complicated? Last time I checked, you two were doing okay. What’s wrong, Sierra? Are you alright?" "I don’t know. I... don’t know, Ave. The two of us are on and off. We’re okay. We’re not okay. I really thought there’s something to look forward to in us. It turns out I was wrong." She spat the last part bitterly. I tilted my head offering my ear to her. I wanted to hear everything she says before saying anything. Most of all, I want to let her rant her heart out. I want to let her feel that I, her friend, am always here for here. To listen to her rant her problems or cry her heart out. "It was a over a month ago when something finally happened between us. It was a moment of weakness. Ashton went home drunk. I got mad at him for being so reckless. I’m pretty sure he went to a club again. As you know, he has a reputation for women. He thought I was acting jealous. I was only concerned that we’d be in the front cover of the magazine for his carelessness. I would be the laughing stock, Ave. It would be embarrassing that I can’t even control my playboy husband. He got mad that I was mad so we fought. He was so stubborn and childish. Before that night, we were doing alright you know. We went out a lot and dated. And then he made a stupid mistake. He made me believe all that stupid flowers and chocolates." She sighed. "I don’t know how it happened but it happened, Ave. I was frustrated and hurt so I decided to leave him that night. I was already at the front door ready to leave him and go on with my own life. Ashton was clearly a waste of my time and I decided to just divorce him. He suddenly panicked and pleaded for my forgiveness. And it... happened. We kissed and it led to another. We’re okay since then." She sighed again. "But?" I knew there was a but in that. She wouldn’t be feeling this way if they were okay. "But then he did something stupid again the night we were celebrating your birthday. When you left, Jenna and I were prepared to leave too. I went to find Ashton only to find out some woman was clinging to him and he was smiling like he liked it." She spat. "I didn’t tell anyone about it. After you walked out on us, the night was already horrible for us. Jenna was already worried about you. I can’t let her worry for me too. I continued doing so until now. Ashton didn’t know that I saw him. I tried to act the same to him but made sure to make some distance. I am falling for him, Ave. I don’t want to make the same mistake of falling that deep and not be able to get up." "Sierra-" "I feel like shit, Ave. I don’t know what to do now that we have this baby. I wanted to keep this to myself but I’m so worried right now that I just wanted to confide in you." Her voice constricted in pain. Her hands covered her face as if she didn’t want anyone to see that she’s crying. "Oh, Sierra. You know you can always confide in me. I am always here for you." "I know. That’s why it’s hard for me to tell you this. I can’t rely to you all the time. You’ve been my rock, Ave. The only way that I could return those favors is to give you material things. I mean let’s face it. Money is the only thing this bitch have." So this is why she kept giving me a lot of things. It didn’t cross my mind at all that she thinks this way. "What are you talking about, Sierra? I can’t believe you think like that. You’re my friend. Hell you’re my best friend. You’re the only one who’s true to me. You and Jenna." I added. "As you do." She smiled at me softly. I returned her smile. "But don’t ever think that way again. It’s enough for me that you bother me or fight me and tease me with something. Be here for me and confide in me. You’re actually the reason why Stefano and I have another shot in relationship. I’m certainly not blowing that off." I said the end with conviction. She smiled at me not letting her emotions get in the way to be happy for me. "I’m happy for you, Ave. I thought you moved on with that professor of yours. I guess it makes a possessive and furious Stefano to drive you to the edge and admit your feelings. I mean you’re head over heels for him. You don’t really show it in your damn beautiful face but it’s clear enough that your brain is obsessing with him." She said amused. "I am not obsessed! " I exclaimed with obvious strong denial but my body said the opposite thing. It was heating. If I know any better, if it weren’t for the dim lighting, my red skin would make Sierra laugh as she usually do when she tries to tease me with Stefano. Am I that obvious when I kept thinking about him? I mean I did space out all the time and my mind was filled with him then. I guess even now. He fills my mind and I don’t even force myself to think about him. He naturally comes and goes. Sierra giggled. "What about the baby?" Her smile morphed into a frown. Well that killed her mood. Just when she started to smile. Way to ruin the moment, Ave. "Sorry. I thought we needed to talk about that instead." She nodded. "It’s okay. You’re right. I can’t escape this. A few months from now, it will show. I have no choice but to tell him. But I’d probably tell him later. Like later, later." Her shoulders slumped about the thought. I frowned. "You can’t do that. If Ashton finds this out later, he’ll be furious. He has the right for this baby as much as you do. Like you said, you can’t escape this and certainly hide this." "I’m just so confused right now. I don’t know what to do." She kept staring at her drink with a slump shoulder. She’s too stressed out that she couldn’t even look at me while talking. "You need to talk to him. You can’t honestly hold a grudge against him, Sierra. What if you misunderstood something about him? What if that girl actually just forced herself to him?" Her head quickly turned and finally face me. Her face scowled and looked disgusted. Her nose flared. And for the first time tonight, the original Sierra is back. "You honestly think that pleasant look on his face when that girl clung to her was forced? You said so yourself, Avery, for so many times, he’s a freaking playboy. I don’t even know why I’ve grown to like him. What he always does is annoy the hell out of me. He can’t even control his **** when there’s a fucking chick around." Her voice grew louder as the words went out of her mouth. I grew hyper aware if somebody will hear us. "Calm down, Sierra." I said with concern. My hand landed in her shoulder to sooth her. "I can’t honestly calm down. I’m a wreck." "There’s no other way, Sierra. You need to talk to him and sort this out. Right now, you need to think about it and prioritise him... or her." As I stare at her stomach. No matter, I am actually happy for her. The kid will be a bundle of joy. No one will be able to resist its charm. She sighed heavily. "You’re right. I can’t be selfish right now." I smiled at her softly. She wasn’t really looking at me but I know she can feel my smile. "No one can blame you feeling this way. But it’s better now or never. Better now than later. Nonetheless you’ll be facing the same thing. You can’t be stressed out now you have another life in you." She nodded firmly. "You’re right." She turned to me with a smirk. "You know you always have the power to convince me. And the right words to say." She quickly followed the last part. "Hey, I have a huge responsibility in your marriage too you know. I mean I did convince you to give him a chance." I bumped her shoulder playfully. "C’mon, Sierra. Give him also a chance to hear him out. If he’s actually making an effort to your relationship in the first place, why would he ruin it in a blink of an eye? Ashton is not that stupid to flirt with a woman when he knew his wife was there." "Ashton is stupid. Period." She rolled her eyes as she spoke. I chuckled. "But you will him hear out, right?" She nodded. "Are you excited about the baby? " "Truthfully... I am. I never have siblings to play with when I was a child. Don’t have any friends. I mean I was homeschooled. I always know children are fun. I used to stare at them playing from inside the car. This baby... makes me in no doubt really happy. I wish you were the father though. But that’s not gonna happen is it?" We then laughed at her absurd imagination. The rest of the night we continued to talk. The plans for the baby, the future and of course, she didn’t let it pass the subject about me and Stefano. We concluded not to talk about Ashton anymore since we have agreed that she’ll talk to him soon. We didn’t want to ruin our night with subjects about problems. We decided we want to chill. I missed her despite the fact that she did something crazy on the night of my birthday. It’s been a while we hang out since that night. We didn’t really take too long there. We still considered the fact that she’s now carrying her child, thus she needed to be careful and not enjoy too much. I’m pretty sure Ashton trusted her confidently considering I and Jenna are the only friends she has. We are in his good lists if you think about it. We decided to head out a little later than 12. We were talking and laughing while walking towards the parking lot. The night was a bit peaceful aside from the group of drunk guys laughing and talking. Though I was confident with how I could defend myself, it doesn’t hurt to be too careful and alert. Drunk or not, there are always those kind of people who would ruin your life in a blink of an eye. "Well, well. If it isn’t the little bitch who owe me my arm." Like them.