Chapter Fourteen
Unspoken Truths
Emma
Present Time
S arah’s sitting cross-legged on my couch, her laptop balanced on her knees as she sifts through spreadsheets for her latest work project. She’s been at it for over an hour, her brow furrowed and lips pursed in that way they get when she’s laser-focused.
I sit across from Sarah, scrolling through my email, trying to muster the energy to deal with the flood of messages. My eyes catch on the reminder I’d set for Jace’s wedding—something I don’t actually need since I’m already part of the bridal party. I glance up at Sarah, who’s been unusually quiet, aside from the occasional frustrated sigh aimed at her laptop screen.
“You free on the 15th?” I ask casually, my tone light as I try to gauge her mood .
Sarah doesn’t look up, her fingers pausing on the keyboard. “Why? What’s happening on the 15th?”
“Jace’s wedding.”
That gets her attention. Her head snaps up, her eyes wide with surprise—or maybe something else. “Jace’s wedding?” she echoes, her voice a little higher-pitched than normal.
I nod, trying not to make a big deal of her reaction. “Yeah, it’s next month. I’ve got a plus one, and I thought maybe you’d want to come with me?”
She doesn’t answer right away. Instead, she sets her laptop aside, pulling her knees up to her chest. “You’re asking me to be your date to Jace’s wedding?”
“Well, yeah,” I say, frowning slightly. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Her gaze flickers away, her lips pressing into a thin line. “I don’t know. It’s just… weddings can be weird, you know? Especially when it’s someone you’re…” She trails off, shaking her head. “Never mind.”
I study her, my curiosity piqued. “Someone you’re… what, Sarah?”
She shrugs, her shoulders tight. “It’s nothing. Forget I said anything.”
But it’s not nothing. The way she’s avoiding my eyes, the faint blush creeping up her neck—it’s everything .
“You like him, don’t you?” I say softly, the realization hitting me like a ton of bricks.
Her head jerks up, her eyes wide with something between panic and denial. “What? No. Jace and I are just friends. That’s all.”
But I’ve known Sarah long enough to spot her tells. The way she fidgets with the hem of her sweater, the way her voice wavers just slightly—she’s lying.
“Sarah…” I start, but she cuts me off with a wave of her hand.
“Don’t. It doesn’t matter, okay? He’s getting married. End of story.”
I want to press her, tell her that it does matter, but the look on her face stops me. It’s a mix of frustration and heartbreak,and I know better than to push when she gets this way.
Instead, I nod slowly. “Okay. But you’re still coming with me, right?”
She hesitates, her teeth worrying at her bottom lip. “You really want me to go?”
“Of course I do,” I say firmly. “I mean, I’m going to need someone to keep me sane with all the small talk and awkward dances. Plus, you’re my best friend. Who else would I bring?”
That earns me a small smile, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Alright, fine. I’ll go. ”
“Good,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. “But I’m picking the playlist for the road trip. I’m not listening to another one of your true crime podcasts on the way there.”
She rolls her eyes, but the tightness in her shoulders seems to ease, even if only slightly.
As the evening wears on, Sarah seems to relax, laughing at my terrible attempts at organizing my closet and making fun of the questionable snacks I find at the back of my pantry. But every now and then, I catch her staring off into the distance, her expression unreadable.
And I know, no matter how much she tries to hide it, there’s a part of her that’s breaking at the thought of seeing Jace marry someone else.
……………………………………………………………
The smell of freshly brewed coffee fills my kitchen as I pour a second cup, the sound of Sarah’s laughter echoing from the living room. She’s sprawled out on the couch, scrolling through her phone with a blanket wrapped around her legs, looking like she belongs there. It’s been nice having her here since she moved back. Comfortable, even.
“You’re really going to make me wait all morning to hear the details?” she calls, lifting an eyebrow as I walk back in and hand her the cup.
I roll my eyes, sitting cross-legged on the chair across from her. “Details about what? ”
“Oh, I don’t know.” She taps her chin dramatically. “Maybe because you’ve been suspiciously quiet about a certain someone possibly being there.”
I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. “What’s there to say? It’s Sierra and Jace’s wedding. They’re tying the knot. Love, cake, dancing—the whole nine yards.”
Sarah tilts her head, giving me a knowing look. “Uh-huh. And yet, you’re dodging the obvious question.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Which is?”
Her eyes narrow, and her playful grin widens. “So, have you RSVP’d yet?”
“I don’t have to. I’m in the wedding,” I remind her, smirking. “The real question is—are you totally okay with going? Seeing Jace get married and all?”
Sarah freezes for a split second, her smile faltering before she recovers. “Of course,” she says lightly, but there’s something off about her tone. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
I raise an eyebrow, leaning forward. “I don’t know… maybe because you’ve been unusually quiet every time his name comes up?”
Sarah ignores this and instead, takes a sip of her coffee, the silence between us stretching just long enough to feel like a question. She avoids my gaze, fiddling with the edge of her sweater, and finally I clear my throat.
“So, again I just want to make sure you are still good to be my plus one?” I ask, changing the subject. “I mean, I just want to make sure you are comfortable. I love you and wouldn’t want to put you in that sort of predicament.”
Her lips twitch, but the smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yeah, I’ll be there. Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Good,” I say, forcing a lightness into my tone. “I could use the backup. Weddings are always easier with someone to laugh at awkward speeches with.”
Her laughter is soft, but it doesn’t last long. I catch the flicker in her expression, the way her shoulders tense just slightly at the mention of Jace’s name. It’s fleeting, but it’s enough to make me wonder.
I watch her closely just to make sure. “Okay then, thank you for coming with me, I mean. It’s going to be a lot of people, and…”
“And Ethan,” she finishes, her voice quieter now. She shrugs, setting her cup down. “How are you feeling about that? Seeing him again, I mean.”
Her words are careful, and the way she watches me, her eyes searching, makes it clear she’s not just asking out of curiosity. I glance down at my cup, tracing the rim with my finger to buy myself a moment.
“I don’t know,” I admit, the words coming out softer than I intended. “It’s been a long time. And things… Well, they didn’t exactly end the best.”
Sarah leans forward, her elbows on the table. “You don’t have to see him if you’re not ready, you know. Weddings are busy. It’s easy enough to avoid someone if you really want to.”
I shake my head, forcing a small smile. “I can’t avoid seeing him, Sarah. He’s in the wedding, just like me. There’s no way around it.”
She tilts her head, her expression softening. “Fair point. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be… hard.”
“I know,” I say, my voice quieter now. “But it’s Jace’s day. I’m not going to make things weird or about me. I can handle it.” I tell her but in reality, I’m not entirely sure I can.
Her gaze lingers on me for a moment before she nods. “Just… make sure you’re ready to see him again. It’s been a long time.”
“I will,” I say, though the knot forming in my stomach makes me wonder if that’s entirely true.
“So, what are you packing for the weekend?” she asks, a sly grin creeping across her face. “And please tell me you’re bringing something that’ll make a certain someone kick himself for being an idiot. ”
I laugh, grateful for the shift in tone. “Aside from the bridesmaid dress? I’ll pack a couple of outfits. Nothing too flashy.”
She narrows her eyes at me, smirking. “Flashy, no. But something hot? Absolutely. Trust me, it’s not a bad idea to remind him of what he’s missing.”
I roll my eyes but can’t help smiling. “You’re impossible.”
“Only because I care,” she quips, raising her mug in a mock toast.
But even as we joke, I can’t shake the thought lingering in the back of my mind—the way her voice softened when Ethan came up, the way she looked at me like she was waiting for me to admit something I wasn’t ready to say. Maybe she’s just being a good friend, or maybe she sees something I’m not ready to face.
And something tells me that seeing him again might force me to.
As the day drifts on, Sarah leaves to run errands, and I’m left with my own thoughts, a dangerous place to be. I stare out the kitchen window, watching the light shift through the trees, my fingers tracing the rim of my coffee mug. The idea of going back home for Jace’s wedding stirs a mix of emotions I don’t know how to process. Excitement, dread, nostalgia—it’s all tangled together .
I grab my phone, scrolling mindlessly through my notifications, but my thumb hesitates when I see Ethan’s name pop up in a tagged photo on Jace’s Instagram. It’s just a candid shot from some training session, Ethan laughing with the guys, his smile as wide and carefree as I remember. My chest tightens, and I swipe past it before I let myself spiral.
It’s been years. I’ve moved on—or at least, I tell myself I have. But the thought of seeing him again, of being in the same room after everything, makes my stomach twist.
The last time we spoke, it felt final. Like the book had closed, and we were both too stubborn to open it again. But now, with the wedding looming, I wonder what it’ll be like to see him. Will he be the same Ethan I grew up with, or someone entirely different?
The thought sticks with me as I go about my afternoon, trying to focus on work but failing miserably. The cursor blinks on the blank document in front of me, taunting me, and I let out a frustrated sigh.
My phone buzzes, breaking the silence, and I snatch it up, hoping for a distraction. It’s a text from Sarah.
Sarah : How’s it going? Everything okay?
I blink at the screen, caught off guard. I hesitate for a moment before typing back.
Me : Yeah, why?
Her reply is almost instant.
Sarah : Just checking. You seemed a little off earlier.
I chew on my lip, debating how much to say. Finally, I settle on honesty—or at least part of it.
Me : Just thinking about the wedding. It’s weird, you know? Going back.
Sarah : Yeah, I agree. But we’ll get through it together. Promise.
Her words are simple, but they settle something in me. No matter what happens, I won’t be facing it alone.
With a deep breath, I close my laptop and stand, heading to my closet. If I’m going to survive this wedding, I might as well start by finding the perfect armor—or, in this case, clothes that make me feel like I can handle anything.
I flip through the hangers in my closet, pulling out dresses and outfits I haven’t touched in years. Some still have tags on them, remnants of impulse buys I thought I’d have a reason to wear but never did. As I sift through them, my mind drifts back to Sarah’s text. We’ll get through it together.
A small smile tugs at my lips. If nothing else, Sarah’s always been my constant, the one person who’s been there no matter what. I pull out a navy-blue dress, holding it up to the mirror. It’s simple but still sexy, with a fitted waist and a flowy skirt. Perfect for the rehearsal dinner, but not over the top.
My phone buzzes again, and I glance at the screen, expecting Sarah. But it’s Jace.
Jace : Hey, Em! Just checking in. Wanted to make sure you’ve got your flight info all set. Can’t wait to see you.
I hesitate before replying, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. Jace was such a good friend to me after Ethan left, but the idea of seeing him—and by extension, Ethan—stirs up feelings I can’t quite shake.
Me : Thanks, Jace. And to answer your question, yes, all set and booked. Looking forward to it. :)
His reply comes almost instantly.
Jace : Any chance you’re bringing a plus one? ;)
I laugh softly, shaking my head.
Me : Yes, Sarah’s coming with me. She’s my built-in wedding buddy.
Jace: Oh… yeah, that’s perfect. It’ll be good to see her. It’s… been a while.
I bite my lip, thinking about the way Sarah’s face lights up whenever Jace’s name comes up—and how Jace always gets a little awkward whenever hers does. There’s something unspoken between them, but it’s hard to tell if Jace even notices it or if it’s all just Sarah. Maybe that’s why she’s never said anything, why she’s always brushed it off like it’s nothing.
Me : Agreed. It’s been too long. See you soon. :)
I set my phone down, my thoughts drifting back to Sarah. I’ve known her long enough to recognize the way her eyes soften when she talks about Jace, the way she avoids certain topics when he comes up. And now that I think about it, her enthusiasm for being my plus one might not be just about being supportive.
It’s obvious she has feelings for him? I just hope it’s not too hard on her at the wedding?
The question sticks in my head as I finish sorting through dresses and other various pieces of clothing, laying a few options on the bed. I glance at the clock, realizing it’s getting late, and shoot Sarah a quick text.
Me : Think I have my wardrobe pinned down. Want to come over tomorrow to help me pick?
Her reply is immediate.
Sarah : Obviously. I’ll bring wine.
I smile, setting the phone aside and looking back at the clothing on the bed. The wedding is only a couple of weeks away, and as much as I’ve tried to prepare myself, the thought of seeing Ethan still twists my stomach into knots .
What’s he going to say? What am I going to say?
I shake the thoughts away, grabbing the navy-blue dress and hanging it back up. One step at a time. For now, I just need to get through tomorrow.