Chapter 25 – Andie
ANDIE
We had had an amazing time in Spain, soaking up the sun by the villa’s pool during the day. Our evenings were spent dancing, with many selfies taken. The time away had been good for my soul and I was starting to feel like the old, happy me again.
It was the last day of the holiday. I was lounging on a recliner by the pool, enjoying the warmth of the sun’s rays, and listening to the other girls laughing and joking from inside the house.
It was so quiet and peaceful; I laid back and closed my eyes.
My phone pinged on the side table beside me and I picked it up to see it was a text from Morgan. My heart rate immediately picked up.
M: All is okay in house.
A: That’s good. How are you and Charlie?
M: It’s so good having him at home. Can we talk when you get back?
A: Is this about that hot kiss you planted on me before I came out here?
Remembering the kiss made me rub my thighs together.
M: It is and about what you said to Baz.
A: Then yes, we definitely need to talk.
M: I can’t stop thinking about you.
My heart thumped in my chest and my hands shook, making it hard to text back.
A: I’ve been thinking about you, too.
M: Good. Go and have fun. Can’t wait to see you.
A: Can’t wait to see you either.
We were going out for dinner later that evening.
I hired a local hairdresser and beautician service to work on us all, wanting a nice pamper session so we could look our best for the final evening.
I couldn’t keep the grin off my face as I picked up my ice-cold water and sipped at it.
The week away had been good for me and Morgan’s texts made me realise that I had missed him more than I admitted, and I did love him.
Somewhere in our friends with benefits agreement I had fallen in love with him, too.
“What are you grinning at?” Lauren asked, Betty, and Kate following her out to the pool, all looking beautiful after having their hair and makeup done.
“Well, you ladies look stunning.” I lifted my sunglasses and wolf whistled. “Guess it’s my turn.” I jumped up and quickly made my way across the side of the pool.
“Not so fast,” Lauren called out, and I stopped in my tracks.
“What, or should I say who, has got you all smiley and looking loved up.” I looked at Kate who had taken a seat on the recliner next to Betty whilst Lauren was stood up with her hands on her hips giving me a ‘spill it’ look.
“Hey, don’t look at me. You and Morgan aren’t together anymore. I don’t expect you to be celibate for the rest of your life. I’m your friend and would like to know who’s got you looking so happy, it’s nice to see.” She smiled warmly at me.
“So, come on, tell us!” Betty said.
“Well, it’s Morgan.” I put my thumb nail in my mouth and bit down on it, smiling from behind it.
“What?” Lauren looked between the others who shrugged at her then looked back to me.
“Did you know about this?” Betty asked Kate.
“No, I had no idea. Morgan has been really angry and drinking a lot lately. He hasn’t mentioned anything.”
All three sets of eyes were back on me. “Well, we shared a kiss on the day we flew out here-”
“You fucker! You didn’t say anything,” Lauren said.
“Well, you didn’t say anything about your new guy,” I shot back.
Her mouth opened and closed for a few beats, “You still should have told us. This is a huge thing. My thing is new, and we will see how it goes.”
“I didn’t know what it meant. I went to tell him that we were coming away and he said be safe, kissed me, then went back to work.” I shrugged.
“So, he kissed you and then said nothing?” Betty asked looking confused.
I nodded.
“Was it a peck or a full on make out session?” Lauren asked.
Again, I looked to Kate. It was so fucking awkward talking about her son.
“Look, I know this is my son, but I’m choosing to focus on the part that’s just your love life and not his, okay? So, how was the kiss?”
“It was amazing. Not a peck, but not a full make out session either. But it just felt…right, you know?” I sat down hard on the chair by the door and couldn’t keep the dreamy smile off my face.
“We know!” The three of them said all together, then burst out laughing.
“Yeah, well, we’ve been texting back and forth and we’re going to talk tomorrow when I get home.” I grinned at them.
“And you’re going to say yes, right?” Lauren asked.
“Yes, to what?”
“He wants to get back together obviously. You have to say yes. This last few months with the two of you separated has been hell for all of us,” Betty said, with Lauren and Kate nodding in agreement.
“We don’t know that that’s what he wants yet,” I argued.
“But if he does?” Kate asked with a hopeful look on her face.
“If he does, then yes. I want to be with him, properly this time.” I nodded, grinning and laughing with them when they all began whooping and hollering. “I’ll go get ready then.” I laughed as I was walking into the house as they continued their celebrations over my love life.
I sat in the chair from the dining room and let the hairdresser and beautician work their magic. When they were done, I paid them and thanked them both before seeing them out.
I checked on the girls who were drinking and laughing out by the pool and made my way to my bedroom to get dressed. I chose a cream sun dress and placed it directly over my swimsuit.
Whilst checking myself out in the full-length mirror I had a sharp pang of pain hit my stomach. “Must be hungry,” I said to myself, having one last check in the mirror before moving downstairs to meet up with the girls.
“You look amazing. Thank you for this week. It’s been so much fun,” Betty said.
“Thank you.” I smiled; it had been a good week.
“Let’s get a final night selfie,” Lauren said pulling out her selfie stick. We took many photos with several different poses.
“Taxi’s here,” Kate called out from her place by the window.
I started to walk to the door when I got a searing pain in my stomach. I grabbed hold of my abdomen when another pain came, and I collapsed to my knees. I knew what was happening before I saw the blood between my legs. This had happened before, several times.
“Andie, are you okay?” Betty said, trying to help me up from the floor.
“Fuck, can you just get me up onto the sofa please?” I gasped. The pains were coming more regular and sharper.
“I’ve called an ambulance,” Kate said, standing in front of me with a furrowed brow.
The ambulance came and took me to hospital as the girls used the taxi to follow me. After being rushed through their emergency department and examined by a doctor, he told me what I already knew.
“You have had a miscarriage. I’m very sorry,” he said gently in a British accent. I nodded, tears falling from my eyes and unable to form words. “You will need to stay with us for another twenty-four hours so we can keep an eye on you.”
“Okay, I can re arrange flights.”
“I would advise that you don’t fly for at least forty-eight hours. I will tell your friends that they can see you now. They have been nagging my staff for the last hour.” He smiled warmly at me.
“Can you please tell them what’s happened? I don’t think I can face that right now,” I whispered, tears streaming down my cheeks.
“Of course. You rest up and I will send them in.”
The door opened softly, and the girls come in. “Hey you,” Lauren almost whispered, coming to sit on the side of my bed.
“Hey.”
“How are you feeling, love?” Betty came and sat on my other side.
“Devastated.” I sobbed into Lauren’s shoulder as both of them rubbed my back.
“I’ve texted Jon, he will be here as soon as he can.”
“Andie, I’m so sorry sweetheart.” She paused, fiddling with her rings. “I’m sorry to bring this up, but should I let Morgan know?” Kate said.
I looked up at her with my chest heaving from the sobs, seeing tears in her eyes also and nodded. “Tell him I’m sorry I lost our baby.” I broke down again, burying myself into Lauren’s side.