𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐀 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫

𝐅 𝐎 𝐑 𝐓 𝐘 - 𝐍 𝐈 𝐍 𝐄

Lowin

Henry's apartment always felt like a second home to me. The familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the lingering aroma of the coffee he brewed every morning. The walls were lined with posters of his favorite bands, and the living room was cluttered with all the little things that made Henry, well, Henry. It was a place where I could be myself without any pretense, and today, I needed that comfort more than ever.

As I walked into his apartment, I kicked off my shoes and made my way to the kitchen, where Henry was already rummaging through the fridge. He looked up when he heard me, a grin spreading across his face.

"Hey, Ro," he greeted me, pulling out a can of soda and popping it open. "What's up? You look like you've got something on your mind."

I couldn't help but smile at his perceptiveness. "Yeah, I do. I need your help with something."

"Of course," he said, motioning for me to take a seat at the kitchen island. "What's going on?"

I sat down, resting my elbows on the counter and leaning in a little closer. "I want to make a romantic dinner for Sofiana."

Henry's eyebrows shot up, and a wide grin spread across his face. "Well, well, well! Look at you, planning romantic gestures. I'm impressed!"

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm serious, Henry. I really want to do something special for her. She's been so amazing, and I just... I want to show her how much she means to me."

Henry leaned back against the counter, taking a sip of his soda as he studied me. "You're really into her, aren't you?"

I felt my cheeks flush slightly as I nodded. "Yeah, I am. More than I ever thought I could be."

"That's awesome, Ro," Henry said, his voice warm with sincerity. "So, what's the plan? What kind of dinner are you thinking?"

I bit my lip, thinking about it for a moment. "I was thinking something simple but elegant, you know? Maybe some pasta, a nice salad, and a dessert that we can share. And, of course, some wine."

Henry nodded thoughtfully. "That sounds perfect. I know a great recipe for a garlic shrimp pasta that's easy to make but still super impressive. I can write it down for you."

"That would be amazing," I said, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "Thank you, Henry."

He waved a hand dismissively. "No problem at all. I'm happy to help you woo your lady."

I laughed, feeling a little more at ease now that I had a plan in place. But there was still something else on my mind, something I needed to talk to Henry about.

"Actually, there's something else I wanted to tell you," I said, my tone growing more serious.

Henry raised an eyebrow, setting his soda down on the counter. "What is it?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to start. But this was Henry, my best friend, and if I couldn't talk to him, who could I talk to?

"It's about Eleanor," I finally said, my voice soft.

Henry's expression immediately shifted to one of concern. "What about her? Is everything okay?"

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "She's pregnant."

The silence that followed was deafening. Henry stared at me, his eyes wide with shock, his mouth slightly open as if he couldn't quite process what I'd just said.

"Pregnant?" he finally echoed, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Yeah. She told our dad yesterday morning. It was a huge shock, obviously."

Henry blinked, shaking his head as if trying to clear his thoughts. "Wow. I didn't see that coming. How is she? How are you?"

"She's... well, she's scared, I think," I admitted. "I mean, she's only eighteen. And our dad... he was shocked, of course, but he's being supportive. He told her that everything's going to be okay."

"That's good," Henry said, nodding slowly. "But damn, Lowin. I can't believe it. Eleanor's going to be a mom."

"I know," I said, still feeling a bit dazed by the whole situation. "It's crazy. And to be honest, I'm still trying to wrap my head around it."

Henry was quiet for a moment, then a mischievous grin crept onto his face. "So, does this mean you're going to be an aunt? Auntie Lo Lo?"

I groaned, burying my face in my hands as I felt my cheeks flush. "Don't call me that!"

Henry laughed, the sound warm and familiar, and it was impossible not to smile along with him. "Come on, you know it's true! You're going to be the cool aunt who spoils the kid rotten."

I lifted my head, giving him a mock glare. "If you start calling me Auntie Lo Lo, I'm never speaking to you again."

Henry held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright! I won't call you that... at least, not in public."

I couldn't help but laugh, feeling some of the tension in my chest finally ease. "Thanks, Henry. I knew I could count on you to make me feel better about all this."

"That's what best friends are for," he said with a wink. "And hey, if you need help with the romantic dinner, I'm your guy. I'll make sure everything goes off without a hitch."

"Thank you," I said sincerely, feeling a swell of gratitude for him. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'd probably still be figuring out how to boil water," he teased, earning another eye roll from me.

"Yeah, yeah, keep it up," I retorted, though I couldn't hide my smile. "But seriously, Henry... thank you. For everything."

He smiled back at me, his expression softening. "Anytime, Lowin. Anytime."

As we spent the rest of the afternoon talking and planning, I couldn't help but feel a little more hopeful about everything. Yes, life was full of unexpected twists and turns, but I wasn't facing them alone. I had Henry, I had Sofiana, and I had my family, even if they were a little crazy sometimes.

And as long as I had that, I knew I'd be okay.

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~ R