Burning Sea Green

19

L A U R E N

"That was fun," Normani said as she plopped down on the beanbag placed on the corner of my room.

Being the best friend that she was, and the only person I only know who isn't planning my funeral yet, Normani offered to distract me from everything by taking me to a shopping spree. Her treat. I asked her why Dinah didn't come with and I would've known the answer. Normani said she wasn't completely okay with what I did.

I wouldn't be okay with what I did myself but it still hurt to know that one of my best friends hated me.

"Thanks for that, Mani," I said gratefully, sitting down beside her to give her a hug. "I needed it."

"I know," she said, giggling as she reciprocated the gesture. "How are you holding up?"

I sighed as I pulled away, staring at the center piece on my coffee table. "I don't really know."

"You know this will be over soon, right?"

"I don't want to hope but I also don't want to lose her," I said doubtfully, feeling Normani's hand slip in mine. "At least not completely. But I don't think she'll be able to forgive me."

"Y/n loves you," she said softly, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "I know that for a fact and I'm not going to lie and tell you that what you did is something that she could easily forget but I know that she won't be able to stay away from you for so long."

"It's been almost a week," I said with remorse. "I know I should be giving her space but I feel like every second that passes is a second that she loses her grip on me—her faith on me."

"She's with Emma in Oxford, isn't she?

"Yeah. I tried calling Leah, her assistant, remember?"

"I remember."

"And I asked for Emma's address but she wouldn't give it to me. I'm starting to get crazy."

"Give her more space, Laur. Y/n needs it more than what you think."

"I can't, Mani," I said, my voice unintentionally cracking at the end. "I can't let her go another day, letting her think that I don't care anymore. I have to let her know that I still want to apologize—that I still want her in my life. Mani, I'm still going to marry her."

"And you will," she said, as if she was sure that it was going to happen one day. "Just give her enough time and maybe she's the one who'll come to you."

I couldn't help but scoff. "You're just saying that. I don't want to wait for her to come back to me. I want to run up to her and tell her I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well, that isn't happening now." Dinah's voice appeared out of nowhere and I turned to face my door to see the Polynesian standing there, her expression stone hard. "I came to pick Mani up."

Normani stood up and gave Dinah's cheek a kiss in greeting, taking a glance at me with a sheepish smile. I stood up as well and sauntered to where they were, stopping awkwardly under Dinah's scrutinizing gaze.

"Hey, Dinah," I said, hoping that she'd at least be civil with me. "You should come with us next time."

"I don't know if I'm free," she said dismissively, looking around before dropping her eyes to her girlfriend. "Where are your things?"

"Oh," Normani gasped slightly, spotting her bag on my desk. "There it is."

She went to retrieve it and came back as she was peeking inside her bag. "I think I left my make-up bag in the bathroom when we left."