So sorry I haven't published in a few weeks, I've been making these chapters perfect :)
I have another book I posted a while ago called distance so yeah u can read that too
Just a reminder... this story is fiction. I know this is wattpad and you know this already but there will always be one person who's gonna come at me for making their wives look bad. I know they aren't
(I, II, III, IV, V = 1-5 in Roman numerals)
-
*11 months earlier*
Rhett was glad he had a pretty good life. With his new wife Jessie by his side, a brand new home they both purchased and a baby girl on the way, it seemed like nothing could go wrong. And for the longest time, nothing ever did.
But everything came quickly crashing down one winter evening, when Rhett received the news that Jessie suffered major pregnancy complications, resulting in the life of her and the unborn baby to be taken away. Just like that, Rhett's life plummeted with no plans of coming back up.
Nara was going to be the name of their daughter. The two had spent months picking a final list of possible options, and it definitely stood out to them for its lovely sound. The name meant happy, as that was what they were when the test came back positive, after trying for too long. But as Rhett sat on the cold, metal bench in the hospital courtyard staring up at the stars above, happy was the last thing he felt.
He needed at least one break from sitting inside a clammy office, filling out folder after folder of paperwork for Jessie and Nara. He didn't want to believe it was real, but he knew it was. There was no tricking his mind; nothing could help. Not even Link's corny jokes he was telling to make him feel better.
Rhett's best friend Link, and his wife Christy quickly arrived at the hospital to make sure Rhett wasn't alone to mourn. Everyone was close, holding onto each other as if they were going to evaporate, but Link was the one keeping them together the most. He was so strong, even when Christy was walking down the aisle only a few months before and every bone in his body was urging him not to let out a tear.
But now Link wasn't the one letting out tears, it was Christy. More so than the other two expected, but she was as close to Jessie as Link was to Rhett. They hadn't known each other long, but they had already been on many girly vacations together and knew every single secret the other person had.
Not to mention Jessie had privately asked Christy to be Nara's godmother, only days before she was admitted into hospital after experiencing some worrying symptoms. It all happened so quickly.
She immediately accepted, bursting into tears at the special question she never thought she'd be asked in her life. They were both even more excited for the arrival of Nara, but now in the present all Christy could do was latch onto Link's slim torso and sob in the crook of his neck, wanting to leave the doctors office and knowing she'll never have that lucky opportunity again.
As Rhett sat by himself in the courtyard, he looked over to see Link and Christy entering, then sitting together on a distant bench. The couple held each other tight, whilst Link whispered quietly that she'd be okay. Christy's blonde curls fell over her pale face, but Link was there quick to pull them behind her ear and kiss her gently on the forehead.
Rhett didn't really think about it much, but deep down he really did envy Link and Christy's relationship. His own wasn't terrible, but there was always an underlying sense that down the road they'd eventually drift apart. It never seemed as picture perfect as his best friend's. He meant all the vows he said at their private wedding, but they weren't one hundred percent in sync like Link and Christy always looked to be.
From what Rhett could tell, Link and Christy were the definition of the perfect couple. Constantly holding hands, buying each other gifts, blowing kisses, reassuring each other, making life long promises that they'd never fall apart... Rhett's list could go on.
It was an almost sickeningly sweet relationship.
Nothing seemed wrong...
...Until the day Link met up with Rhett for lunch two weeks after Jessie passing, with a bright purple bruise on his left wrist.
During their conversation, Rhett couldn't help but stare at the ugly mark on his best friend. He knew Link was a bit accident-prone, but nothing about it looked like it was an accident, and that made Rhett shudder.
"L-Link, what's th-" Rhett changed the conversation, trying to discreetly point to his wrist, which was mostly covered.
"Oh," Link said calmly, placing his fork down on his half finished plate. He usually finished his meals, but decided to leave most still uneaten. Link pulled up his sleeve to let Rhett have a better look. "Just Christy last night, nothing to worry about."
His words made Rhett's veins feel as if poison was running through them. The way Link said it was so casual, and unlike him completely.
"Link, you can't just brush that away.. was she threatening you? Was she yelling? Was she-" Rhett was cut off.
"She just felt upset I was spending a lot more time with you the last couple of weeks and not her. I tried to explain I was just helping you get through this shit, but she felt because I'm her husband I should prioritise her."
Rhett said nothing, as his mind came to a halt.
"She just grabbed onto me and didn't want to see me leave, you can understand that, right?"
Only then did Rhett realise that Link had spent almost every day since Jessie passing with him, and not Christy at all. She was going through the same pain, and didn't have someone to be with her. Guilt was all Rhett now felt, from hogging her husband away because he couldn't get through this alone and had to rely on a Link just to get up in the mornings.
"L-Link, I'm so sorry. You should be with her, your wife, not me.. I-" Rhett stuttered, and grabbed his coat and bag to leave. Link tried to get his attention and explain, but Rhett was out the door and down the road before he could. Link sunk back into his chair, and stared at the left over salad and fries on the table. He wanted to spend time with both of them, but he knew he was with Rhett a lot more than Christy.
This is when everything began to change.
