It's Always Been You

Chapter 7

Ariana slouched against her mom's kitchen counter. "Why didn't you tell me?" she cried.

Cristina readied the coffee maker. "You were going to find out eventually."

"But, I found out from him. HIM, of all people."

Cristina shrugged. "I don't see what the problem is."

"There isn't a problem," Abigail Kline, Cristina's best friend and maid of honor, passed through the kitchen. "She just doesn't want to look vulnerable in front of him." Abigail looked up from her cellphone. "Right?"

"Uh, I don't know if it's that." Ariana shifted.

Abigail shrugged and went to sit at the table.

Despite knowing Abigail for years, Ariana still felt like a little kid around her. Her status as the maid of honor definitely didn't help. Abbie, or Abigail as she prefers to be called now, is Cristina's oldest friend. But adulthood and responsibilities have kept them both busy from spending time together.

Wedding planning and being the maid of honor were their way of amending that.

Cristina walked up to Ariana and gave her a side hug, "I knew you were going to be okay with it. That's why I didn't tell you. But you're right, I should have told you."

Ariana sighed.

"He's Marco's best friend you know. He was going to be in the wedding one way or another."

"I know that."

Cristina left the kitchen, leaving Ariana alone with their mom.

"Ma, there's something I need to tell you."

Alicia looked over her shoulder, bringing the stovetop down to a simmer. "Que paso?"

"Nothing. It's just, there have been some changes to my life situation," she said carefully.

Her mom's eyes widened. "You're pregnant?"

"What? No."

Alicia deflated and then straightened up just as rapidly. "You're engaged?"

"No." Ariana took a deep breath. "Liam and I aren't together anymore."

"Por que? What happened?"

Ariana shrugged. She really didn't have a straight answer to give to her mom.

"Qué es eso?" Alicia mimicked her shrug. "Did you even try?"

"What do you mean?"

"He left you? Or you left him?"

Ariana dropped her gaze. "He dumped me, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"There you go." Alicia waved her hand in the air, returning her attention to the stove. "You didn't give him enough attention and he left."

Ariana's jaw dropped. "No. That's not what happened. How could you say something like that?"

"Ariana." Her mom looked over her shoulder. "No me hables asi. Don't talk to me like that."

She bit her lip and stomped out of the kitchen. She past the front door just as the doorbell rang. With a sigh, she stepped up to the door and pulled it open.

Ben's eyes fell on her. "Morning, Flores. Fancy seeing you here."

"This is my mom's house." She moved aside to let him in.

His eyes lingered on her form. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah? Why wouldn't I be?" She shut the door and stood before him.