Page 59 of Trial and Error

Imani looks between the two of us. “That’s a lot.” She then turns to Elias and places her hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry to hear about your mom, that’s awful. I can’t even begin to imagine how you’re feeling.”

He smiles at her and nods. “I appreciate that.”

My best friend turns to look at me. “I’m sorry I was ignoring your calls. So much was going on in my own life, I didn’t have the mental capacity to deal with anything else, and that’s on me. I’m sorry for what I said the other week—it was uncalled for, and if I had answered my damn phone, I would’ve known all of this and we wouldn’t be sitting here right now, having an awkward as fuck conversation.”

We all chuckle.

“Malik doesn’t know I’m here, and he doesn’t know that I reached out but I know he hates himself for what he said and how he acted,” she continues. “Bridget, you have to know he didn’t mean any of that. He hasn’t explicitly told me he regrets it, but I know him and I know not having you in his life is hurting him. And if given the chance, he would understand, but you have to see it from his point of view. The woman he’s been head over heels for, for years, is in a bar getting an engagement ring put onto her finger after she just told him that she wasn’t interested.”

Elias winces. “Yeah, that’s got to sting.”

I frown, hanging my head. “I hate not talking to him either. He’s my best friend but I…” I pause. “I told him, Im—I told him everything. As soon as we found out that Elias’s mom was sick, I went to him and told him everything.”

Imani’s frown deepens. “He…he never said. I had no idea.”

“He told me he understood and that he didn’t care because we had tried, so when he threw that in my face? That hurt, because I had done right by him. I was honest and I kept nothing from him.”

Elias looks over at Imani as she processes the information. “I don’t know Malik at all, but from what Bridget’s told me, it seems like you guys are close and it would be a shame if the three of you couldn’t find a way to figure this out.”

He gets up from the couch and stops in front of me. “I’m going to head out so you guys can talk.” I let my eyes flutter close as he presses a kiss to my forehead. “I’ll call you later, okay?”

I nod and watch as he lets himself out.

“I can see why you like him so much,” Imani says quietly, and my eyes move to her. “He’s a sweetheart.”

That has me smiling and I nod in agreement. “He’s amazing.”

“You really like him, huh?”

“I guess so.”

“I’m happy for you,” she says, her words genuine. “While I am sad that you’re not going to be my sister, I am happy that you’ve found someone like him.”

“We haven’t spoken about it, and I don’t know even know if he feels the same.”

“Girl.” She laughs. “Trust me, he feels the same. You both might not be ready to admit that yet, but I’m pretty sure you’re on the same page.”

Her words warm me, and I pray that she’s right.

bridget

I’m just finishing up putting my groceries away when someone buzzes up.

I race to the phone that hangs on the wall and tuck it between my shoulder and ear. “Hello?”

“Bridget, dear? It’s Helen. Do you mind letting us in?”

My eyes widen as I take in the state of my apartment. Ah, fuck.

“Hi! Uh, yes, come on up!”

I buzz her in and put the phone on the hook, before darting around my living room like a headless chicken in an attempt to fix the mess before she gets here. There’s takeout containers on the dining room table along with an empty bottle of wine from last night. Natalie came over and we ended up watching a movie and eating our body weight in Mexican food.

I’m just putting the Styrofoam containers in the trash when there’s a knock on the door. I quickly wash my hands under the faucet in the kitchen and then head toward the door. As I pull open the door, the happiness that appears on Helen’s face warms my heart.

She’s standing with her arm looped through Isobel’s, the two of them looking lovely in their summer dresses. Isobel looks like she’s about to pop, but she looks wonderful and the sight of her has me excited for when Imani gets further into her pregnancy.

Things are still a little awkward, but they’re better than they were before.