Page 104 of Never Not Friends

“It took a half hour and the loss of several balloons.”

We give it one last yank, popping a few more balloons in the process, but the arch pulls free.

She takes it, barely sparing me a glance as she pushes past me to the front door. “You were supposed to leave the key.”

“I know.” Quickly, I grab a box of paper goods from her front seat and follow after her.

Emma’s all business, placing the balloons against the wall by the kitchen table then heading back out to the car.

“What do you need help with?” I trail behind, trying to keep pace.

She opens her trunk and starts stacking boxes on top of each other like she means to carry the tower of decorations inside by herself.

“Let me help you.” I grab the boxes, resting my hands over her fingers.

Her blue eyes finally lift to mine.

I search them as if her gaze will somehow make this all make sense in my head.

“Was all that about your parents true?” The question slips out like a breath I can’t hold in.

She pulls her hands out from under mine and reaches for a basket full of tablecloths tucked into the back corner of her trunk. “Why does it matter so much?”

Why does it matter so much?

I wondered the same thing as I tossed and turned all night.

It shouldn’t matter, but here I am, chasing Emma in and out of my house, trying to get some closure, I guess.

“Because I believed you.”

Instead of looking at me, she immediately spins and heads toward the house, carrying the basket.

I haul the stack of decorations with me as I go after her. “For the last twelve years, I thought you broke up with me because you stopped liking me.”

“Well, now you know.” She drops the basket onto a stool.

“But not because you told me. If Camila hadn’t said anything last night, I never would’ve known.” I slide the stack of boxes onto the counter and face her. “Why didn’t you say anything back then? Just tell me that your parents were forcing you to do it?”

She busies herself with the bridal shower setup, and it’s driving me nuts.

“Emma?” She doesn’t stop, just keeps pulling out ribbons and pennant banners. “Emma!” I grab the other end of the banner, tugging it toward me until she finally glances up. “Why are you avoiding this conversation so much?”

“Because none of this matters. It was twelve years ago.”

“It matters to me. So why?” I’m breathless with frustration. “Why didn’t you just tell me the truth?”

“I don’t know, okay?” She throws her arms out. “I was fifteen and stupid, and I just wanted the breakup phone call over with as quickly as possible because I hate confrontation. And plus, my mom was standing right there, making sure I went through with it, so I couldn’t really explain on the phone that she was the reason. I was going to tell you the next day at school, but you ignored me.”

“Because you broke my heart! I was devastated. And it’s not like you tried hard to tell me. You stopped talking to me at school too, you know?”

“Well, why did you believe me in the first place?” Her voice rises like she’s as frustrated as I am. “You should’ve known it wasn’t true. That I didn’t mean it.”

“How was I supposed to know? You said you didn’t like me. Why would I assume you didn’t mean it?”

“Everybody knew I was madly in love with you. You knew!”

The words knock me in the chest so hard it feels like my heart stops. Because I had thought Emma loved me. That’s partly why her rejection hurt so much. I was one hundred percent blindsided by the breakup.