Page 14 of Forever, Never, Always (Forever #2)

“Seb’s got forty quid for you,” I tell her, smirking as he glares my way. We all know she controls the money, and I hear Jimmy snigger as Seb reluctantly hands over his winnings. “He won it betting on my disastrous love life.”

“Seb,” Katie mutters, shaking her head with disapproval. “We’re saving for a bigger house. We agreed no betting.”

“I knew I’d win,” says Seb pointedly.

“Disastrous love life?” asks Meg.

“He dumped Zoe,” says Hugo, and she gasps.

I frown. “Didn’t she tell you?”

There’s a knock at the door, and I hear Mum call out that she’ll get it as Meg winces. “No, so this might make the next part really awkward.”

Mum returns with Zoe, Sofia, and Harry, and I glare at Meg, who mouths an apology.

I remain seated, secretly seething as the rest of my family greet the women with warmth. My dad clips me around the head as a silent reminder I need to do the same, so I push to my feet and gently place a hand around Zoe before kissing her on the cheek. “Hi.”

“Sorry,” she whispers, and I notice her eyes look swollen, like she’s been crying. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”

“It’s my parents’ house,” I say, forcing a tight smile.

“Meg said it’s usually just the girls that turn up.”

I turn to Sofia, who’s busying herself with Harry, and kiss her cheek, my heart aching to linger this close to her for longer. “Hi.”

“Hi,” she mumbles, avoiding my eyes.

Harry reaches for me, and I can’t help the smile as I take him from her and head off into the garden. Meg follows. “I’m sorry. You were still together when I invited them, and I did tell them it was more like a girls’ night because you guys usually end up in the pub after work.”

“It’s fine,” I mutter, pointing to a bird to get Harry’s attention.

“She’s a big part of my life, Ric,” she adds sadly. “There will be things I invite her to that you might also be part of.”

“I know.”

“Make your peace with her. I don’t want things to be awkward.” I give a nod, and she heads back inside.

Minutes later, Sofia comes out. “She’s really broken,” she whispers as she takes Harry from me. “She’s spent the last two hours at mine crying.”

“Breakups are hard to navigate.”

“So is guilt,” she mutters, “and it’s eating me alive.”

“It was just a kiss,” I say. “Right?” I eye her for a long second before heading back inside.

Zoe

“Why did you come if you’ve broken up?” asks Meg.

I watch as Ric heads back inside from the garden and shrug. “Maybe I wanted to see him.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

I wanted to call her. Last night, after I got in from work, it was almost three a.m., and I needed to be with someone who understood heartbreak. But instead, I cried myself to sleep, and that made me feel worse. Because why am I letting this man make me feel so sad?

“I needed to be alone.”

Meg gives my hand a sympathetic squeeze. “I’m so sorry it hasn’t worked out.”

“He knows about the baby.”

“How?”

I shrug, trying to keep my voice steady, but the weight of it presses on my chest. I’ve gone over it a hundred times. There’s no way he could’ve found out . . . unless someone told him. And only two people knew.

“Did you tell anyone?” I ask, the accusation sharp in my throat. “Like Hugo?”

Meg recoils, eyes wide. “No. I’d never do that.”

“I only told you and Sofia.” My gaze shifts instinctively towards the doorway, where Sofia is deep in conversation with Katie. The whispers are like static in my ears. I push to my feet.

Meg senses it before I even move. She grabs my wrist, her grip gentle but urgent. “Not here,” she whispers, but I’m already pulling away.

I cross the room, the tension following me like a shadow. “Did you tell him?” I ask loud enough to silence the conversation between the two. Katie blinks then excuses herself quickly.

Sofia turns, adjusting Harry on her hip. “What?”

“Did you tell Ric about the abortion?” The word lands like a dropped plate, shattering the quiet.

“Abortion?” Charlotte repeats, pausing with her spoon mid-stir. She looks up, startled, and her gaze flicks to her son. Ric nods once, barely, and I see the sadness in both their faces. They don’t need words to convey their disappointment.

My heart is pounding now, loud in my ears. I feel exposed, like every wall I’d built is suddenly made of glass. The room is silent as my worst fears play out. They all know what I did.

“I’d never do that,” Sofia says, her voice low, barely audible.

“Wait . . . you knew?” Ric’s voice cuts in, quiet but sharp. He’s beside us now, eyes locked with Sofia’s.

“She’s my best friend,” I snap, too fast and defensive. “Of course, she knew. I want to know who told you .”

He doesn’t answer. Just keeps his eyes on hers, but she won’t meet his gaze. I stare between the pair, trying to figure out why he thought she owed him my secrets. But Harry comes over like a saviour and pats his son on the shoulder. “Let’s get some air,” he mutters, then he turns to me. “Join us.”

I step out, crossing my arms over my chest. “It’s clear there’s things to discuss,” says Harry firmly, “but they should be in private. Don’t you agree?” he asks me, and I nod. “Good. I’ll give you some time.” He heads back inside, leaving us alone.

The tension is buzzing loudly, and somewhere between now and two hours ago, I’ve gone from complete heartbreak to anger . Who betrayed me?

“No one gave your secrets away,” Ric mutters, keeping his back to me. “I checked your phone.”

I stare in disbelief. “You did what?”

He turns to me. “I saw an email when I was taking one of the many hundreds of pictures you insisted I take. It caught my eye, so later, while you were asleep, I checked it. I saw the appointment confirmation and the email about aftercare.”

“That was private to me,” I snap. “You had no right.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he mutters. “It wasn’t the reason I ended it.”

“I’m sure it didn’t help.”

“I like someone else.”

I scoff. “Of course, you do. Sofia, right?” My insides burn with rage as he looks away, and that’s all I need. “She’ll never go there. She doesn’t feel the same.” I say it with a confidence I don’t feel. “Does she know?”

He shakes his head, and I want to scream at his sad, pathetic expression. “Keep it that way,” I mutter, turning on my heel and storming inside. I grab my bag and head for the door, ignoring Meg and Sofia calling out after me.

Right now, I need to be alone.