Page 49 of No One Like You

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART

Tasha’s mind was whirling furiously. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. How did I not see this? How the hell did Brad see this? Brad? I’m so screwed. I have to tell her. I can’t tell her. She’s straight, I’m… whatever… not straight. This could ruin everything. This will ruin everything. Maybe it won’t ruin everything. She’s my friend, she’ll be cool. Sure, she’ll be cool when you tell her that you love her and want to spend the rest of your lives together. That’ll be totally fine. Wait, the rest of our lives, where did that come from? This will definitely ruin everything.

Not knowing what to do, Tasha panicked and picked up her phone. “Hello, dear,” Maria said as she answered Tasha’s call.

“Maria, I’m so glad that you picked up! I’m in trouble.”

“You didn’t murder Brad, did you?”

“No—I love Megan!”

“I know, dear.”

“Wait, what?”

“It’s obvious. Well, obvious to everyone except you two.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Did you ever wonder why we never worked out?”

“Uh, yeah, a bit.”

“I love you dearly, Tasha, but you were already taken. I didn’t know her name then. I didn’t even know that this mystery person was a woman. I just could never compare to Megan, even if you didn’t know that you were making that comparison.”

“I’m sorry, Maria. I… I didn’t know.”

“It’s quite alright, Tasha. I would have never been able to give you what you truly need, and quite frankly, I enjoy my freedom too much anyway. You are a one woman kind of girl, and I am very definitely not. We’ve had our fun, though, although I suspect that time has now come to a close.”

“What do I do now? I can’t tell her. I’ll ruin everything!” Tasha was fighting back tears by this point.

“My one rule, the most important rule—there are no secrets between loved ones.”

“I can’t! I can’t risk it!”

“Tasha. Dear. Do you truly love Megan?”

She wiped away her tears and sniffled. “Yes.”

“Would you be heartbroken if she found another? Let’s say, another Brad?”

Tasha sobbed. “Yes! But I would support her, of course.”

“Of course you would, because you are amazing. And yet, this is why you must risk everything and tell her. You love her, you can’t stomach the idea of living without her, and yet you would do just that if it would make her happy. For your sake, for Megan’s sake, you must take this leap of faith. Trust. In. Love.”

“I will tell her, Maria. Tomorrow. I promise.”

“No, dear. No secrets between loved ones. Tell her today. And Tasha?”

“Yes?”

“Once you tell her, accept her immediate reaction and be prepared to be patient. She truly loves you, she doesn’t know it yet.”

“How can you be sure?”

“I watched you both at Friendsgiving. You both kept such a close eye on Sophia, yet you also kept a close eye on each other. Megan was quite nervous, you know. Among strangers, uncomfortable in that magnificent dress, and yet, whenever she struggled, you were there. She reacted, she responded to you, Tasha. She trusts you completely.”

“I… I didn’t know.”

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