Page 40 of Trust Me With Forever

Me (actual reply instead):That works. I’ll let you know when you can help move my boxes.

The next day, as I was packing up my stuff, someone knocked on my door. I’d basically avoided my family since dinner had ended, and had barely murmured a goodbye to Rafe when I left, only talking to him via text.

However, I couldn’t be a coward forever. So with a sigh, I trudged over and opened the door, only to blink at finding Emmy there.

She smiled. “Can I come in?”

Frowning, I stepped aside. “Why are you even asking that? You usually just barge inside.”

She entered, turned around, and I hated the uncertainty in her eyes. In that moment, I realized how much I’d hurt her by not telling her about my marriage to Rafe.

I crossed the room and hugged her. “I’m sorry, Emmy. I just needed time alone to process and figure out what to do.”

She hugged me back before leaning away and meeting my gaze. “Rationally, I know that. But you know you can tell me anything, Abby, and I’ll always love and support you.”

“I know, and it wasn’t you I was worried about, but West. And I can’t keep putting you in a position where you have to hide things from him.”

“Just because I’m married now doesn’t mean all my friendships instantly melt away. He and I both have some secrets we keep for friends and family, ones that they don’t want to share with the world.”

I was tempted to blurt out the truth, that my marriage was fake, but I couldn’t break my promise to Rafe.

So I’d just have to be as truthful as I could and see if Rafe would be okay telling Emmy about our arrangement before the year was up. Because Emmy was my best friend and sister, and knew more about me than anyone else in the world. And the thought of deceiving her for an entire year made my stomach churn.

Worry about that later.Tilting my head, I asked, “So how’s West taking it?”

Emmy sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Not as well as I’d like. He’s protective and stubborn, and thinks Rafe isn’t trying hard enough to make up for all the years we were apart.” She lowered her hand. “But Rafehastried to do better. He’s not an open book by any means, but until he finally accepts that our parents’ death wasn’t his fault, he’s always going to keep his distance.” She smiled. “But even so, I’m happy for you, Abby! We’re sisters now, so many times over!”

I chuckled, embracing the moment and forgetting about the future. “There’s no getting rid of me now.”

She rolled her eyes. “And why would I?”

“Because I’ve been gloomy and temperamental and reclusive ever since returning to Starry Hills after my student teaching internship. And before you ask, yes, I told Rafe about Travis. I think he’s hell-bent on some kind of revenge, although I haven’t wheedled out his plans yet.”

“Good. I hope he teaches that asshole a lesson because even only knowing some of what happened, I know that dickhead needs a good ass-kicking.”

While I hadn’t told Emmy about the deep fake porn-like video, she knew enough and had always encouraged me to report Travis’s threats to the police.

But I’d been afraid and hadn’t wanted it to blow up any more than it already had, so I’d resisted. Especially since I’d either be villainized as a slut or as a stupid, naïve girl who should’ve known better.

Pushing aside thoughts of Travis, I took Emmy’s hand and squeezed. “Just don’t get your hopes up about me and your brother yet, okay? Rafe and I are married but still dating, if that makes sense? And if we don’t truly fit, we’ll get a divorce.”

“I know that. But in a strange way, I think Rafe suits you more now than when he was a carefree teenager.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

Emmy gestured toward my boxes. “Let’s pack while we talk.”

Since Emmy was a master at packing—she had to pack and unpack stuff all the time for weddings and receptions as a wedding planner—I wasn’t about to turn down her help. As she put books into a box, I folded some clothes and asked, “Why do you think Rafe suits me better now?”

“Well, he was a cocky, charming teenager who was forever getting into trouble with West and Mark. But now, he’s more cautious, rarely laughs or smiles, and keeps mostly to himself. I think you could help him have fun again.”

Curious now, I asked, “You say that despite everything he did in the UK?”

Emmy taped up a box as she replied, “Having spent some time with my brother in recent months, I start to wonder if that was all an act. Nolan and Katie have to portray themselves a certain way to the world because of his fame, and I suspect it was the same for my brother.” She glanced at me. “Plus, you married him and you never would’ve done that if he’d spent the night in Vegas flirting with random women the whole time.”

I nearly said that I didn’t remember that day, but held back. However, she was right—even drunk, I never would’ve stayed with Rafe if he’d been constantly hitting on other women.

Although, even just a few weeks ago, I had been against marrying anyone at all. So why had I done it?

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