Page 54 of Rejected Pretend Mate

"But we didn't," I corrected her. "You never told me about wanting to move or that you had a crush on my brother for years. We were both keeping secrets."

Her face dipped. She swallowed, chewing on her lower lip.

As angry as I was about all of that, I wasn't. If we were being honest, we all had secrets we didn't tell, even to someone we cared about. I had kept secrets, and so had she.

I reached a hand out, taking her hand, and squeezed it. "I'm not angry about it, April. But as close as we are, I think we even have secrets we don't tell each other. And that doesn't make our friendship terrible. I think it makes it better."

I watched tears break from her eyes, and she wiped them. "I feel like I've been a shitty friend since you got here. I've watched you fall apart, and I haven't been able to do anything."

I shook my head. "You haven't. You have been an amazing friend, Riley." She'd been there more than anyone else in my life had. She was more a sister than a friend. She knew my secrets, and she knew my fears. She had held my head while I cried countless times since being here, and she'd always stood by my side. And I, in turn, had done the same for her.

"We're growing up, and that's okay because it's not just us anymore." I nodded my head to her stomach. "Our little group is growing."

It had always been us against the world, and in the old pack, that mindset worked. It was how we survived, but it wasn't needed here. We could thrive and grow here, and we were.

Riley wiped her eyes and sniffled. "Do you think the guys have made up yet?"

I snorted, shaking my head. "No, from what I've gathered, they haven't spoken or seen each other since the fight."

Riley rolled her eyes, walking back into her bathroom and shutting the door. "I swear to god, men. It's been over two weeks now. They should have at least started to get over this. Or talked by now."

I couldn't help but laugh because it felt normal. I felt like myself, and I didn't think I would again.

"So, this house you guys bought…where is it?"

Riley came back out wearing her sweatpants and a baggy shirt. She smiled as she walked out. "It's beautiful. It's a house in one of the older parts of town. It's a little run-down but has so much character."

"Do you have pictures?"

She nodded, pulling her phone out. She showed me a large house with beautiful windows and a huge yard. It needed some work, but the bones of the house were good. The photos inside were filled with large rooms and a huge kitchen, all with natural wood floors and built-in bookcases. There were five bedrooms and an office. There was a dining room and a basement that they could do whatever they wanted.

"Wow."

"It needs a bit of work," Riley said, biting her lower lip. "But god…. it's stunning. And Cayden said he would start work immediately so we could move in by the time the baby is born."

"You're going to have it all," I chuckled. "The husband, the baby, the career, and the house."

She blushed. "You know, I never thought I would. It was always shoved down my throat, and I never really thought about whether I wanted it. It was just expected of me. But given the choice, I want it all. I just wanted it with Cayden.”

I understood that. I thought I was going to be stuck with Ivan for the rest of my life. I remembered how I wanted to run at our wedding, but I could feel the weight bearing down on me. My mother gently told me it was just wedding jitters. My father told me he was a good man and that Ivan was going to be a wonderful husband and father.

I frowned. "I was terrified I would end up pregnant when I was with Ivan.

Riley froze, looking at me stunned. "What?"

I inhaled slowly, another secret I never told her. "I always wanted to tell you and leave him, but I never did.”

She looked horrified as she stared at me. "Wh…wh…what? Why didn't you tell me?"

I had been so scared. I remembered wanting to tell her, the words bubbling up to tell her, but I never did. I always said to myself that things would get better, and if I told her, she would never understand when things got better.

"Because it was just easier to hold it in. It was easier to act like everything was fine.

Riley swallowed. "Why are you telling me now?"

I gave her a soft smile. "I'm telling you because I want you to know. You are a shining star of what I hope I will get one day."

Before Riley could respond, my phone rang. I glanced at it, and my stomach dipped when I saw Ivan's number.

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