Page 17 of Enemies, Lovers & A Valentine's Baby

“Sue? What’s wrong, honey?” My stomach tightens as an uneasy feeling settles in my gut. I wait for her to calm down enough to tell me what’s wrong.

“It’s okay, just breathe,” I say softly when she can’t seem to get the words out. “I’m here, honey. Whatever is wrong, I promise you, we’ll deal with it together, okay? Just tell me what’s going on,” I continue.

My head races with every imaginable thought of what could have happened. I’ve never seen Sue like this; she’s always everyone’s rock. Even when Greg—

Dread curls in the pit of my stomach like a tight rope.

Oh, God. Did something happen to Greg?

“Tell me what’s wrong, Sue. Is Greg okay? Is something wrong with him?”

At the mention of his name, she seems to sob harder. My heart drops, dread churning in my belly.

“Sue, honey, talk to me please,” I beg.

“Greg is fine,” she sniffles, momentarily pulling herself together enough to get out a few words.

“But I—I’m not okay, Lila. I just had to get out of the house. I needed to—” she whispers, her sobs starting up again.

“Okay, okay. Can you tell me where you are right now?” I ask.

“I’m in the bathroom,” she manages in between sobs. “At the little bar where we had drinks the other day,” she sniffles.

“Okay. That’s not too far from my house. I’m going to be right there, okay? Just stay there. I promise you we’ll fix whatever is wrong together, okay?” I say softly.

“Okay,” she sniffles.

I quickly change into some jeans and a t-shirt. I grab my keys and run out of the house.

The bell above the door chimes as I walk into the bar. I look around the dimly lit space searching for Sue. I immediately see her familiar head bent in the back, sitting at the same booth we shared the last time we were here.

I walk up to her briskly, slipping into the seat across from her.

“Sue,” I say softly, touching her hand on the table. Her eyes meet mine sadly. They are red-rimmed and swollen from crying. My heart hurts for her even more, and I take both her hands in mine, rubbing my thumbs back and forth across the tops.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you like that,” she says, a few fat tears rolling down her red cheeks.

“No. Don’t apologize for needing me. I’m your best friend. It’s literally why I exist. Now tell me what’s wrong.” I nudge her hand softly with mine.

“Greg is cheating on me.”

My eyes widen involuntarily.

Her voice is nothing more than a whisper, yet saying the words seem to have taken so much out of her.

“Wh—What did you say?” my voice is a shocked croak.

“I can’t even believe I’m saying these words out loud, but I think he’s having an affair.”

“Wha—how—” I stutter, unable to string together a complete sentence. “Why would you think that?” I ask finally.

She continues like she hadn’t heard me. “I just don’t understand how—how could he do this to us, Lila? I’ve given him everything. I don’t understand how he can betray me like this. We’ve been married for eight years, Lila. Never could I have seen this coming. I didn’t want to believe it, b—but I—” her lips start to tremble, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

I reach out to hold her hand again, unable to say anything myself.

I’ve known Greg for as long as she has, and I can’t wrap my head around the idea of him cheating on her.

He has literally adored her from the moment they first met, in words and actions. The way he looks at her like she’s the only woman in the world makes me yearn for that type of love. It gave me hope to see that love like that still exists, and hope that love like that could someday exist for me.

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