Page 32 of Embers in Our Past

I open my door wider and motion for her to come in. I hold onto the door because I feel a little lightheaded. Kennedy notices me closing my eyes and calls my attention.

“Abby, you feeling okay? You look a little pale.” She grabs onto my arm, and I just nod.

“Oh yeah. I think I’ve just been working too many hours on this project. This site I’ve been working on is driving me crazy. Long hours and all. It’s sort of kicking my ass.” The CEO is an absolute dick.

“Can I get you some water or something?” I ask, trying to be a good hostess, even though I have no clue why she’s here.

“Oh no. I’m imposing. I just wanted to swing by and see how you’re doing. I know we aren’t really close, but Sam is sort of busy with the babies now, and I thought we really don’t know one another,” she says, and I have no idea where this is coming from.

“That’s nice of you,” I reply a bit hesitantly.

“Ugh, River says I’m a shit liar. I can’t really pull it off, can I? I have a shit poker face, I think.” I just stand in place as she word vomits in front of me. “Here’s the deal: Sam asked me to come by and check on you. She was on bed rest for the longest time. She wanted to see you but couldn’t just get in the car and stop by. Then she went into labor, and now she is sort of lactating everywhere.” She makes a face, which makes me want to snort with laughter because Kennedy is quite funny.

“So here I am. She’s enlisted me. I know you might not want the person dating your ex-husband’s twin brother, but I promise I won’t choose sides. River’s a bit pissed. I hope you don’t mind me admitting that to you. But River can fuck off—my words to him, I swear—I love him, but he’s a bit angry right now about Malloy and this whole date/non-date thing you went on. I told him he’s being a baby about it and to let it go.”

“Let me get this straight—you want to be my friend?” I ask.

“Yeah, I do.” She smiles at me. “Is that weird for you? To be friends with me without Samara around? Because she thinks you need a friend, but she also thinks she can’t give too much attention right now. So I told her I'd love to come hang out with you if you'll accept me as a consolation friend!”

I continue to just stand there in silence for a bit too long.

“It’s weird. I get it. It’s the ex-husband’s twin brother thing, isn’t it?” she asks, and I start laughing.

“No, it’s not that. I just wasn’t expecting this at all today. That’s all. I’m sorry, I’m a mess, I feel like a slug, and this is unexpected. I had no idea Sam had the babies; I feel like a shit friend, and I just feel like the opposite of the person I am supposed to be right now. That’s all. I have no idea when I became this person.” I start laughing, and then it morphs into crying. What the fuck is wrong with me?

“Oh my gosh. No, don’t cry. Shit, where are your tissues? Fuck.” She starts rubbing my back, and I’m still doing this weird laughing and crying thing like a lunatic in front of this new friend of mine who barely knows me aside from the random times we’ve hung out.

I start waving my hand while walking to my couch and sit, then I bury my face in the pillow from my couch. “Mh emoshunns ahr ehvrwherr,” I mumble.

“I have no idea what that was you just said,” she says softly, trying not to be rude.

I lift my head. “My emotions are everywhere. Don’t mind me. I’m a mess,” I say while I try to calm myself down.

She moves my hair away from my face as I wipe the tears from my cheeks.

“It’s okay. It’s probably been a long day. Can I make you some coffee or tea? Or do you feel like getting out a bit?” Something about the idea of going out on a walk sounds like the best idea, even though it’s probably cold enough to freeze the tears I just shed to my face.

“Actually, a walk around the water sounds like a nice idea. You don’t mind?” I ask.

“Not one bit. Why don’t you grab warmer clothes. It’s pretty cold out today.” I hop up and run to my room, thinking fresh air will do me some good. Without even realizing it, I’m slowly getting my friend circle comprised in Boston again after I felt completely alone. I thought I could come back here and blend in without anyone to support me. How wrong I was because I’m incredibly grateful I have people to lean on.

The walk around the water is just what I needed. Apparently, River got injured on the job and had to take some time off to rest and recover. Luckily, it wasn’t anything serious, and he is back at work. It seems her relationship with River is the real thing, and they’re fully committed to one another. They seem happy together, which is surprising because all I remember of their interactions was the two of them fighting to the point that I thought the cops would be called.

As we approach my building again, I see a figure from afar that looks familiar. The closer we get, I see it’s Rios.

“Hey, Rios, what are you doing here?” Kennedy asks, just as confused by his presence as I am.

“I was just walking by and saw you two, so I thought I’d be courteous and wait to say hello.” He smiles, but I know he’s full of shit.

“Listen, I need to get back to that project before it gets too late. I appreciate you stopping by. Thanks for giving me your number, and let’s grab lunch soon,” I tell Kennedy.

“It was really nice. I don’t live too far from here, so we can meet halfway or something.” She pulls me into a hug.

She nods at Rios, and the Uber she ordered while we were on our walk pulls up. She hops in and waves as the car drives away. I wait until it turns down the street, then bring my attention back to Rios.

“What do you want?” I ask, no kindness in my tone. I can’t help the irritation that laces my words.

“You have every right to be pissed,” he says as he follows me inside my building. I walk ahead of him into my lobby.

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