Page 134 of The Accidental Wife

“You bet your sexy bum he’s thinking about you when he’s with her!” Jo shouts, throwing her arms around me, and we topple over laughing. “Cayla foreveeeerrr!”

Aimee and I look at Jo, confused. “Who the hell is Cayla?”

Jo giggles, “Your portmanteau, silly! It’s your names together. Cole and Shayla equal Cayla!” I laugh sadly, shaking my head.

I look at Aimee, who is laughing hysterically. “Don’t let her drink anymore.”

“Hey, it’s better than Cophie! What kind of lame arse name is that?” Aimee hands me another shot, grinning, and I groan. I was already tipsy, and honestly, tequila makes me go stupid.

“She has a point.” Aimee giggles, taking her shot. “Their names don’t even sit right together. Should have let me punch the bitch square in her fake nose.”

“Team hashtag Cayla!” Jo chirps, making a hash sign with her fingers and pressing it to her face.“Fuck Sophie.”

I sigh, “What good would that have done? She’s pregnant, Aimes; besides, I get where she’s coming from. As much as I dislike her, I can relate to what she’s going through as a woman. It’s hard watching someone you love be in love with someone else.”

“She had no right blowing up at you like that, though. You did the right thing and walked away. You’re fucking leaving the country so he can be with her. You’re a better woman than I am Shayla because I would have fought tooth and nail to be with the man I love, especially if he loves me too.” Aimee says, pulling her knees to her chest.

“You think I haven’t thought about that? If she wasn’t pregnant, there’s no force strong enough to keep us apart, I know that much, but she’s having his baby. As hard as a pill it is to swallow, he’s made the right choice.” I explain sadly with a shrug, and Aimee groans, resting her chin on her knees again.

“Yes, but you still have to go. You’re the innocent one in all of this, and you’re the one paying the price.”

“Love isn’t love without consequences or sacrifices, Aimes. It’s not always rainbows and butterflies; not everyone gets the happily ever after they want. This is the hand that fate dealt us, we’ve tried, but life has other plans in mind for us, I guess. Maybe there’s something better out there for me. Maybe Cole was just a life lesson.” I tell her, and she shakes her head sadly.

“Life sucks.” She utters, handing me another shot.

“I’ll drink to that.” I sigh, tapping my glass to hers before taking the shot. “I’m done. I’m one shot away from running to Coles and begging him not to marry her.” I groan, and Aimee chuckles, biting her lip while she watches me.

“I love you, Bish.”

“I love you, Bish,” I reply and look at Jo sleeping with her head on my lap. “I love you both so much.” I sigh, stroking my fingers through her hair. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. My heart was so full of emotion I honestly couldn’t bear the thought of sleeping, so I packed my things up while the girls were asleep. I was tempted to call Cole, so I snapped my sim card in half so I wouldn’t give in and call him.

* * *

The morning came quickerthan I would have liked. Jo and Aimee had work, so we said our goodbyes, broke down, and cried for over an hour until I kicked them out and told them to leave so I can pack the rest of my things before my flight. My flight was at eleven forty-five, and it was currently eight-thirty, so I had an hour or so before I had to leave for the airport.

I had a shower and had about four cups of coffee to avoid the hangover that I felt coming from a night of drinking tequila. I was not looking forward to the long flight ahead. I look around my bedroom one last time and pull my suitcases to the living room, waiting for my cab. I leave my keys to the apartment on the side with my car keys for Aimee. She wanted to get a car, so I left a note telling her to take good care of my baby.

I jump startled when the apartment door bursts open, and Aimee runs in panting breathlessly like she’d run a marathon. “Oh, thank God… you’re still…here.” She gasps while holding her chest.

“Aimee, why are you back? Shouldn’t you be at work? What’s wrong?” I ask, watching her while she shakes her head, leaning over, her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

“Fuck work…Shayla, fuck, I can’t breathe…” She wheezes breathlessly. “You remember Becky…the one from my office?” She asks, and I frown and nod. “Guess who her best friend is cousins with?” She explains, panting, and I shake my head with a shrug.

“Aimee, my cabs here. I’m going to miss my flight. What are you on about?” I question, bewildered, and she shakes her head.

“Her cousin is Derrick, Sophie’s ex Derrick.” She says in a flurry, and I blink, waiting for her to continue.

“Okay….so?”

“The baby is Derrick’s!” She exclaims. “Not Cole’s.” My handbag slips from my hand and hits the floor as I stare at her unblinking. “I think I’m going to pass out. Did it just get really dark in here?”

“Aimee, what are you talking about? How do you know this?”

“Derrick told his cousin he and Sophie had sex after they broke up when she went to pick up her things, and she got pregnant because they didn’t use protection! Derrick confronted her, and she admitted it to him, but then slapped him with a confidentiality agreement and a payout to keep his mouth shut and sign away his rights to the baby.” She explains, and I gape at her in utter shock. “That stupid bitch Sophie’s been lying to trap Cole and force him to marry her.” I felt paralysed; my feet felt like led. “Shayla, what are you waiting for? GO TELL COLE!” She screams at me, and I pace back and forth. My hands and knees were shaking frantically.

“Oh, my God!” I shout my fingers in my hair. “What if I’m too late?!”

“You fucking will be if you keep standing there!” She shouts, and I look at her, still stunned. “GO!” She screams, making me jump, and I snatch up my keys and run to the door, not even bothering with the elevator. I race down the stairs, my heart up in my throat. I couldn’t believe it. This whole time that bitch was lying to him. Oh God, please, please don’t let me be too late. I jump into my car and drive as quickly as I could to the church.

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