I Try

Chapter 17 - Happy

Lauren’s Point of View

Ultimately, Beth decided to stay until October, at which point she would fly down for the wedding. I wasn’t so surprised in the end. She was building a new life for herself here and I wasn’t going to stand in her way. Not when I was working so hard to get to mine. 

I flew back after a couple days with her and her friend, Bryan. He seemed like a real character. The whole British thing totally worked in his favor, he was definitely a cute keeper. Beth didn’t seem to know, though. 

I chewed my English muffin thoughtfully, eyeing the British cook who was wearing a pink apron and manning the stove. He knew how to make breakfast, that was for sure. 

“Bryan, do you have any orange juice?” I asked, keeping one eye on Beth, shoving her eggs around on her plate. He frowned, peering into her fridge. “I think I have some at my place, Be right back.” He said, untying the apron and leaving it on the counter as he ran across the hall. 

As soon as the door shut behind him, I turned to my sister. “So?” I quirked up an eyebrow. 

She mirrored me. “So, what?”

“When are you going to go for it? He’s totally into you.” I said plainly. It was obvious, even if he hadn’t professed his love for her to me in the hallway I would be able to see it merely by the way he looked at her. His eyes were brighter and his smile was wider. 

The same went for her. She didn’t know it, but her eyes held a warmth that was reserved only for him. She was holding out though, and I was starting to worry that the trait ran through our blood. She pretended not to hear me, shoveling a mouthful of fruit into her face. 

“Beth.”

She sighed, rolling her eyes. “It’s...no. Not going to happen.”

I suddenly felt an overwhelming respect for Shelby. One year ago, she was me. Trying to get me to admit my feelings for Zack. His name sent shocks through my spine and that was how I knew, every time, that what we had was real. 

I had to give Shelby a call soon. She was nearly halfway through her pregnancy and I had yet to see her. 

“Why?” I said, sipping my coffee. 

Her blue irises were wide with surprise and she looked almost angry. I could read it on her face but I didn’t stop pushing. Someone needed to push her. 

“Because.” She stated angrily, slamming her knife on the table and pushing back her chair, stomping to the fridge and looking inside needlessly. I was running out of time, Bryan would be back any minute and I would be on a plane in two hours. “Because it doesn’t get to work like that. I don’t get to have a happily ever after when I did what I did. I don’t get to be the girl who starts over.”