Promises and Plans

BECCA

I parked my car near Tim and Kate’s house. It was a lovely house with a small garden near the porch. For two years now, Kate had been working from home, so she had a lot of free time. She loved her house and the freedom to do whatever she wanted with it.

This house was a gift to Tim from his parents. They bought a cozy apartment in the center of town and left this house for Tim and Kate. Kate was very fond of her in-laws, sometimes forgetting about her own parents.

I retrieved my suitcase from the trunk and walked to the front door. After ringing the doorbell, it only took a few seconds before I saw Kate’s smiling face. I smiled back at her and let my eyes wander over her body. Well... She had gained weight—and a lot of it.

I had noticed it before, but her clothes were always layered, so I had no idea how her body looked now. She still looked cute, though I wasn't used to seeing her like this.

“Rebecca Dawson, you are the most punctual person I know, and you're late... How is that possible?”

We both laughed, and then I hugged her. It was good to know that some things hadn't changed. Her voluminous red hair smelled like her old favorite shampoo—raspberry with honey.

I even closed my eyes, letting my mind drift back to our past. I guess I missed my friend a lot, even if she could be impossible sometimes.

“Well... As I said, I had some things to do.”

Yeah, Rebecca, way to go. You spent almost two hours making out with Logan. Like some high schoolers.

It was just too good. My lips stretched into a big goofy smile. Kate raised her brow at me.

“Okay, Becca. Let’s go inside, and then we will talk. I have a feeling that you are hiding something from me or more like waiting for the right time to tell me something.” Kate closed the door behind me and started walking down the hallway.

The house wasn’t big or fancy, but it was a charming place with a lot of sweet details here and there. The interior was decorated in bright and light colors; even the furniture was collected to match them.

“This is the only guest room that we have, but I hope that you will like it.” Kate opened the door to the small room and let me go inside. Well, in comparison to the room in Dencen’s family house, it was really small and simple, but I honestly liked it. The place was lovely.

“Kate, I am happy to be here. To finally have a chance to spend some time with my friend.” I saw as she sighed in relief, and her lips stretched into a big cheerful smile.

“Will you help me in the kitchen?”

“With pleasure,” I placed my suitcase near the bed and followed Kate outside the room.

At first, we chatted about everything and anything at the same time. We discussed the wedding ceremony, guests, and gifts. I told Kate about Chase and Jenny and how much both of them mean to me. I saw as she started chewing her lower lip. She was hesitating, and it was so obvious.

“A penny for your thoughts? I don’t bite, Kitty Kate. Ask me. Whatever you want.”

“How were you able to convince Logan? I tried to do it a thousand times. He didn’t even budge, refusing to even listen to me…”

Kate glanced at the oven, where her apple pie was baking. Then she stared off into the distance. I watched her silently. I knew that she wasn’t done. She had something to say.

“There are only two reasons... First, he’s doing it for you. The second one…”

“The second one?”

“Oh, please, Becca! Don’t give me that bullshit! Logan is doing it for you. Not the other way around. He always had a soft spot for you, so now, seeing how stunning you look, I think he wants you.”

“He has me.” I popped a cherry tomato into my mouth and stared at her. I saw a concerned look on her face. Kate was frowning. Honestly, it wasn't the reaction I was hoping for. I thought she would be happy to hear that Logan and I are a couple now.

“You're kidding me, right?” It was my turn now. I started to feel angry. I pursed my lips, folding my arms over my chest.

“Rebecca, he's not the same Logan you knew when he was in college. He sleeps around; he doesn't commit to anyone, and most importantly, he fucks almost every girl that approaches him.”

“It's not like that with me.”

“You're delusional. Logan is a good guy, a perfect son, a real pro in football... But with women? He's a walking disaster. Tim never hid anything from me about his trips to Philly when he visited him alone.” Somehow she had a triumphant look on her face. It made me very uneasy.

“And?”

“Drew and Logan love taking turns while banging girls. Submissive girls, ready to do everything for their admired quarterback...”

I already knew that, and I thought I was okay with that information, that it wouldn't bother me. It started to bug me after Kate's words.

What if, after a lot of experimenting, he wouldn't be able to settle down only with me? What if I wouldn't be enough? If that is the case, I would be destroyed, not only heartbroken. Because it was Logan Jones, and everything about him had a significant influence on me.

“If he's that bad, why are you so adamant about making things right between Logan and your husband?”

“I told you. I am not against Logan. He's a nice guy and a very committed friend. But he's bad news for you. You will be hurt if you get too close.”

“Kate, stop! I want to be with him, and he wants to be with me too. That's all that matters.”

“Do as you want. I warned you.” Kate shook her head and turned her gaze in the direction of the oven. “Don't be surprised when he cheats on you, while you will be working your ass off in New York.”

Fuck! She was unbelievable! Why couldn't she just be happy for me? It was beyond my limits. I wanted to go back to Logan. I regretted agreeing to come here. My eyes filled with tears.

“Rebecca, oh my God! I am so, so sorry! I shouldn't have said all that! Who knows, maybe I am wrong?! I honestly hope that I am wrong and his attitude with you will be different. You deserve only the best, and I…”

Kate came closer and hugged me by my shoulders, pulling me towards her.

“I'm sorry, Becca, really... I wanted to see you so badly, to have the opportunity to talk to you, and now I'm ruining it.”

I was silent. I had no desire to talk to her. Thoughts were swirling in my head. What if she was right?

I would go to Philly for him, rejecting the job offer I received... What if he hurts me? There would be no coming back from that. Shit! A few hours earlier, I was the happiest woman in the world, now I was doubting things.

“Becca, forgive me, please?” Kate whispered in my ear, running her hands up and down my back. I was tense and stayed on guard with her.

“Okay.”

She didn't release me. She was pressing me even closer.

“I got carried away. I said awful things to you. Everybody knew that Logan was always attracted to you, and maybe it will be different from what I heard from Tim.

“I want you to be happy, Becca, and if it's with Logan... then okay. I will support you, no matter what.” She kissed my neck and leaned away to look me in the eyes. Then for a brief second, she pressed her lips to mine and stepped back.

“I love him, Kate, and I have always loved him. Even when I was with Drew…”

“I know. I saw how you two look at each other. One day in our second year in college, when Logan was in the hospital, Tim and I came to visit him. We found you two together.

“You were lying near him on his bed. You were engrossed in conversation. You were laughing and making jokes with one another. Tim and I watched you for almost ten minutes…

“Then he just turned around and made me follow him. We never discussed it, but Tim said something, which makes sense now…”

“What?” I licked my lips, staring at my friend.

“That Drew stepping into your life messed everything up. And that time will show who will be hurt in the end.”

“What do you mean?”

“He never explained it to me, but I think that I know what he meant. I am sure that you know too.” Kate smiled at me.

“That if I hadn’t started dating Drew, Logan would have been with me a long time ago?” She nodded her head at me. “Logan told me something similar when we first came here in our first year in college.”

“Really? You never told me that.”

“Why should I? We talked. He stayed with Melanie while I was totally in love with Drew.”

“Makes sense. How are you going to manage to be in a long-distance relationship with him?”

“You always just assume.”

“What do you mean?”

“I am going to move in with him. In Philadelphia.”

“Oh... It looks like you’re both serious about this.”

“We are. Kate, I really love you, and your friendship is precious to me. Your attitude, assumptions, and accusations make it very hard not to get angry with you.

“I never said a word to you about your relationship with Tim. While I had something to say. Why are you always trying to lecture me? You don’t want me to be happy that badly?”

The kitchen fell into total silence. We were standing there facing each other. I was looking at my childhood friend, a woman who kept many of my secrets while I held hers.

A woman who was my first sexual experience and who told me one day that she even thought that she was in love with me. But right now, I only saw glimpses of that woman. She was more like a stranger, and it was a pity.

“I want you to be happy, Becca. I fucking love you, and I want only the best for you. How could you say something like that to me?”