“Sophie.”
I stare at my belly, half sure it actually spoke until someone taps my shoulder. Turning, I find Bella. She looks lovely with her dark hair pinned back, wearing a festive red sweater and white pants. She holds up her hands, like she’s ready to defend herself.
“I just want to talk.”
“To which one of them?” I ask, motioning to my men with my thumb.
“You, actually.”
Matthew stands next to her, forces himself to bend and kiss the top of her head, then nods to me before going to the buffet. She rubs her arm and I see sadness and something else on her face. I nod and take her hand, letting her lead me to a private alcove that was probably once used for a phone station.
“I really wanted to apologize for how I’ve treated you in the past. I thought, once I was with Matthew, I’d be so overwhelmed with happiness and love that I could handle seeing the guys again – with or without a girlfriend – so I wasn’t expecting all the feelings to rush back.”
I nod, but adjust on my feet.
“I was wrong to take out my frustration on you and Matthew, and them. I made my choice and it was ... is the right choice for me. I love Matthew. I loved him the minute he didn’t maul me at the office, when he listened to me, when he made me feel empowered and supported and ...”
“Bella?”
She takes an unsteady breath and hugs herself. “Therapy has been really helpful for me, but I think it’s having the opposite affect on Matthew. I don’t think ... I don’t think he wants me anymore. He’s seen the absolute worst of me and I can’t blame him, but I don’t know how to hold on.”
I pat her shoulder awkwardly.
She laughs once and shakes her head. “Oh, that wasn’t the point, Sophie. I just wanted to apologize to you. I wasn’t the me I want to be last time we saw each other. Your men love you unconditionally and I think that I got envious at your wedding and I just couldn’t stop myself from saying something.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize you had,” I admit.
“Roman.” She laughs. “He wouldn’t say a thing to you if it would have ruined the day. All four of them love you so much that anyone can see it – even if they don’t want to.”
I take a slow breath. I don’t know Bella very well. A few days spent in the office together, seeing her at her destination wedding, and almost nothing since my wedding day.
Bella clears her throat. “Anyway, Merry Christmas, and have a great party!”
“Wait,” I say softly.
She looks back at me and I step closer. I can see Matthew just around the corner and smile. He should hear this too. “You and Matthew chose each other for a reason. You got through wedding planning which is an absolute win – it takes work to do that – if you want to fix this relationship, you can.”
“I don’t know ... if he doesn’t love me, I’m not going to force him to stay.”
“If he doesn’t love you, he would have already left, Bella. Sometimes you’re just going to have to love him more. On the days when he can only give twenty percent of him to the relationship, you’ll have to give eighty. Falling in love is easy, making a life together takes some work.”
She nods, then hugs me before looking down and apologizing. “That didn’t hurt the babies did it?”
“No.” I rub my belly. “Focus on Matthew for now. Maybe try to be a little on the sober side at the party and take an interest in his hobbies -because you want to, not have to – and .... try, Bella. Don’t give up on anything that excites you, especially when he excited you enough to leave four other gorgeous men.”
“Five,” She corrects me softly.
I remember that she was also with my dad and shudder. “Yeah, I spoke correctly. Four.”
She laughs a little and takes my hand. “Thank you, Sophie. Really. And I’m still sorry about my behavior before. You didn’t deserve it, Gunner didn’t deserve it, no one did.”
“You’ve learned. Now grow from it.” I encourage her.
She nods and I hear her bump into Matthew. Maybe I’ll have to try my meddling skills to keep them together, or at least get them to the point where that’s where they want to be. I only have today, but I believe I can do it.
Especially if I get my men on my side too ... or not. They’re drinking tonight.
I rub my bottom lip and that’s how Nick finds me. He follows my gaze to Bella and Matthew. “What are you plotting?”