Serenity (Sequel to Only Your Arms)

Chapter 1

"He's definitely coming?" I asked. She nodded and I buried my face in my hands. "Is it too late to bail?"

"Mich, you're my best friend. I want you here tonight." She stood up before walking forward and looking at me, her back against the windowsill. "You mean the world to me and you know how much this apartment means to me. I've been looking forward to this for my entire life."

"I know," I whispered before looking up at her. "But he's going to be here and you know how I get around him. I seriously haven't seen him since we broke up."

"That's a normal feeling," she said before shrugging her shoulders. "You were together for almost two years. Your relationship was really publicized and really intimate. You're allowed to feel weird around him."

"Why would he even choose to come? He knows the situation. I swear, he does this crap on purpose," I angrily said before looking at her.

"I have no idea," she admitted as she looked back at me.

"I know Matt is going to try and make us talk and shit, but I can't just can't be his friend." I sighed out loud before speaking again. "It's all or nothing with him."

"Hey, there's going to be over 100 guests tonight. You don't need to associate with him. You'll find someone else to hit it off with. Just let loose and have a good time. Don't think about him," she said and I thought about her words. She was right- this night wasn't about me and my previous relationship with Harry. It was about her and this milestone in her relationship.

"No, you're right. I'll be okay." I reached out my hand and allowed her to take it. "This is your night. It's about you and your beautiful relationship with Matt. Let's finish decorating and then get ready."

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"I'm convinced you bought the entire store," I shouted to Matt as I took the snacks that Matt had just purchased out of the shopping bags and laid them out on the counter.

"Just about," Matt answered before coming over to me and leaning against the counter. "How you holding up?"

"Honestly, I'm nervous," I admitted before pouring the last bag of chips into a bowl and looking over at him. "You could've just told me you invited him."

"I didn't know how to," Matt honestly answered and I respected his response. I looked at him before offering a kind, I-forgive-you smile. He smiled back before moving in and giving me a hug from the side. "You know I love you right?"

"Yeah, I know," I muttered before leaning into his side and sighing out loud. "I've known you since high school- you make impulse decisions. I'll never take them personally." He laughed lightly before moving away and jumping up onto the counter.

"He asked about you," Matt said. I froze at his words and simply looked at him, not knowing how exactly to respond.

"What'd he say?" I whispered.

"How you're doing, if you're okay... The usual stuff." He paused before looking at me and shrugging.

"The usual stuff?" I asked and Matt shrugged before awkwardly chuckling. I knew it was his attempt at making the situation a little less  tense. "Never mind," I said, deciding that I didn't want to know what exactly the usual stuff meant.

"He wanted to know if you'd be here." I turned away from him and pretended to look for another bag of chips I truly didn't need just so that I didn't have to look him in the eyes. I didn't need him to see the tears I was trying so hard to hold back. "Don't avoid the conversation love. Talk to me."