Rachel's POV
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When you can see that your bestie is in trouble, you initiate an intervention. And this is exactly what this is. I pull my bag over my shoulder, the nurse eyeing us both as we leave the ward. Right weird one, that one. Always watching. I give her a stare back and she looks away.
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I’ve watched Matthew stare down the most beautiful of women and not care, yet this girl thinks she’s going to be an exception. I laugh slightly to myself at her pale skin and red hair. Not a chance.
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"So what's Matthew been saying" I ask Taylor not even waiting until we get down to the food hall.
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"Rachel" Taylor says in her innocent voice, she forgets that I've loved him too. Only he never loved me back, the prick.
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I drop Nate a text telling him to keep Matty busy for at least half an hour. No interruptions, there's a marriage on the line here. And even though I despise Jay, again for not loving me back, they're the real deal together and I will not let her ruin a most perfect relationship. Just for a little hop down memory lane.
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I smile at her. Let's ease her in. I can only help if I know exactly what's going on.
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"I'm not silly, he's Matthew, you've been together. Now tell me" I say. Maybe a touch demanding, Taylor caves easily.
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"Nothing he's just being Matty" she replies indifferent.
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"Look I'm not going to say shit" I begin and she laughs. I have a loud mouth, but I wouldn't say anything to hurt her.
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"Matthew is just" she begins and then sighs.
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"I can't cope Rachel" she says stroking her bump, and I wonder what it would be like to have a life growing inside of you. Looking forward, I think of how Nate is not anywhere near ready for babies and squash my jealously down.
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"What's up tell me" I say to her.
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"I'm emotional, it's like being on a constant emotional rollercoaster. And I know people get pregnant all the time and don't excuse emotional cheating on having hormones. But this is Matty" she explains and I know what she means, even though I'm continually annoyed at him. His dark hair and green eyes, he always has a way of charming any person he meets.
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"We didn't even break up properly. And being around him 24/7 is just a continual reminder" she says and I decide to press.
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"24/7" I question, doesn't she ever make him leave her alone?
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"He's not let me out of his sight" she says.
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"He's slept with you, I am going to end him" I say, yes Taylor is culpable. But I know Matthew; he played me so many times. He's perfectly capable of getting what he wants. He’s far more manipulative than she thinks, she looks into his green eyes and sees nothing but devotion. I look at him and see the times he played me, the deceptive stare. The calculation of his pursuits.
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"Not like that" she whispers hushing me. We continue walking and she wipes her eyes. My head can't comprehend pregnancy and feeling this way continually. And quite frankly it's a major drawback for me, I have no idea how impulsive and emotional she is.
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"I love Jay" she says pulling her phone out.
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"He's on the plane now" she says messaging him back.
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"Matthew said we just don't tell Jay." She explains and he would? Wouldn't he? He needs her to keep quiet because Jay would blame him entirely.
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"Food. Then tell me what's happened. Then we actually sort out a plan" I instruct her as we walk into the food court.
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We stand in the food line, looking over inconspicuously at bump and how it has doubled in size, I demand for her to go and sit down as it takes forever. Eventually the rather hot barista takes my order and I ask him for two breakfasts. Sweeping my pale hair over my shoulder and giving him my eyes.
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Christopher his name tag reads and I look at his short cropped hair, blue eyes with a natural tan. I watch him make the coffees as he stands facing the other way his shirt clinging to his back, a towel tucked into his jeans pocket. He’s unlike the guys I normally turn my head for I think to myself. He produces two drinks with a smile and I notice his straight teeth.
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“Thank you” I tell him.
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“Not a problem, I’ll bring the food over” he says and I can’t tell if he does that for everybody or if I’m a special exception.
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I smile, harness my bag on my shoulder and turn around.
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“Hey, do you want help with the coffees too” he asks. And I grin, I’m an exception.
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I swivel to face him, taking in the queue behind me and give him my sweetest grin.
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“Yes please” I say turning on the charm. The older lady behind me looks at me and tuts, I ignore her. Christopher is helping me, and that is just fine by me.
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He carries my tray all the way to the sofas that Taylor has chosen, dish rag swinging in his back pocket.
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“Thanks, Chris” I say sweetly as he sets the tray down. Taylor looks up bemused rolling her eyes.
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“No problem, what’s your name sorry” he asks me.
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“Rachel” I reply enthusiastically.
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“No problem Rachel food won’t be long” he says to me and I give him my best smile.
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I stand watching him as he walks back up to the counter slowly. And this is why, I lecture myself, we always wear our best clothes in case we run into somebody as hot as barista Chris.
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“So” I say handing her the milkshake she ordered. Another craving. It’s salted caramel and biscotti, this baby has taste.
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“He slept in bed with me, but I let him. We haven’t done anything but lay together” she comes out with it.
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“Matthew” I tut and she laughs.
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“Okay don’t tell Jay.” I explain, he won’t understand. It will end in trouble and she doesn’t need to go through that.
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“How did it happen” I ask curious.
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“I cooked for him, we were lying on the sofa. Talking about the damn nurse. He refused to text her back for a date and I teased him. Then he carried me up to bed climbed in next to me and just held me” she explains.
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“Next night what happened” I demand, I must know all of the facts.
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“We fell asleep on the sofa, forgot to eat. He woke up crying from a nightmare. I asked him to come to bed with me at three am” she says and I wince, she asked him.
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Oldest trick in the book, crying from a nightmare. I had feared he was manipulating her, and now I know for sure that he has.
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“Last night” I demand and she sighs sipping her milkshake.
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“I made food, he drew me. A portrait of me holding bump. He asked me to dance with him in the dining hall after revealing the drawing to me. He took me up to bed and then left. But I woke up with him again” she says and she looks at me eyes full of tears.
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“He’s a smooth son of a…” I say to her and she half laughs.
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“I forgot just how smooth” she laughs.
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“And he’s upped the charm” she adds.
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“I didn’t realise how much it would all remind me you know of when we were together” she explains and I understand that. They were a part of each other’s lives for a long time, they went through stuff together, babies and then unfortunately miscarriages.
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“What do you think I should do” she asks me breaking my thoughts.
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“Definitely do not let Jay find out, will be World War Two again. If I were you I would play Matty at his own game. Do not give in” I tell her.
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“And don’t worry about it you’ve just slept next to one another, that’s nothing” I add reassuring her I sip my latte.
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“We showered together one morning” she adds and my mouth hangs open.
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“Taylor!” I laugh and she squirms.
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“Whose idea was that?!” I ask her.
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“He followed me into the en-suite although I didn’t protest” she says and I smile at her relieved.
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Christopher approaches with our breakfasts and Taylor looks up eyebrows raised. I notice how he’s ditched the queue again for my order.
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“Thank you, Chris” I say as he sets my food down in front of me with a napkin, which he makes a point of laying out.
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“Anytime” he grins and leaves, I could get used to that smile.
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“He’s charming” Taylor says laughing as he leaves to get on with his day. Tanned arms peeping out of his white T-shirt.
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“What’s on the napkin, I wasn’t born yesterday” she laughs as I’m unravelling it to place it in my purse.
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“His digits” I laugh.
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“What is up with this hospital and people wanting to hook up” she laughs and I smile along with her.
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“The nurse, the barista, who next” I say.
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“He’s something else” she says eyeing him up from here. He is the first man that hasn’t stared at Taylor first or at all. Usually they all look at Taylor. I’ve just gotten used to it by now.
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“I’m going to be keeping that napkin” I say smirking.
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“What’s up with you and Nate” she presses, eyes consoling.
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“He’s just I dunno not progressing with me” I say, I’m doing everything. All of the advances in the relationship come from me.
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“Like we do what I want he doesn’t just come up with an idea” I tell her looking over at Christopher again.
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“Maybe he just wants to let you take the lead”Taylor says.
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“I want to be led” I say laughing.
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“I want to be the one who isn’t in control for once” I add smiling.
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“Like surprise me or something, or you know introduce me to your family” I smirk. To say I was annoyed at him for not doing that is an understatement. He’s impossible, tactless at times.
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I push thoughts of Nate away and out of my mind. We stand to leave and I give Christopher one last glance. He’s watching us, and my belly practically flips. I pull myself away, play it cool for once in your life Rachel. I make myself place one foot in front of the other, and march Taylor out of the food hall.
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