Southern Comfort: Chapter 2

Southern Comfort

Chapter Two

"She didn't." Alice paces angrily across my kitchen as she readies two cups of tea.

"She did," I croak.

"I can't believe she did this! I was this close to convincing you into asking him to the winter carnival." She holds up a hand and pinches her pointer finger and thumb together to signify just how close she was. "This close Bella. That skank! I knew she was nothing but trouble."

"Ali-"

My voice cuts off abruptly when I hear my cell go off in the living room. We both freeze because we both know who it is. Before she can try to talk me into answering, I tell her, "I will call him back in a little while."

"Knowing my brother he's probably on his way over here, seeing as he called me at the ass crack of dawn, begging me to come check on you because he was at work." She checks her watch. "He got off forty minutes ago by the way, so he could be here any minute with the way he drives."

She hands me a cup of peppermint tea and sits across from me with a look of sheer pity. Hell, if I was a stranger looking at myself right now, I'd probably feel pity.

"Are you still coming tonight? Jasper and I can come pick you up," she offers.

"No. I'll walk. I could use the air," I reply, sipping my tea.

"What are you going to tell him when you do talk to him?" Alice asks curiously.

"Nothing. I'm going to be happy for him," I answer confidently. She gives me another one of her looks. "I'm serious, Alice. If she's what he wants, then I just want him to be happy. I'm good at pretending."

"Sure you are, Bella." Her eyes roll. "And I love it when Jasper drags me to one of his horse shows. If we were born to be actresses, we'd be living in Hollywood right now, Bella."

My chin trembles, despite the fact that I woke up this morning with a promise that I wouldn't shed anymore tears over this. I feel the all too familiar prickles in the corner of my eyes and blink rapidly. Alice, my sweet Alice, ignores the fact that I look like I'm having an epileptic seizure. She sips her tea quickly because she's on a schedule and allows me to gather my emotions. It's quiet for a few minutes before she stands up.

"Well call me when you get there and we'll meet up with you, ok?" she says, draining the rest of her tea cup. "I have to go pick up Jasper from the ranch. I can't wait until we can afford a second car."

I walk her to the door and hold her purse while she bundles up. We share a hug that lasts a little bit longer because I enjoy the comfort of my best girlfriend and she's an extremely cuddly person by nature. When we do pull away, traitor tears are falling down my cheeks and Alice lifts a hot pink glove covered hand to wipe them away.

"You gonna be okay, Bells?" Her voice is genuinely laced with concern.

"I'm gonna be fine, Ali. Just fine," my voice breaks. "I'll see you tonight, alright?"

"Ok," she whispers before closing the door behind her. I lean against the wall with my eyes closed and thank God for Alice.

My best girlfriend.

Despite her usual attitude, she took my feelings into consideration and stopped herself from telling me the four words that would probably break me at this point. I told you so.

I just know it's bubbling inside her to tell me. Last year when I introduced Jessica to our group, Alice had taken me aside and told me that Jess was bad news, but I ignored it. A month later when she'd dragged her poor boss Mike Newton's heart through the gutter, I should have realized that Alice was right, but I didn't. It wasn't until after she left the night before that I saw Jess for what she really was.

A home wrecking, selfish person that cared only for herself and her personal gain.

She ruined Mike's life when he found out she cheated on him and ruined the Cheney's marriage when Angela walked in on Jess and Ben going at it in his office. She ruined everything she touched and now she was going after the most important person in my life. And she was going into it knowingly.

I set our tea cups in the sink and was about to spend a little one on one time with my bed when I hear the soft, familiar knock on my front door. I'm frozen on the spot in the doorway of the kitchen leading into the living room. He knocks again.

"Come on, Bells." My heart clenches. "I know you're home."

And then I hear the sounds of a key jiggling the lock.

My best friend, number 1 on my speed dial, my reason for living, is also the only person in this town with a spare key to my house. And for the first time in the four years since I'd given it to him, I regret my decision.