Shock, horror, and the weirdest sensation of passing out hit me all at once. She looks how I feel. In the screen we are making the exact same face.

"What is that?"

"Nothing." She says it too fast and then swallows hard.

"Lift your hand back up!" I scream.

"It was nothing, Nat. Just a gift." Her brow knits.

"Then why do you look like that? You lying bitch, a Christmas movie? Are you fucking serious? You have an iceberg on the right finger and you're going to lie to me about crying over some homeless dog? How can you even face me right now? Why wasn't I the first person you called?" I'm genuinely offended and also curious who in God's name gave her that ring.  

"It's not the right finger, not yet." She closes her eyes and lifts the hand again, almost blinding me with the dazzling engagement ring that is so obviously taking over her entire hand.

"Are you shitting me right now? Who gave you that?" My heart is racing, my mouth is dry, and I'm on the verge of puking.

"Matt, duh. Who else?"

"How have I not been consulted on this? Did we even know this was even a remote possibility? Because last time we hung out all I remember was you staring at your phone waiting for him to message and he didn't! He never messaged you back all weekend. And his Instagram had pictures of him out with the guys."

"Don't be mad." She gulps again. "It's not what you think. I mean it is, but it's more of a-" She's panting, actually hyperventilating. "Fuck. He asked me to think about marrying him and I couldn't say no."

"Why? He's awful. He's a William. He's the very worst of you and Brady. Dirty player, rich, and snobby. He treats you like shit. I can't believe you're this dumb!" I can't believe I've said any of those words, or hurt her enough to make her face fall the way it has. I snap my mouth shut.

"This is why I couldn't tell you. There's too much to explain." Her eyes narrow as if I'm the one who's offside.

"Really?" That pisses me off, like having her best interests at heart is somehow horrible. "Explain away, Sami. Explain to me how your self-esteem has dropped so low that you're actually just winging it and maybe marrying this guy. Is this your dad? You don't have to marry someone because they tell you to." I have to sit down or I'm going to pass out, so I slump onto the toilet.

"It's not like that. I've got to tell you the whole story. Can you wait to freak out until we both get home?" She's annoyed.

"Fine. Whatever. Merry Christmas." I hang up and start to cry. I'm not even sure why.

A knock at the door interrupts my heart attack. "Nat?" It's Brady. He opens the door, his eyes widening. "You okay?"

"No." I sniffle and let him lift me into his arms.

"Are you scared of moving in together again? You don't have to pay rent. I covered the lease for the year. I know it's an expensive building-"

"No," I repeat and bury my face in his shirt. "It's Matt-Matt-he asked Sami-"

"Mattie did it?" He pulls me back. Excitement drowns out the concern in his eyes.

"You knew?" Rage hits me hard. How am I the last to know?

"Of course. He's one of my best friends. He asked me not to tell a single person. So I didn't. You can't be trusted, babe. You would have told her. You and her are tighter than chicks are supposed to be."

"No!" I shake my head, stepping away from him. "We're not. I feel like I barely know her. She's crying, which is always bad, and has this diamond ring the size of Texas, and she's considering marrying your dipshit friend."

"Hey!" He cocks an eyebrow.

"He's a loser, Brady. He treats her like shit. He's indifferent and she loves him, and now she's going to marry him and he's going to destroy her."

"Whoa, Nat. You don't know Mattie like I do. It's not like that. And Sami isn't some saint. She's not easy to pin down. She plays all these games-"


      
        
          
        
         

"No, you don't know Sami the way I do. She's always kinda desperate-she's needier than she lets on. And her parents-she's clearly doing this to make them happy."