Our Accidental Forever
Chapter 71: Be Friends 4Real

Chapter 71: Be Friends 4Real

Ella’s POV:

The phone buzzed against the nightstand, pulling me from a deep sleep. I blinked, squinting at the unfamiliar number lighting up the screen. I wondered who that might be. As I answered, rubbing sleep from my eyes, a voice I hadn’t expected drifted through the phone.

"Ella? It’s Joanne."

My heart skipped. Joanne? I sat up, clutching the sheets tighter around me, glancing around Arec’s bedroom as if expecting him to explain how she’d gotten my number. He must have given it to her, I thought, frowning slightly. She was his friend, so it wasn’t hard to imagine he’d pass along my number, figuring it was harmless.

"Hi, Joanne," I managed, my voice still thick with sleep.

"I hope I didn’t wake you!" Her tone was overly cheerful, but somehow tentative, as if she were trying not to sound too eager. "I just thought... well, I know the wedding planning must be overwhelming, and I’d love to help if you’re up for it. There’s this lovely café near the park that does the best brunch, and I thought it might be a nice break from, you know, all the stress."

I glanced at the clock. 8:37 a.m. I still hadn’t fully processed the idea of Joanne wanting to be friends. The thought alone was strange, like some parallel version of reality where she and I shared more than an acquaintance-by-proxy relationship through Arec. But her offer sounded genuine, and the wedding planning was definitely overwhelming even though Arec’s grandmother was handling most of it.

Maybe Joanne was really trying to turn over a new leaf and be friends for real.

"All right," I said finally, a bit cautiously. "I can meet you there in an hour."

"Perfect!" Her voice lifted, brimming with excitement. "I’ll grab us a good table. You’re going to love this place."

The café was quaint, tucked away in a quiet part of town, with sunlight streaming through large windows, casting everything in a warm glow. I spotted Joanne right away, sitting by the window, waving at me with a grin that seemed almost too enthusiastic. She looked relaxed, sipping a coffee and flipping through a bridal magazine, which she closed and set aside as soon as I approached.

"Ella! I’m so glad you came." She stood up, giving me a quick, surprisingly warm hug. "I wasn’t sure if you’d be free, but I thought I’d take a chance."

I managed a smile, sliding into the seat across from her. "It was unexpected, but... nice." I paused, studying her face. "I didn’t even know you had my number."

She laughed lightly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Oh, yeah, Arec gave it to me. He thought it’d be good for us to spend time together, given everything." Her eyes sparkled with what looked like genuine kindness, and for a moment, I found myself easing into her presence.

We ordered coffee and pastries, and Joanne wasted no time diving into wedding talk. She began listing off ideas and vendors, even mentioning a few makeup artists she knew. "You should look into them," she said earnestly, pulling out a neatly folded paper filled with names and phone numbers. "They’re fantastic, and a few owe me favors. I could probably get you a good deal."

I blinked, staring at the paper in her hands. "You... went to a lot of trouble, Joanne."

"Oh, it’s nothing." She brushed it off with a smile. "I know how overwhelming this kind of thing can be, and I just want you to feel supported. Weddings are a huge deal, and you deserve the best."

Her words surprised me. Joanne had never seemed like the type to go out of her way for anyone, least of all me. But sitting here with her, I couldn’t deny the enthusiasm she had for helping me. I thanked her, feeling a small tug of warmth that wasn’t there before.

As we chatted, I started to notice her effort, how she really listened when I talked about my plans, nodding along and offering thoughtful suggestions. It felt strange, like she was genuinely invested in my happiness, even if her eagerness was unexpected.

After that first brunch, Joanne’s calls became more frequent. Every couple of days, she’d call or text, each time suggesting another idea or offering to meet up. One afternoon, she texted me, insisting that we go to a nearby bridal expo. I was reluctant at first, but her persistence wore me down, and I agreed to go with her.

The expo was packed with brides and vendors, and Joanne seemed right in her element, weaving through the booths with ease. She’d gesture to flower arrangements, table setups, and dresses, her eyes lighting up as she described how beautiful each one would be at my wedding.

"Oh, look at these florals!" she exclaimed, pointing at a booth filled with cascading white roses and greenery. "Imagine these at the reception. They’d be perfect, don’t you think?"

Her excitement was infectious, and I found myself nodding, actually considering it. "They’re beautiful. I think... I think they’d fit the theme perfectly."

Joanne turned to me, her smile genuine, with a softness I’d rarely seen in her. "I just want your day to be perfect, Ella. You deserve that."

In that moment, I felt something shift. Maybe she really was serious about wanting to be friends. Her voice held no trace of insincerity or hidden motives, just a quiet, genuine hope that I’d find happiness.

Every time she checked in, she never missed an opportunity to ask about Kate, who was still in the hospital. Her concern seemed real, almost tender, and it caught me off guard. She’d even ask how I was feeling, how my pregnancy was progressing, if I was taking enough breaks.

But each time I visited Kate, Joanne’s name would inevitably come up, and not in a way Kate was ever happy to hear.

"So, you’ve been seeing a lot of Joanne," Kate said one day, her tone almost accusatory as she lay propped up in bed, watching me with a hard stare.

I shifted uncomfortably, realizing how defensive I’d become on Joanne’s behalf. "She’s been helping me a lot with the wedding planning. And she’s asked about you every time we talk, Kate. She genuinely wants to know how you’re doing."

Kate scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, right. She’s just looking for an in with you, Ella. You can’t be serious about trusting her."

I sighed, setting down the magazine I’d brought to cheer her up. "Maybe she’s trying to change, Kate. Maybe she wants to make up for... whatever we thought she did wrong."

"She hasn’t changed. I can see right through her." Kate’s gaze was steady, unyielding, her jaw set. She looked as if she’d dig her heels into this forever if she had to.

"Could you give her a chance? Just... see what I see?" I asked, almost pleading. "She’s been nothing but thoughtful. You should see how much effort she’s put into this."

Kate’s eyes softened for a moment as she looked at me, and I thought she might relent. But then she shook her head, her expression hardening once more. "I won’t pretend to like her, Ella. And if you’re smart, you won’t let her get too close, either."