Our Accidental Forever
Chapter 99: Baby Shower Plan

Chapter 99: Baby Shower Plan

Joanne’s POV:

Standing in front of Kate’s apartment, I inhaled deeply, steeling my nerves. Patience, Joanne. This wasn’t just another social visit, it was a chess move. Kate had been the immovable obstacle in my otherwise flawless plan.

Unlike Ella, who wore her emotions like an open book, Kate was sharp, guarded, and relentless in her dislike for me. Her gaze always seemed to dissect me, as though searching for the catch in every word I said.

Still, I wasn’t one to walk away from a challenge. That wasn’t my style. I wanted something, and I’d get it. I had a knack for wearing people down eventually.

Knocking firmly, I kept my expression pleasant, my body language relaxed. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Kate’s familiar scowl. Her disapproval was almost palpable, radiating off her like a wall of icy disdain.

"Joanne," she said flatly, blocking the doorway with an air of finality. Her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her eyes cold as they swept over me.

"Kate!" I beamed, injecting warmth into my voice that I didn’t feel. "It’s so good to see you."

Her lips tightened, and she didn’t even bother to fake politeness. "What are you doing here?"

The bluntness stung, but I brushed it off, masking my irritation with a practiced smile. "Can’t a girl pay her friend a visit?"

Her brow arched, skepticism carving deep lines across her face. "We’re not friends."

Ouch. But it wasn’t the first jab she’d thrown, and it wouldn’t be the last. If I let remarks like that bother me, I wouldn’t have survived this long.

"Don’t be so cold," I said sweetly, tilting my head like I was amused. "Can’t you at least invite me inside? It’s a little awkward standing out here."

Her gaze narrowed further, the disapproval in her expression bordering on outright hostility. "No can do. Whatever you have to say, say it here."

Of course, she’d make this as difficult as possible. My fingers itched to snap, but I forced myself to remain composed.

"Kate," I said, softening my tone as though I were hurt. "I really came here with good intentions. I just wanted to clear the air between us. Don’t you think we got off on the wrong foot?"

"The wrong foot?" she repeated, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Joanne, we’ve never been on any foot to begin with."

A dry laugh escaped her lips, cold and humorless.

"And I’m fine keeping it that way," she added sharply.

For a moment, I faltered. Her resistance was exhausting, and if I didn’t need her for this plan, I would’ve turned on my heel and left. But Ella valued Kate, and I needed to gain her trust as well. I wouldn’t let Kate’s hostility deter me.

"You’re funny, Kate," I said lightly, brushing her comment aside. "Always so direct."

She didn’t laugh. She didn’t even blink.

I shifted tactics. "Okay, look," I said, letting my smile falter slightly. Vulnerability was often disarming. "I’ll cut to the chase. I know you don’t trust me, and that’s fine. But I’m here for Ella’s sake. She values your friendship so much, and I’d like to make things right between us, for her."

For a brief moment, her expression softened. There it was, the flicker of something that told me she cared about Ella more than she cared about shutting me down. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to work with.

"She’s important to me too," I said, my voice quieter now, as though I were baring my soul. "I just want what’s best for her. That’s why I’m here."

Her gaze flicked to the side, as though weighing my words. When her eyes returned to mine, there was a trace less hostility but no less suspicion.

"Sure, Joanne," she said, her lips curling into a tight, insincere smile. "I’ll keep that in mind."

She moved to close the door, but I quickly stepped forward, my hand lightly pressing against the frame. "Actually, there’s another reason I came by," I said hastily.

Her eyes narrowed, sharp and unyielding. "Oh? What now?"

Time for the ace in my sleeve. "I wanted to plan a surprise baby shower for Ella," I said, clasping my hands together as if I were brimming with enthusiasm. "And I thought you might want to help. You know her best, and I figured we could make it really special for her."

The disbelief on her face was almost laughable. Her brows shot up, and she tilted her head as though I’d suggested something absurd.

"A baby shower?" she echoed, her tone flat.

"Yes," I said, nodding with what I hoped looked like genuine excitement. "Ella deserves something wonderful, and I thought we could team up for it. For her."

For a long, excruciating moment, Kate simply stared at me, her expression unreadable. The silence stretched, heavy and charged. I refused to flinch under her scrutiny, meeting her gaze with unwavering calm.

Finally, she sighed, uncrossing her arms. "You’re lucky Ella’s the only reason I’d even consider this," she muttered.

I barely restrained a victorious smile as she stepped aside, gesturing for me to come in. "Come in," she said begrudgingly.

"Thank you, Kate," I said sweetly, walking past her and into the apartment.

The space was cozy but sparse, and the air carried the faint scent of lavender. I noted the details quickly, filing them away for later. Kate closed the door behind me, her eyes on me the entire time, as though she were a predator waiting for me to slip up.

"So," she said, crossing her arms again and leaning against the wall. "What’s the real plan here, Joanne? Because I don’t buy the whole ’selfless baby shower’ act."

Her directness caught me off guard, but I recovered quickly. "I’m not sure what you mean," I said innocently.

"Oh, spare me," she said, rolling her eyes. "You don’t do anything without an angle."

The tension in the room thickened, the unspoken accusations hanging in the air like a storm cloud.

"Well, if you must know," I said, keeping my voice light, "my angle is making Ella happy. That’s all."

Kate’s eyes narrowed, and I could practically feel her probing for cracks in my armor. "We’ll see," she said finally, her tone laced with doubt.

I smiled, unfazed. I’d cracked the door open, now all I had to do was step through.