Narrated by Paige:
It has been a few days since I found out that Mason is not the father of that woman's pregnancy, if you can even call her that.
As for me, I'm still in Brazil with no intentions of searching for him. My emotional stability has been hard-won, and I'm not about to throw away all my progress and run into Mason's arms.
Thanks to Sarah, I've learned that Mason has been insisting on finding out about me, but my friend hasn't given him any hints on how to locate me. That was my decision. I believe it's best for us to be apart for now. He needs to sort out his thoughts, and I feel at peace with my decision, which is what I want for my pregnancy.
Moreover, I have a very important matter to attend to here, and that is Lucas. Since that day, he has been restless and even distant. It's not that I want him around all the time, but I had become accustomed to his sweetness and fulfilling my cravings. And I'm not the only one worried about him—Tabatha is too, even more than me.
"He hasn't seemed this isolated since that woman who hurt him left," she tells me, full of anguish.
“That's also true. The day they find out about your pregnancy, they'll make you go back to live there again. As a friend who cares about you a lot, I'll tell you this: don't think that I'm defending either of them. The best thing you can do is meet and talk about everything, express what you've been holding inside and tell him how you felt, that you're not sure if you want to get back together with him, and heal that relationship. Remember, he's the father of your baby, and you'll see him for the rest of your life," advises Tabatha.
"You're right about him being a part of my life in some way because of the child we're expecting, and also about the need for us to have a healthy relationship for the baby, free of resentments. I'll wait a few days to clarify my thoughts about what I want. I admit I feel confused about this Mason situation," I confess, blushing.
"You don't have to be wise to see that. We've all noticed it. But what's important is that you do things at your own pace, don't rush, and take everything calmly. It's not just about you now; there are two of you. Always think about what's best for you. If you're doing well, the baby will be too," my friend tells me, and I feel like crying.
I wave my hands, fanning my face to prevent the tears from falling.
"You're so sensitive, my friend. I'm not used to that yet," she says, getting up to hug me.
I let her embrace me and try not to cry. That's where my focus is, at least until we hear someone entering and we separate upon hearing the words spoken.
"Don't cry for me. I'm here," Lucas says.
He tries to smile, but it's different from before. It's evident that it's forced, and I'll have to have a serious talk with him about what he's going through. I don't like seeing him like this.
I stand up and approach Lucas. I see that he's holding something in his hands—donuts. Just when I'm feeling emotional, he brings sweet things to make me indulge.
"This is mine, considering the worry you make me go through for you. Where were you? We need to have a very serious talk," I tell him, pointing my index finger at him as I open the bag and start eating. "Don't you dare take this away from me," I say with a mouthful of food to Tabatha, who was coming straight towards me to grab the bag.
"Do you see what you're causing?" Tabatha says to Lucas.
"What did I do?" he says, raising his hands innocently.
"Sit down. We need to talk," I tell Lucas, who, with his hands still raised, takes a seat in front of where I was sitting just moments ago.
"It's better to do it now," Tabatha sighs.
Lucas looks at both of us as we take our seats and give him narrowed eyes. He's starting to blush under our intense gaze.
"You're scaring me," he says nervously.
"What's going on with you? You're acting strange, and don't come up with 'nothing' because Tabatha, who has known you longer than me, agrees with me. So, you better start talking," I say as I continue eating.
"I didn't want to tell you anything until I knew the situation for sure, but since you insist, I'll tell you. I'm investigating my ex. It's not that I want to see her again, it's not like that. It's just that I thought I saw her, and I don't know if I'm hallucinating or if, by some twist of fate, she crossed paths with me again," he says nervously, looking at the ground.
"A coincidence? Don't be naive, my friend. Where did you see her?" Tabatha says.
"It's not like I saw her in a place I frequent, not even here. It was somewhere else. I have a friend looking into this. When I have the answers, I'll tell you everything. Trust me," he says, looking at my friend, whose annoyance with Lucas is evident in her expression.
“Well, I trust you, and I think you know that, but don't forget that I'm here, and I would like to see her to tell her a few things that someone should have told her a long time ago," I say very seriously.
“Take it easy, getting angry won't do you any good. Besides, it's not like I want her back in my life; I just want to make sure if she's the person I think she is and nothing more," Lucas tells us, twisting his fingers.
“Stop doing that! —Tabatha yells at him.
“Sorry," Lucas responds.
“Well, what do we do now? I'd like to go for a walk on the beach," I say, getting up from my seat.
“See what you cause by bringing her sweets? Let it be the last time!" my friend scolds Lucas.
“Never again," Lucas says, looking at me and then winking.
We go for a walk on the beach and admire the scenery in front of us. I receive a call from my friends, and I notice that Lucas tenses up, which I don't understand. I answer the call, and it turns out to be both of them.
“Friends, how are you?” I ask, smiling and waving.
“Paige, we're good, everyone's good, although Sarah is losing patience with a certain person," Riley says.
I notice, but I don't say anything, that when Lucas hears my friend's voice, he becomes even more tense, and he even clears his throat. Could it be that she knows him from before? What nonsense am I thinking! That's not possible.
“There's no need for you to tell me who that person is. I've been thinking and tell her that I'll call her when I can go to have an important conversation with her, but it won't be tomorrow or the day after. I'll go when I feel ready to see her," I tell my friends.
Sarah and Riley remain silent at my words, but I also notice that they're not looking at the phone; they're looking behind it.
“Are you talking to Paige?” I hear Mason's voice.
Both of them don't know what to say, so I decide to act. I point the camera at my face and speak loudly and clearly.
“Yes, it's me. As I was telling my friends, we'll talk when I feel ready to go, not before. I'll let you know in advance, and I don't want you to pressure Sarah anymore to meet me. I'll go, and we can discuss several important matters," I say seriously, although I feel myself trembling.
A hand rests on mine, giving me the courage to confront Mason.
“I'll wait as long as you want just to see you. We need to work things out, we can be happy," he says excitedly.
“We'll see about that when I go. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to talk to my friends," I say with a raised eyebrow, looking at him intently.
“Of course, I'm sorry. I'll give them the phone, and don't forget that I love you and I'll be waiting," he says before leaving.
Now that I can see only my friends and I hear a distant door, I sigh at what happened. I really didn't expect to see him, not now, not so soon. Although it was just through video, it affected me, and I don't want to have a conversation with him while I'm feeling this vulnerable. I need to control my emotions and everything I feel for Mason.
We talk about other things with the girls, as well as Tabatha, who keeps looking at Lucas when he talks to Sarah and Riley. I sense some tension between Riley, Tabatha, and Lucas. I don't know if it's just my imagination or if there is indeed tension, but I'm going to find out.
I end the call with my friends, and when it's just the three of us, so to speak, I clear my throat and stop walking. I cross my arms, and they turn to look at me.
“You're going to tell me what those looks are about. There's something you're not telling me," I complain, annoyed.
“It's just that I thought I saw a resemblance in Riley to the unmentionable person, although it could be because of the haircut since I hadn't seen her before," Tabatha says thoughtfully.
“Lucas?” I ask without saying what I'm asking.
“Yes, I noticed the resemblance, but I don't think it's her. That's why I asked my friend to keep an eye on my ex," Lucas says, blushing.
"I've known Riley for several years. We entered university together, and she's not a bad person. On the contrary, she's very kind and hardworking. There's no way she could be the girl you're both looking for. She's not even remotely similar in personality and character," I say, astonished that they believe Riley is the girl who hurt Lucas.
It can't be Riley. That's not possible in this universe. She's not malicious like that girl who did all those things to a man like Lucas.