Chapter Fifty-three

Chapter Fifty-three
Lisa made her way to the meeting spot, her thoughts kept drifting back to Marcus. What was he up to? And what did his silence mean for their complicated dynamic?

When she arrived at the cafe-turned-lunch-spot, Emma was already there, looking radiant and happy. She felt a twinge of guilt for keeping her friend waiting, and quickly made her way over to hug Emma tightly. "Hey, I'm so sorry I'm late! Traffic was crazy, and I had to comfort a friend real quick," she explained, taking a seat.

Emma waved off her apology, smiling warmly. "Girl, don't even worry about it. I'm just glad you're here. I've missed you!"

As Lisa sat down across from Emma, she couldn't help but notice the radiant glow on her face. 

As they settled in, Emma leaned in, a mischievous sparkle in her eye. "So, how's life been treating you? Fill me in on all the tea"

Lisa laughed, taking a sip of her water. "Just the usual, you know. Work's been keeping me busy, and I've been trying to squeeze in some me-time whenever I can."

Emma nodded enthusiastically. "Same here! I've been doing okay, considering I'm basically a whale now" She patted her baby bump, and they both burst out laughing.

"I mean, you're glowing, Em! Pregnancy looks good on you," Lisa said, genuinely happy for her friend.

Emma beamed. "Thanks, Lis! I feel like a million bucks... minus the constant back pain and fatigue, of course".

"You know, I've been thinking," Emma said, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. "I've been reflecting on how Mike and I first met, and it's crazy how far we've come."

Lisa's ears perked up, intrigued. "Oh, tell me more! I love a good love story"

Emma smiled, her eyes getting all dreamy. "We met at a mutual friend's party, and I was immediately drawn to his charming smile and kind eyes. We talked for hours, and I knew right then that he was someone special."

Lisa listened, enraptured, as Emma recounted their whirlwind romance. She was genuinely happy for her friend, but a tiny part of her couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Why couldn't she have a love life like Emma's?

As Emma started gelling about Mike's supportiveness and how he's been through the pregnancy journey with her, Lisa's mind began to wander. She thought about her own love life, or lack thereof, and how she'd been stuck in a toxic cycle with Marcus. She felt a twinge of jealousy, wondering why she couldn't have someone like Mike, who loved and cherished her.

"...and he's promised to marry me after I give birth," Emma said, her voice bringing Lisa back to the present.

Lisa's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, Em! That's huge! You're getting a ring soon, girl!"

Emma nodded, her smile faltering for a moment. "Yeah, I know. It's a lot to take in, but I'm so happy. Mike's the one, Lis. I know it sounds cheesy, but he's my soulmate."

Lisa's heart skipped a beat. She felt a lump form in her throat as she realized she didn't have what Emma had – a loving partner who wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. She forced a smile, trying to push the feelings aside. "That's amazing, Em. You deserve it. I'm so happy for you"

But as they continued to chat, Lisa couldn't shake off the feeling of inadequacy. Why couldn't she have someone like Mike, who loved her for who she was? Was she destined to be stuck with Marcus forever?

Emma's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Speaking of love lives, Jamie and Mike were talking, and they said they saw you at a party with some new guy? They told me all about it. What's going on with that?"

Lisa hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. She didn't want Emma to know the truth about Marcus, about how possessive and controlling he was here, about the way he made her feel trapped and suffocated.

Lisa took a deep breath and tried to play it down. "Oh, that. It's just... it's a guy I've been seeing. We're just trying to make it work."

Emma's expression changed suddenly, and she leaned in with a sly grin. "Speaking of which, I thought you and Jamie were end game. I mean, he's always talking about you, and I thought for sure he was going to ask you out on that trip you guys planned."

Lisa's eyes widened in shock. She was taken aback by Emma's words. Jamie had always been friendly, but she had gotten the vibe that he saw her as just a friend. The last time they'd met, he'd pretty much put her in the friend zone.

"Wait, what? Jamie likes me like that?" Lisa asked, trying to sound casual despite being completely surprised.

Emma nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I thought you knew. He's always talking about how funny and smart you are... I thought for sure he was going to make a move on the trip."

Lisa's mind was racing. She hadn't had any indication that Jamie felt that way. She was stuck in her thoughts when Emma suddenly looked concerned.

"Oh no, hope it wasn't the cancelled trip that messed things up between you two. I thought Jamie was really going to ask you out on that trip..."

Lisa was still trying to process the revelation about Jamie's feelings. She didn't know how to respond, so she just smiled awkwardly and let Emma keep talking.