"Okay, spill. What’s going on with you and Mr. Tall, Dark, and Complicated?"
Annie’s voice echoed through the speaker, sharp and playful, just as I remembered it. I leaned back in my chair, a soft smile tugging at my lips as I looked out of the large window of my apartment. London’s skyline stretched in front of me, but in that moment, I felt like I was back in New York, sitting across from Annie with coffee cups in hand.
"Annie," I groaned, shaking my head though she couldn’t see me. "It’s not that simple."
"It’s *always* that simple. You’re either into him, or you’re not." I could hear the clinking of dishes in the background. She was probably in her kitchen, multitasking, as usual. "And I don’t need to be in the same country to know that you’re definitely into him."
I sighed, twisting the phone cord between my fingers as if it could somehow tie up my tangled emotions. "It’s not about being into him. It’s… more complicated than that."
"Well, enlighten me, darling. Because from where I’m standing, it sounds like you’re knee-deep in some serious emotional mess, and I need details."
I couldn’t help but laugh, despite the knot in my chest. "Annie, I don’t even know where to start."
"Start with him. Caleb. What’s his deal? Is he still as brooding and sexy as you described? Or has the London rain washed away some of that charm?"
I could hear her smirking, and it made my heart warm. Talking to Annie was like catching a breath of fresh air, something I desperately needed after everything that had been happening.
"Caleb is… Caleb," I said, biting my lip as I tried to find the right words. "He’s distant sometimes, but then he’s protective and sweet. He keeps things close to his chest, and it drives me crazy because I never know where I stand."
"Ugh, men," Annie groaned dramatically. "Why do they have to be so emotionally constipated? Can’t they just say what they feel like normal people?"
I let out a chuckle. "You’re one to talk, Miss ‘I don’t do feelings.’"
"Hey, I’ve grown! I acknowledge feelings now. I just don’t let them ruin my life," she quipped. "But you, my dear, are way too in your head about this guy."
I stayed quiet, staring down at the city below. She was right. I was in my head, and it wasn’t just about Caleb. It was Monica, it was his father, it was the whole mess I’d gotten myself into when I agreed to this charade.
"I don’t know if I can keep doing this," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
The other end of the line went silent for a moment. "Sam, what’s going on?" Annie asked, her voice softer now, a serious note slipping in. "Talk to me."
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. "Monica’s back. She’s been all over Caleb recently, and his father is practically pushing them together. I feel like I’m just… there. Like I’m standing in the middle of something that has nothing to do with me."
I heard Annie let out a long breath. "Oh, babe, that sounds… messy."
"Yeah." I rubbed my forehead, trying to stave off the headache that had been brewing since this morning. "And the worst part is, Caleb’s not shutting it down. He says he doesn’t want anything to do with her, but he’s not exactly kicking her out of his life either."
Annie let out a small hum, thinking. "Let me guess.. he’s caught between family duty and his real feelings for you."
"Exactly." My stomach twisted at the thought. It wasn’t just Monica. It was the fact that Caleb’s father clearly favored her, the fact that they had history, and the fact that I was just… a stand-in.
"So what are you going to do?" Annie asked, her tone serious. "Because this doesn’t sound like a situation that’s going to fix itself."
I bit my lip, unsure of how to respond. "I don’t know. I’m trying to trust him, but it’s hard when I feel like I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop. And his father..," I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to say the next part aloud. "He expects Caleb to announce an engagement soon."
The silence on the other end stretched, and when Annie finally spoke, her voice was firm. "Sam, you have to talk to him. Like, really talk to him. If this is messing with your head this much, you can’t just sit back and let things happen."
"I know, I know," I muttered, biting down on the edge of my thumb. "But what if..,"
"Nope. No ‘what ifs.’ You can’t let fear decide for you, Sam. That’s not the woman I know. You’ve survived way worse than some meddling ex and a pushy father-in-law. You’re strong, okay? You need to act like it."
Her words hit me harder than I expected. Maybe it was because I knew she was right, or maybe it was because I was tired of feeling so unsure of myself. Either way, her pep talk gave me the smallest sliver of clarity.
"You’re right," I said finally, my voice more steady. "I need to talk to him. Set things straight."
"Atta girl!" Annie cheered, her lightheartedness returning. "Now, go out there, put on your best power outfit, and show that man who’s boss. And if he doesn’t get his act together, well… you know I’ve got connections in New York who’d gladly set him straight."
I laughed, the tension in my shoulders easing just a little. "You always know how to make me feel better."
"That’s what best friends are for," she said with a wink in her voice. "Just don’t forget who you are, Sam. You’re not someone’s second option."
Her words echoed in my mind as we wrapped up the call. I sat there for a moment longer, staring at my phone and feeling the weight of the conversation settle over me.
Just then, a knock sounded at my door.
I stood up, smoothing down my shirt as I crossed the room. When I opened the door, I wasn’t expecting to see Caleb standing there, his expression tense and serious.
"Caleb," I said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"We need to talk," he said, his voice low, the kind that immediately set me on edge. His eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place.. nervousness? Guilt?
My heart rate quickened. "About what?"
"About tonight," he said, glancing away for a moment before meeting my gaze again. "My father wants you to come to dinner with us."
I blinked, unsure of how to respond. Dinner with Caleb’s father? After everything that had been happening? The knots in my stomach tightened, and I realized this wasn’t just a simple dinner.
This was something bigger. And I wasn’t sure I was ready for what was coming next.