Chapter 381

The flight back home felt like a whirlwind, the memories of our honeymoon paradise fading into the background as the reality of returning to our everyday lives set in. But as the plane touched down and we made our way through the bustling airport, a knot of anxiety tightened in my chest at the thought of what lay ahead.

Timothy's suggestion of moving in together had caught me off guard, stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within me. On one hand, the idea of sharing a home with him, of building a life together beyond our honeymoon paradise, filled me with a sense of joy and excitement unlike anything I had ever known. But on the other hand, the thought of taking such a big step so soon felt daunting, like standing on the edge of a precipice, unsure of what lay beyond.

As we stepped out into the arrivals hall, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of Aria waiting for us, her face lighting up with a smile as she caught sight of us.

"There you are!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth. "How was the trip?"

I forced a smile, the weight of Timothy's offer heavy on my mind. "It was fine, thanks."

But Aria wasn't fooled by my attempt at nonchalance. She narrowed her eyes, studying me intently. "Are you sure everything's okay?"

I bit my lip, torn between wanting to confide in my friend and fearing the consequences of revealing Timothy's offer. "It's just... Timothy suggested something while we were away, and I'm not sure how I feel about it."

Aria's brow furrowed in concern. "What did he suggest?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject. But before I could gather my thoughts, Timothy stepped forward with our luggage, looking slightly winded.

"Hey, Aria," he said. "How’s it going?"

Aria snickered. “I was just asking Evie that. You two are so conservative, as if I don’t know what went down on that island!”

I glanced at Timothy, and the blush seemed to reach his cheeks before mine did. I decided to just push it aside, knowing that now wasn't the time to address my concerns.

"Right," I murmured, forcing a smile as I turned back to Aria. "We should head out. I think the jetlag is getting to us both."

As we made our way back to our apartment, the knot of anxiety in my chest only tightened with each step. I knew that I needed to talk to Aria about Timothy's offer, but the thought of leaving her behind, of breaking the news that I might be moving out, filled me with a sense of guilt and sadness that I couldn't shake.

When we finally arrived home, the exhaustion began taking over, leaving me feeling drained and depleted. Timothy disappeared into his own apartment to unpack, leaving Aria and me alone in our living room.

"Are you okay, Evie?" Aria asked, her voice gentle with concern.

I sighed, sinking onto the couch beside her. "I don't know. Everything just feels so overwhelming right now."

She reached out to squeeze my hand, offering me a reassuring smile. "It's okay to feel that way. You two just took a big step in your relationship."

I nodded, grateful for her understanding. "But what if it's too soon? What if we end up driving each other crazy?"

Aria chuckled, her laughter like a warm embrace. "I think you're overthinking it, Evie. You and Timothy are great together. You'll figure it out."

But even as she spoke, doubts gnawed at the edges of my mind, whispering fears of the unknown. And as we settled in for the evening, ordering takeout and curling up on the couch together, I couldn't shake the feeling that the news would crush her.

As the night stretched on, the sound of laughter and conversation filling the air, I knew that I couldn't keep it a secret any longer. But the thought of telling Aria, of facing the reality of leaving her behind, left me feeling torn between the love I had for Timothy and the fear of losing my closest friend.

The glow of the television illuminated the dimly lit living room, casting flickering shadows across the walls as Aria and I settled in for a movie night. Too lazy to move, and too anxious to just sleep it off, I struggled to find the right words to get them off my chest.

As the opening credits rolled on the screen, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation that lay ahead. Aria glanced at me, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"What's on your mind, Evie?" she asked gently.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to broach the subject. But as the movie played on, the tension in the air thickening with each passing moment, I knew that I couldn't keep Timothy's offer a secret any longer.

"I need to talk to you about something," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Aria turned to face me, her brow furrowed in concern. "What is it?"

I took a deep breath, the words tumbling out in a rush. "Timothy suggested that we move in together."

Aria's eyes widened in surprise, but to my relief, her expression was one of excitement rather than disappointment. "Really? That's amazing, Evie!"

I blinked in astonishment, caught off guard by her enthusiastic response. "You're not... upset?"

She shook her head, a smile spreading across her face. "Of course not! I want what's best for you, Evie. And if moving in with Timothy makes you happy, then I'm all for it."

I felt a surge of gratitude wash over me, a weight lifting from my shoulders at her words. "Are you sure? I don't want to just leave you."

Aria reached out to squeeze my hand, her touch grounding me in the present. "Don't worry about me, Evie. We'll always see each other, no matter what."

Tears welled in my eyes at her words, and I braced her shoulders. "Of course, and I’d never abandon you after everything you’ve done to build me up, even when I was at my worst. You'll always be a sister to me."

She pulled me into a tight embrace, holding me close. "And you'll always be mine."

As we sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, the weight of the world lifted from my shoulders, replaced by a sense of peace and acceptance. And as the credits rolled on the screen, signaling the end of the movie, I knew that no matter where life took us next, we would always have each other.

I could still recall the day when she’d taken me under her wing. I’d been so frail and broken. She didn’t bat an eye before patching me up and saying I could stay with her for however long I wanted.

My family had grown over the years, and she was just the start of it.

As we parted ways that night, Aria assured me that she would find someone else to take on the lease for our apartment once that time came, already considering Penny as a potential roommate.

I smiled. "It's a wonderful idea," I told her.

Aria returned the gesture, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "We have to cherish the time we have left together, Evie. Tell Timothy that I get to steal you away, at least for the next couple of months."

I chuckled, patting her knee. “I’ll be sure to let him know.