Begrudgingly, I turned around. “Fine, Mom. I’ll talk to you,” I spoke to no one, thinking how I hadn’t ignored their messages or calls. I’d been outside of cell coverage. Approaching the bed, I decided not to tell her that. If she thought I was being childish, there wasn’t anything I could say to change her mind.

The name upon the screen wasn’t who I expected and immediately improved my disposition. The last time we’d spoken was when I told her the wedding was off.

Will I tell my friend that I have a new wedding on the horizon?

I answered, “Vicki.”

“I’m worried about you. How are you doing?”

My cheeks rose higher. “I’m sure it sounds odd, but I’m good. I really am.”

“There’s so much I want to talk to you about,” she said. “First, it’s Christmas. I hate that you’re alone.”

“I’m not alone.”

Her volume lowered. “I feel like this is the Twilight Zone. I saw a news bulletin about you and Skylar working out your differences.”

“I promise that’s not true.”

She sighed. “I didn’t think it was. Come back to Chicago. You can stay with me. We both know that your mom can be overbearing. You can hide out in my apartment and not even let your parents know you’re in town. I just want you safe.”

I sat back on the edge of the bed. Vicki knew my family, and she was right; Mom could be overbearing. One of the things I loved about Victoria was that we’d been friends long enough that we knew most things about one another and our families. If life hadn’t taken its most recent crazy turn with Van, I’d welcome her invitation. “I miss you, Vick.”

“I miss you too. I feel like I’ve lost two of my best friends.”

My curiosity got the better of me. “Have you spoken to Beth?”

“I have. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. You and Beth are friends.”

“So are you and Beth. She said she’s tried to talk to you, leaving messages and texts. She saw the article about you and Skylar working it out.”

“She should know that’s not true.”

“She doesn’t; she says she’s in limbo. She even called your mom.”

I lay back on the bed. “I heard. Mom thinks I should call her.”

“I don’t,” Vicki said. “She’s my friend, but damn, it’s not like she didn’t tell you she was involved with just someone. She didn’t tell you that she was involved with Skylar.”

Tears I didn’t expect burnt the back of my eyes. “In the long run, she saved me. I keep telling myself that. If Skylar would sleep around on me during our engagement, he would have done it after we married.”

“He’s scum,” Vicki said definitively.